Shipping Clerk Job Description
The Shipping Clerk verifies and keeps records on incoming and outgoing shipments. They must prepare items for shipment as part of their job function.
Tasks:
The Shipping Clerk examines contents and compares with records, such as manifests, invoices or orders, to verify accuracy of incoming or outgoing shipments. The Shipping Clerk prepares documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, and shipping orders to route materials. The Shipping Clerk records shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, and damages and discrepancies, for reporting, accounting and recordkeeping purposes. The Shipping Clerk determines shipping methods for materials, using knowledge of shipping procedures, routes, and rates. The Shipping Clerk delivers or routes materials to departments, using work devices, such as hand truck, conveyor sorting bins. The Shipping Clerk packs, seals, labels, and affixes postage to prepare materials for shipping, using work devices such as hand tools, power tools, and postage meter. The Shipping Clerk confers and corresponds with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, and nonconformance to specifications. The Shipping Clerk requisitions and stores shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock. The Shipping Clerk contacts carrier representatives to make arrangements and to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials. The Shipping Clerk computes amounts, such as space available, and shipping, storage, and demurrage charges, using calculator or price list.
Work Activities:
The Shipping Clerk is responsible for getting information concerning products that are to be shipped or received. The Shipping Clerk often obtains their information by observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. The Shipping Clerk uses hands and arms in handling, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. The Shipping Clerk is responsible to provide information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person about how the job function is proceeding. The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to perform physical activities that require considerable use of the arms and legs and moving the whole body such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials. The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to identify information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. The Shipping Clerk analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems pertaining to the shipment of a product. The Shipping Clerk realizes that he must establish and maintain interpersonal relationships and maintain them over a period of time in order to properly do the job function. The Shipping Clerk compiles, codes, categorizes, calculates, tabulates, audits, or verifies information or data as part of the job activities. The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to estimate correct sizes of products, the distances of shipments, and the quantities to be shipped. They also must be able to determine exact time of shipments, cost, resources, or materials needed in order to perform their work activity. The Shipping Clerk is responsible to develop specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish their work in a timely manner.
Abilities:
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to arrange things actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules as example speaking of patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations.
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to see details at close range within a few feet away.
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong before it happens in order to prevent any errors. It does not always involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem and be able to look for a solution or ask the proper person to resolve the issue.
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- The Shipping Clerk must have the ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so that others will be able to understand and follow their instruction.