What You'll Do

  • Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials.
  • Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes.
  • Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.
  • Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications.
  • Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock.
  • Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list.
  • Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact.
  • Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy.
  • Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter.
  • Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins.

Essential Skills

Speaking 3.25/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.12/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.88/5
Coordination 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Persuasion 2.75/5
Writing 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Cautiousness, Cooperation

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Near Vision 3.75/5
Oral Expression 3.25/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5
Oral Comprehension 3.12/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.12/5
Written Comprehension 3.0/5
Written Expression 3.0/5

Technologies & Tools

Accuship Star System ADi SmartBOL AES MailSTAR Aestiva Purchase Order Apple Safari Barcode labeling software Bill of lading software Citrix cloud computing software CMS Consultants WorldLink DM2 Bills of Lading Dydacomp Mail Order Manager Electronic Data Interchange EDI systems Endicia Internet Postage Enterprise Systems RFID Data Management Exact MAX FedEx Ship Manager FileMaker Pro Freight+ Harvey Software CPS IBM Notes

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.65/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.58/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.15/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 3.98/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 3.74/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

Similar Careers to Explore

Stockers and Order Fillers

99.2% similar profile

Billing and Posting Clerks

99.1% similar profile

Mail Clerks and Mail Machine Operators, Except Postal Service

99.0% similar profile

Postal Service Clerks

98.8% similar profile

Postal Service Mail Carriers

98.8% similar profile

Procurement Clerks

98.7% similar profile

Office Machine Operators, Except Computer

98.3% similar profile

Pharmacy Aides

98.0% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Backroom Associate Booking Clerk Break Out Man Break Out Worker Car Checker Cloth Booker Container Coordinator Disposition Clerk Distributing Clerk Distribution Associate Distribution Center Associate Distribution Clerk Distribution Team Member Express Clerk Fish Receiver Forwarder Freight Breaker Freight Clerk Freight Handler Freight Separator Fruit Express Agent Fruit Receiver Fuel Oil Clerk Fulfillment Mail Clerk Garment Sorter Grain Elevator Clerk Gun Repair Clerk Incoming Freight Clerk Industrial Order Clerk Inventory Associate Inventory Clerk Inventory Control Clerk Inventory Control Specialist Inventory Coordinator Inventory Specialist Inventory Taker Materials Control Associate Materials Processor Merchandiser Milk Receiver Order Clerk Order Fulfillment Specialist Order Writer Package Sorter Paper Control Clerk Piggyback Clerk Postal Stationery Envelope Sales and Services Associate (PSE Sales and Services Associate) Receiver Receiving Associate Receiving Clerk Receiving Coordinator Reconsignment Clerk Retail Receiving Associate Return to Factory Clerk Route Delivery Clerk Routing Clerk Sheet Writer Ship Runner Shipper Shipping and Receiving Clerk Shipping and Receiving Warehouse Associate Shipping Checker Shipping Clerk Shipping Coordinator Shipping Order Clerk Shipping Packer Stock Receiver Store Receiver Store Receiving Clerk Switching Clerk Tool Crib Attendant Traffic Assistant Traffic Coordinator Traffic Recorder Traffic Worker Truckload Checker Vault Person Vault Worker Warehouse Receiver

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.