Shipping & Receiving Clerk

Role Summary

As a Shipping and Receiving Clerk, you are responsible for accurately receiving inbound freight and preparing outbound shipments. You check documentation, inspect goods, and ensure each load is handled properly. You are the first and last set of eyes on every product.

Required Education, Certifications, and Experience

Education:

High school diploma or equivalent.

Certifications:

  • OSHA Forklift Certification
  • Certified Logistics Associate (CLA)
  • Hazmat Shipping Certification (if applicable)

Experience:

Experience in warehouse or shipping dock preferred.

Core Skills

  • Receiving procedures
  • Packing and labeling
  • Documentation accuracy
  • Forklift familiarity
  • Detail orientation

A Hypothetical Day in the Life of a Shipping & Receiving Clerk

8:00 AM- You begin by reviewing the inbound schedule and preparing the receiving dock. You inspect your scanner and tools, verify trailer assignments, and prep open floor space for expected freight. You stay ahead of the flow, or it buries you. A truck backs into your assigned dock. You check the BOL, confirm PO numbers, and begin unloading. Every pallet gets scanned and verified. You catch one mismatch between product code and manifest—an error that could’ve delayed the entire inbound process.


9:30 AM- With the truck unloaded, you begin tagging and labeling each pallet for putaway. You coordinate with inventory to ensure counts are correct and that goods are routed to the correct zone. You’re the one connecting shipment paperwork to warehouse accuracy.


11:00 AM- You shift to outbound duties.- You prep a mixed pallet order for LTL pickup. You wrap, label, weigh, and document it. The carrier is already onsite, so you hustle—accuracy matters, but so does speed. You don’t want to be the reason for detention charges.


12:30 PM- Lunch is short today—one inbound truck is running early, and you want to be ready. You use the time to log a few BOLs into the system and catch up on paperwork that piled up during the rush.


2:00 PM- The early truck arrives and needs to be offloaded quickly to free the dock. You work efficiently while inspecting for damage. You find a crushed box of electronics, take photos, and flag it for claims processing. Catching it now prevents bigger issues later.


3:30 PM- You help reorganize the staging area. Several outbound loads are scheduled within an hour, and space is tight. You restack pallets, clear aisles, and update the load board. A well-organized dock keeps the operation fluid and safe.


5:00 PM- You finish the day by updating your shipment logs and cleaning your station. You review your checklist and ensure all inbound BOLs are scanned and filed. It’s repetitive work—but if one step is missed, someone down the line pays the price.


6:30 PM- Before clocking out, you assist a coworker unloading a late truck. You double-check the counts and confirm all product is accounted for. You leave tired, but proud. You didn’t just move boxes—you kept freight moving across the entire network.