According to the U.S. Department of Labor, shipping,
receiving and traffic clerks familiar with computers and other electronic and
business equipment will find more ready employment due to an increase in the
automation of the system. Depending on the size of the establishment for which
they work, shipping, receiving and traffic clerks typically could handle a wide
range of responsibilities through the use of computers, scanners, and other
electronic equipment. For smaller companies, clerks are responsible for
maintaining records, preparing shipments, package sorting, and accepting
deliveries. In both environments, shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks
should expect to lift cartons of various sizes and employ the use of a box cutter.
Shipping Clerk Responsibilities
In preparing shipments of outgoing mail, shipping clerks
must ensure orders have been filled correctly, as well as filling out shipping
documents and mailing labels. They also record items taken from inventory and
note when orders were filled. In smaller operations, a shipping clerk may fill
the order themselves: taking merchandise from the stockroom, noting when
inventories run low, and packing the goods in shipping containers. In addition,
shipping clerks prepare invoices and furnish information about shipments to
other parts of the company, such as an accounting department. Once a shipment
is ready to go, a clerk may sort and move goods from the warehouse to the shipping
dock or truck terminal and direct their loading.
Receiving Clerk Responsibilities
Similar to that of a shipping clerk, receiving clerks also
determine whether orders have been filled correctly by verifying incoming
shipments against the original order and accompanying bill of lading or
invoice. Upon receipt, a record of the shipment and the condition of its
content is recorded. Many of today's receiving clerks use hand-held scanners to
record barcodes on incoming products or enter the information manually into a
computer. At larger, more automated companies, receiving clerks use
radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanners, which store and remotely
retrieve data using tags or transponders. Clerks can then check the order for
discrepancies in quantity, price and discounts. If merchandise is lost or
damaged, clerks may also arrange for adjustments with shippers. Clerks at
larger companies may even control all receiving platform operations, including
scheduling of trucks, recording shipments, and handling damaged goods.
Traffic Clerk Responsibilities
Traffic clerks oversee and maintain the records on the
destination, weight, and charges on all incoming and outgoing freight. Using a
rate chart, they may verify rate charges by comparing the classification of
materials, or this task may be automated in larger companies. Information can
be scanned or entered manually into a computer for use by the accounting
department. Traffic clerks also keep a file of claims for overcharges and for
damage to goods in transit.
The Future of Shipping and Receiving
In recent years, methods of handling materials in shipping
and receiving have changed significantly. The adoption of equipment such as
automatic sorting systems, robots, computer-directed trucks, and programmed
data storage and retrieval systems has created largely automated operations.
This automation, coupled with the use of hand-held barcode and RFID scanners
has increased the productivity of shipping, receiving and traffic clerks.
Training is usually done informally, on site. However, as
these occupations become more automated, employees may need longer periods of
training to master the use of the equipment and technology. This increase in
automation is leading employers to hire those already familiar with computers
and other electronic equipment.
In addition to physical challenges required by frequent
standing, bending and stretching, clerks may also experience Repetitive Strain
Injury (RSI), a musculoskeletal disorder that results from overtaxing certain
muscle groups by tensing them for excessive time periods, due to overuse or
poor posture. The use of wrong tools may also lead to muscle strain and
overuse. Professionally designed box cutters can minimize the overuse of arm
and shoulder muscles. They also increase efficiency and save time, as well as
ensuring the safety of workers and protection of goods.
Safecutters Inc. provides an online store of utility knife
box cutters for opening shipping boxes and shipping packages, as well as safety
knives to open moving boxes and packages. For more information about
Klever Kutter and Klever Koncept and other Safecutters products, visit http://www.safecutters.com. |
