Safecutters

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 boxes. 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 supplies, 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 shipping supplies is recorded. Many of today's receiving clerks use hand-held scanners to record barcodes on incoming shipping supplies 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 shipping products 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 supplies, receiving and traffic clerks.

You may purchase your packing supplies at a local retailer, but for the best prices and variety, consider the Internet. Some online shipping products suppliers deal with larger companies, so make sure you will be able to purchase smaller quantities. One place you might be able to save money is with moving boxes. Many grocery or liquor/wine stores have boxes available for free. Give the store manager a few weeks notice so he or she can put aside what you need. Keep in mind though that retail shipping boxes do tend to be larger and can be more difficult too pack your items in securely.

Moving kits or packing kits can be purchase which include everything you need for a particular room or the entire household. They would include small, medium, and large shipping boxes, heavy duty boxes, an electronics box, unprinted newswrap, bubblewrap, and sealing tape.

For specialty items such as large mirrors, framed artwork, and computers and printers, specialty boxes are also available and come with the option to purchase frame protectors. Lamp boxes, guitar boxes, mattress and crib boxes are some of the other specialty packing shipping supplies available online. File boxes are another smart choice to keep documents sorted and sealed during the move. Hanging wardrobe boxes come in various sizes, each with a metal bar and shaped like a wardrobe. Some movers use these shipping products to move chandeliers or other items that are better to move hanging than flat.