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What is a freight receiver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A Freight Receiver is responsible for ensuring that a store is stocked and ready to be opened daily. They move cargo off of trucks and other transportation vehicles, organize them, and put them where they need to be.

A Receiver may interact with customers, taking their orders, delivering their items, and dealing with issues or any further requests. They are likely to use certain machinery and tools, such as forklifts, and may have to deal with financial transactions and other interactions. They usually have to report daily on their work, sign off on deliveries and receiving shipments, and otherwise assist in key processes.

A person seeking work in this position generally needs to have a high school diploma or a GED and should be physically fit and capable, as the job can entail lifting and moving heavy objects. Basic computer literacy might also be necessary. On average, the Freight Receiver earns $13.13 an hour.

ScoreFreight ReceiverUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $32,800

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
9.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.12%

Asian 5.70%

Black or African American 13.11%

Hispanic or Latino 22.30%

Unknown 5.26%

White 52.52%

Gender

female 20.78%

male 79.22%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.7

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a freight receiver

  1. Explore freight receiver education requirements

    Most common freight receiver degrees

    High School Diploma

    51.9 %

    Associate

    19.0 %

    Bachelor's

    17.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific freight receiver skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service69.73%
    Unload Trucks20.22%
    Critical Functions9.59%
    Sales Floor0.14%
    Stock Location0.11%
  3. Complete relevant freight receiver training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New freight receivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a freight receiver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real freight receiver resumes.
  4. Research freight receiver duties and responsibilities

    • Replenish floor merchandise and/or store all additional merchandise in backroom using forklifts and order pickers.
    • Verify receipt of propane and welding gas deliveries.
    • Price change merchandise via RF scanner and build displays.
    • Assist customers with loading groceries, stage merchandise for customer purchase
  5. Prepare your freight receiver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your freight receiver resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a freight receiver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable freight receiver resume templates

    Build a professional freight receiver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your freight receiver resume.
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
    Freight Receiver Resume
  6. Apply for freight receiver jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a freight receiver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first freight receiver job

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Average freight receiver salary

The average freight receiver salary in the United States is $32,800 per year or $16 per hour. Freight receiver salaries range between $25,000 and $42,000 per year.

Average freight receiver salary
$32,800 Yearly
$15.77 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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