What does a shipping do?

When it comes to shipping, a worker is primarily in charge of processing deliveries while ensuring accuracy and timeliness. One of their responsibilities revolves around processing information, maintaining an accurate record of all transactions, inspecting goods, and organizing an efficient transport of goods. There are also instances when they must handle issues and inquiries, track orders, reach out to clients, and coordinate with other logistics personnel. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the policies and standards of the company.
Shipping responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real shipping resumes:
- Pull orders for customers and ship via grind, LTL and company vehicles.
- Communicate with LTL carriers ob a daily basis for pickups or any problems.
- Communicate with UPS/ FedEx/ DHL staff via phone and email to resolve delivery issues.
- Prepare and packages assets for shipment via FedEx, DHL, or delivery to local customer.
- Perform final packaging of finish products and fill pallets for shipping
- Supervise all supply-chain management operations, including forecasting, sourcing, procurement, pricing, conversion, distribution and logistics.
- Build orders using HAZMAT guidelines.
- Utilize the program AS400 to print orders, prepare and confirm shipment paperwork, and invoice shipments for billing.
- Produce the shipping label and then enter in all information into the AS400 system so that it can be track.
- Process incoming RMA's and deliveries.
- Process and ship hazmat orders to customer specifications.
- Move motorcycles and snowmobiles with forklift.
Shipping skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Shippings are proficient in Customer Service, Pallets, and Electric Pallet Jack. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Shippings that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Customer Service, 15%
Communicate with customers and provide effective customer service on a consistent basis.
- Pallets, 14%
Performed final packaging of finished products and filled pallets for shipping
- Electric Pallet Jack, 9%
Pick and pull orders, package for shipping and loan onto truck with forklift or electric pallet jack.
- Shipping Receiving, 8%
Maintain computerized inventory of auto parts.Load and unload trucks in shipping receiving dock.
- Load Trucks, 6%
Use stand up lift and pole trucks to load and unload trucks, also used scanners to keep up with production.
- Hand Trucks, 6%
Unloaded freight container shipments of product using forklifts, pallet jacks, and hand trucks.
Common skills that a shipping uses to do their job include "customer service," "pallets," and "electric pallet jack." You can find details on the most important shipping responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a shipping to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." Additionally, a shipping resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "use of the company computer system to set up delivery loads and heavy communication with truck load delivery drivers. "
Customer-service skills. Many shipping duties rely on customer-service skills. "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints.," so a shipping will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways shipping responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "establish business relationships with customers to process orders, changes and expedite requests in a timely manner. "
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of shippings is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday shipping duties, as "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "participated in the inventory control operations and physical counts with a keen attention to detail. "
Math skills. A big part of what shippings do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to shipping responsibilities because "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical shipping tasks: "stacked pallets while keeping area cleanskills usedbasic mathforklift driving loading trucks"
The three companies that hire the most shippings are:
- Cargill9 shippings jobs
- Randstad North America, Inc.7 shippings jobs
- Aerotek5 shippings jobs
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Shipping vs. Warehouse clerk
A warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse. Companies require their warehouse clerks to have many skills, such as an operating forklift or other machinery to transport large and heavy goods. Warehouse clerks must also possess abilities like knowledge in Warehouse Management Software programs and detailed-oriented capable of noticing small errors in orders.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a shipping are more likely to require skills like "forklifts," "ups," "rf scanner," and "inventory control." On the other hand, a job as a warehouse clerk requires skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "data entry," and "patients." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Warehouse clerks tend to make the most money working in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,595. In contrast, shippings make the biggest average salary, $35,592, in the finance industry.On average, warehouse clerks reach similar levels of education than shippings. Warehouse clerks are 0.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Shipping vs. Order picker
An order picker is responsible for obtaining particular orders from a warehouse or storage facility and having it processed for delivery, all while ensuring accuracy and speed. Most of the duties of an order picker revolve around physical work as there are instances where one must lift and transport heavy materials, and even assemble certain items. Furthermore, an order picker is also in charge of necessary administrative tasks, such as producing documentation, keeping records, processing inventory systems, and even responding to inquires.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, shipping responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "customer service," "shipping receiving," "forklifts," and "ups." Meanwhile, an order picker has duties that require skills in areas such as "basic math," "warehouse environment," "safety procedures," and "math." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, order pickers earn a higher salary than shippings. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, order pickers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $34,093. Whereas shippings have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $35,592.In general, order pickers achieve similar levels of education than shippings. They're 0.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Shipping vs. Warehouse associate
Warehouse associates are employees who take on any task needed at the company warehouse. They receive incoming deliveries, store the items in their proper places, scan the items to log them into the company system, manage stocks and inventory, conduct product inspection to check for damages or defects, and maintain the overall cleanliness of the warehouse. Warehouse associates are also responsible for receiving purchase orders, assembling and packing products related to orders, checking the accuracy of the products relative to the order, and ensuring proper shipment of the products.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a shipping is likely to be skilled in "forklifts," "ups," "logistics," and "tow motor," while a typical warehouse associate is skilled in "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "basic math," and "warehouse environment."
Warehouse associates earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $34,596. Comparatively, shippings have the highest earning potential in the finance industry, with an average salary of $35,592.Most warehouse associates achieve a similar degree level compared to shippings. For example, they're 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Shipping vs. Warehouse picker
Warehouse pickers are skilled employees who are responsible for pulling selected items from storage or warehouses and prepare them for shipment. These pickers must prepare the orders of customers on a pallet neatly and safely wrapped them with plastic wrap while processing their invoices. They must receive and sort out large orders of inventory delivered daily as well as perform the necessary manual labor such as sweeping, refuse removal, and general janitorial. Warehouse pickers must also follow safety standards according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to clean and maintain the warehouse.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between shippings and warehouse pickers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a shipping might have more use for skills like "customer service," "forklifts," "ups," and "logistics." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of warehouse pickers require skills like "basic math," "work ethic," "warehouse environment," and "math. "
In general, warehouse pickers earn the most working in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $33,732. The highest-paying industry for a shipping is the finance industry.warehouse pickers reach similar levels of education compared to shippings, in general. The difference is that they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of shipping
Updated January 8, 2025











