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What does a shipping specialist do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does a shipping specialist do

A shipping specialist is a person who packages, manifests, and tracks all the items requested by the customers - external and internal. They keep strict item handling practices as per the recommended business practices and accurately update the needed tracking systems such as external data sources, spreadsheets, and modules. Besides filing and maintaining shipping document records as per the departmental guidelines, shipping specialists also make it easy to trace shipments by creating or printing identifying labels. Moreover, shipping specialists maintain excellent customer relationships and give timely updates relating to shipments to origin and destination.

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Shipping specialist responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real shipping specialist resumes:

  • Manage order fulfillment for small parcel, LTL, and freight forwarder shipments.
  • Complete documentation and manage inventory levels by utilizing ERP systems.
  • Manage incoming and outgoing shipping logistics for cargo transportation carriers and shipping companies.
  • Process orders including accurate checking, sorting and consolidating freight, wrapping pallets, loading and unloading shipments of customer orders.
  • Unload products from pallets and restock warehouse inventory.
  • freight papers, invoices, HAZMAT, etc .).
  • Prepare shipments for postal or commercial conveyance.
  • Ship and arrange BOL's and paperwork for freight and logistic shipments.
  • Know how to safely use moving equipment: dollies, pallet jacks.
  • Ensure document control BOL, certificate of origin, and waybill accompany shipments.
  • Used RF scanners for various stock movements such as receiving and putting away stock.
  • Pull and process orders for shipment using FedEx, DHL, and independent carriers.
  • Provide fast and accurate processing of all material according to DHL polices and procedures.
  • Package products using computers, printers and fed-ex machines to send to the customer.
  • Prepare shipping documents for LTL shipments such as bills of ladings, and shipping labels.

Shipping specialist skills and personality traits

We calculated that 12% of Shipping Specialists are proficient in Logistics, Shipping Receiving, and 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 Shipping Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Logistics, 12%

    Ensured automated logistics management system for stocks of support equipment parts, components and administrative supplies.

  • Shipping Receiving, 8%

    Performed shipping receiving both physically and systematically.

  • Pallet Jack, 7%

    Utilize industry lifting practices to load and unload items to and from machines, carts, dollies, and pallet jacks.

  • Data Entry, 6%

    Performed Data Entry of all incoming orders which included numeric verification and sequencing.

  • Outbound Shipments, 5%

    Received and processed incoming and outbound shipments in accordance with specified requirements.

  • IATA, 5%

    Utilize the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) to assess compliance with shipments of environmental samples to off-site labs.

"logistics," "shipping receiving," and "pallet jack" are among the most common skills that shipping specialists use at work. You can find even more shipping specialist responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a shipping specialist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what shipping specialists do 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 specialist resume shows how shipping specialists use communication skills: "maintained the data entry system by correcting and updating bar list for internal & external communications. "

Customer-service skills. Many shipping specialist duties rely on customer-service skills. "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints.," so a shipping specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways shipping specialist responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "manage equipment and material for sale; data entry, follow up on bids, communicate pick-ups with customers. "

Detail oriented. This is an important skill for shipping specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how shipping specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "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 excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a shipping specialist: "performed data entry duties and kept detailed records of all shipping manifest. ".

Math skills. For certain shipping specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "math skills." The day-to-day duties of a shipping specialist rely on this skill, as "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what shipping specialists do: "conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of logistics operations using simulation models and other tools. "

Most common shipping specialist skills

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Compare different shipping specialists

Shipping specialist vs. Logistics clerk

Logistics clerks are professionals who are responsible for regulating the supply chain of an organization by performing administrative tasks such as monitoring inventory levels, arranging transportation methods, and managing shipping schedules. These clerks are required to ensure that electronic or paper files are kept accurately and up-to-date so that they can track orders and answer billing questions. They must assist in inspecting orders that arrived in their facility so that they can identify damage and input information into their inventory records. Logistic clerks must also handle replacement for incorrect or damaged goods.

We looked at the average shipping specialist salary and compared it with the wages of a logistics clerk. Generally speaking, logistics clerks are paid $382 lower than shipping specialists per year.Even though shipping specialists and logistics clerks are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require shipping receiving, data entry, and outbound shipments in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between shipping specialists and logistics clerk. For instance, shipping specialist responsibilities require skills such as "logistics," "pallet jack," "iata," and "erp." Whereas a logistics clerk is skilled in "customer service," "freight bills," "delivery schedules," and "reconcile inventory." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Logistics clerks earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $35,696. On the other hand, shipping specialists are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $36,575.logistics clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than shipping specialists. In fact, logistics clerks are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

Shipping specialist vs. Shipper

A shipper is an employee who is responsible for filling customer orders and ensures that the quality of these orders meets the company standards. Shippers are tasked with locating items in a warehouse and preparing them for shipping while completing all the transportation procedures so that no complications arise during the cargo-sending process. They use different trays, forklifts, and scissor lifts following the safety standards set by government regulations and company rules. Shippers must also know how to operate a scanner or use the shipping system to track inventory.

On average, shippers earn a $232 lower salary than shipping specialists a year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both shipping specialists and shippers have skills such as "shipping receiving," "iata," and "forwarders. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that shipping specialist responsibilities requires skills like "logistics," "pallet jack," "data entry," and "outbound shipments." But a shipper might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pallets," "basic math," "math," and "electric pallet jack."

Shippers earn a lower average salary than shipping specialists. But shippers earn the highest pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $35,425. Additionally, shipping specialists earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $36,575 annually.In general, shippers achieve similar levels of education than shipping specialists. They're 2.2% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Shipping specialist vs. Warehouse shipping clerk

Inventory control specialist ensures company inventory is accurate in all levels to increase the company's profitability. The specialist should maintain stable stocks and should manage the procurement of inventories. He/She or she is responsible for managing the flow of inventory in and out together with the shipment, package, and the storage activities then record them accurately for audits and reporting to the management. Specialists are often employed by various industries. They usually work in warehouses or in local retail locations.

An average warehouse shipping clerk eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of shipping specialists. The difference in salaries amounts to warehouse shipping clerks earning a $479 lower average salary than shipping specialists.shipping specialists and warehouse shipping clerks both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "shipping receiving," "pallet jack," and "data entry," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from shipping specialist resumes include skills like "logistics," "outbound shipments," "iata," and "forwarders," whereas a warehouse shipping clerk is more likely to list skills in "pallets," "osha," "warehouse operations," and "warehouse equipment. "

Warehouse shipping clerks make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $35,441. On the other hand, shipping specialists are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $36,575.When it comes to education, warehouse shipping clerks tend to earn similar degree levels compared to shipping specialists. In fact, they're 3.0% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Shipping specialist vs. Inventory control specialist

Inventory control specialists average a higher salary than the annual salary of shipping specialists. The difference is about $1,042 per year.While their salaries may vary, shipping specialists and inventory control specialists both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer orders," "rf," and "sales orders. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between shipping specialists and inventory control specialists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a shipping specialist might have more use for skills like "logistics," "shipping receiving," "pallet jack," and "data entry." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of inventory control specialists require skills like "customer service," "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," and "sales floor. "

The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for inventory control specialists, with average annual pay of $36,114. Comparatively, the highest shipping specialist annual salary comes from the manufacturing industry.The average resume of inventory control specialists showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to shipping specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of shipping specialist

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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