How to hire a terminal clerk

How to hire a terminal clerk, step by step

Here's a step-by-step terminal clerk hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a terminal clerk job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new terminal clerk
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the terminal clerk you need to hire. Certain terminal clerk roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A terminal clerk's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, terminal clerks from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   The following list breaks down different types of terminal clerks and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Terminal Clerk	Description	Hourly rate
   Terminal Clerk	General office clerks perform a variety of clerical tasks, including answering telephones, typing documents, and filing records.	$14-21
   Internship	Interns are trainees who are engaged by a company to work for them for a brief period. Interns usually use this opportunity to gain actual work experience, fulfill university or college requirements, and ensure that they are working towards the right career path for them... Show more	$11-23
   Office Administrator	Office administrators are employees who ensure that the office is running in tip-top shape. They manage the administrative needs of the office... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Direct Calls
   • Computer System
   • Schedule Appointments
   • Freight Bills
   • Call Volume
   • Customer Inquiries
   • Freight Issues
   • Freight Movement
   • Payroll
   • AAP
   • Data Entry
   • Customer Issues
   • DOT
   • Hazardous Materials

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Demonstrate strong math skills in managing inmate s accounts and calmly and effectively deescalating outbursts of belligerent inmates.
   • Handle all incoming calls, bank deposits, accounts payable, general ledgers and employee payroll.
   • Prepare various spreadsheets such as month end salary accruals and payroll allocations for facilities within the company.
   • Maintain cleanliness of the company warehouse, operate warehouse machinery and organize the warehouse to ensure proper product placement.
   • Count daily out of stocks using the Telxon handheld, and enter the information onto the Safeway intranet for ordering purposes.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your terminal clerk job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A terminal clerk salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, terminal clerks' average salary in new mexico is 40% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level terminal clerks earn 32% less than senior-level terminal clerks.
   • Certifications. A terminal clerk with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a terminal clerk's salary.

   Average terminal clerk salary

   $36,854yearly

   $17.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level terminal clerk salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a terminal clerk job description

   A terminal clerk job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a terminal clerk job description:

   Terminal clerk job description example

   **37369BR**
   
   **Posting Title:**
   
   Terminal Clerk I
   
   **Estes Facility:**
   
   Sun Valley CA
   
   **Job Summary:**
   
   **0700-1530**
   
   **(Hours are subject to change based on company needs).**
   
   + Answer telephones with a heavy call volume and direct calls with accuracy
   
   + Responsible for checking in drivers
   
   + Enter delivery manifest data into the computer system
   
   + Conduct imaging and scanning of bills of lading and other documents
   
   + Identify freight bills requiring special delivery instructions
   
   + Responsible for the distribution of bills of Lading
   
   + Enter data into the dispatch system
   
   + Work with driver handhelds
   
   + Contact customers and coordinate delivery times and schedule appointments for freight delivery
   
   + Regular attendance is required.
   
   + This is not an all-inclusive list of job requirements and/or duties and may not contain all mental and physical capabilities necessary to perform the job at all times due to circumstances. Operational, safety and other needs may require the employee to perform any and all other duties as assigned. Employees are expected, and must be able to perform all such duties and tasks.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   + High School Diploma or General Educational Degree (GED), or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background
   
   + Experience in billing, collections, tracing & OS&D preferred
   
   + Computer skills, proficient in MS Word and Excel
   
   + Strong customer service skills
   
   + Good clerical skills
   
   + Possess excellent verbal and written communication and listening skills
   
   + Ability to solve problems where work is defined with established instructions and processes
   
   + Ability to work under close detailed instruction
   
   + Experience in the transportation industry a plus although not required
   
   + Must be able to lift approximately 20 lbs., or more if required by the essential functions of the job
   
   + Must be able to comply with all company policies, rules, procedures and Code of Conduct
   
   + Must be able to interact well with others
   
   + Must be able to work independently, or in a team setting
   
   + Must be capable of working under tight time constraints in a high volume environment with multiple priorities
   
   + Responds well to questions; Ability to read, interpret and comply with written information and documents such as safety rules, operations / procedure manuals and maintenance instructions with a high comprehension and concentration level to include the ability to meet deadlines
   
   + Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, random drug and/or alcohol tests, and will be subject to a criminal history background check
   
   + Must be authorized to work in the United States
   
   **Physical Demands**
   
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel or operate computers and other standard office equipment. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, lift, twist, turn and reach with hands and arms. The employee must be capable of lifting a minimum of 20 lbs., or more if required by the essential functions of the job.
   
   **Work Environment**
   
   The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment ranges from quiet to loud as required by the essential functions of the job.
   
   
   37369BR
   
   **State:**
   
   California
   
   **Organization Level:**
   
   Field
   
   **Company:**
   
   Estes West - Division of Estes
   
   **Job Category:**
   
   Admin & Clerical
   
   **Employment Type:**
   
   Full-Time
   
   **City:**
   
   Sun Valley
   
   **Equal Employment Opportunity:**
   
   EOE, including disability/vets
   
   **Posted Pay Range::**
   
   PayRate - From $18.35/hr to $20.85/hr

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right terminal clerk for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your terminal clerk job on Zippia to find and recruit terminal clerk candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting terminal clerks requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new terminal clerk

   Once you've decided on a perfect terminal clerk candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new terminal clerk. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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