What does a traffic clerk do?
Traffic clerk responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real traffic clerk resumes:
- Manage comprehensive truckload and LTL logistical information for customers and trucking carriers.
- File BOL's for inbound and outbound loads to maintain audit standards.
- Work on AS400 to adjust and close food orders.
- Analyze and direct routing for LTL or T/L shipments, follow up T/L shipments for delivery dates.
- Maintain clean and sanitary operating environment; responsible for maintaining cleanliness of receiving area including loading dock and trash areas.
- Coordinate shipments of LCL cargo going to Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras.
- Monitor EDI transfers; make sure documents are receive in a timely matter.
- Prepare notes and PowerPoint slide shows for meetings.
- Report shipments to customers via phone, email, fax, EDI and customer websites for routing.
- Make sortations for outgoing and incoming mail using proper sortation distribution.
- Process repair parts that arrive in site for distribution to military combat equipment.
- Provide food, water and medical supplies to soldiers during field exercises and deployment in combat
- Present PowerPoint presentation of successes to aid other departments.
Traffic clerk skills and personality traits
We calculated that 22% of Traffic Clerks are proficient in Shipping Receiving, Data Entry, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Traffic Clerks that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Shipping Receiving, 22%
Mill operator making paint out of batch ticket / Filling line operator/shipping receiving order pulling forklift driver (5 years)
- Data Entry, 14%
Confirmed data entry accuracy and closed orders.
- Customer Service, 9%
Developed relationships with customers and carriers by performing a high level of excellent customer service.
- Outbound Shipments, 7%
Determined mode of transportation for inbound/ outbound shipments to meet customer needs/departmental goals.
- WMS, 5%
Entered all load data information into our software, WMS.
- Space Availability, 4%
Recorded shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, and damages differences, for reporting and accounting.
Common skills that a traffic clerk uses to do their job include "shipping receiving," "data entry," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important traffic clerk responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a traffic clerk to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what traffic clerks do because "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints." Additionally, a traffic clerk resume shows how traffic clerks use customer-service skills: "detailed customer service from data entry, order processing, arranging and tracking shipments. "
Detail oriented. Many traffic clerk duties rely on detail oriented. "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot.," so a traffic clerk will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways traffic clerk responsibilities rely on detail oriented: "communicate shipping detail and pricing to customer service departments for approval of additional expenditures. "
Math skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of traffic clerks is math skills. This skill is critical to many everyday traffic clerk duties, as "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "calculated all driver hours and city revenue statistics for in house payroll. "
Communication skills. traffic clerk responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." This resume example shows what traffic clerks do with communication skills on a typical day: "dispatch radio communications within the ware house; receive new products into the computer system. "
The three companies that hire the most traffic clerks are:
- Lineage Logistics21 traffic clerks jobs
- DHL6 traffic clerks jobs
- Yusen Logistics3 traffic clerks jobs
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Traffic clerk vs. Receiving lead
A Receiving Lead's job covers the direction and coordination of receiving and other warehouse processes under the established operating operations. Receiving leads provide the work assignments of their staff daily. They train new and existing employees on the techniques and procedures used in completing work assignments. It is their job to operate pallet jacks, lift trucks, and any other equipment to move parts to their proper locations and load and unload steel trucks whenever necessary.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a traffic clerk are more likely to require skills like "data entry," "space availability," "shipment data," and "freight carriers." On the other hand, a job as a receiving lead requires skills like "sales floor," "safety procedures," "safety regulations," and "electric pallet jack." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Receiving leads earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $40,734. On the other hand, traffic clerks are paid more in the transportation industry with an average salary of $34,219.receiving leads tend to reach similar levels of education than traffic clerks. In fact, receiving leads are 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Traffic clerk vs. Shipping
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.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that traffic clerk responsibilities requires skills like "data entry," "wms," "space availability," and "freight carriers." But a shipping might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pallets," "electric pallet jack," "load trucks," and "forklifts."
Shippings earn a lower average salary than traffic clerks. But shippings earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $35,592. Additionally, traffic clerks earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $34,219 annually.In general, shippings achieve similar levels of education than traffic clerks. They're 0.8% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Traffic clerk vs. Shipping specialist
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.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from traffic clerk resumes include skills like "customer service," "freight carriers," "outbound freight," and "outbound loads," whereas a shipping specialist is more likely to list skills in "logistics," "pallet jack," "iata," and "hazardous materials. "
Shipping specialists earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $36,575. Comparatively, traffic clerks have the highest earning potential in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $34,219.Most shipping specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to traffic clerks. For example, they're 2.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Traffic clerk vs. Receiving associate
Real estate brokers are industry professionals that receive a state license as a real estate broker. Since they acquire a higher-level permit, they can either work independently or hire and manage real estate agents. They generally work with buyers to look for their client's preferred property. They also help negotiate, write contracts, and manage real estate transactions that can either be buying, renting, or selling properties. As compensation, they receive a commission as soon as the sale is completed.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between traffic clerks and receiving associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a traffic clerk might have more use for skills like "data entry," "wms," "space availability," and "shipment data." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of receiving associates require skills like "sales floor," "unload trucks," "pallets," and "safety procedures. "
In general, receiving associates earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,448. The highest-paying industry for a traffic clerk is the transportation industry.receiving associates reach similar levels of education compared to traffic clerks, in general. The difference is that they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of traffic clerk
Updated January 8, 2025











