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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Dock Clerk

💰 $30,000 - $48,000 / year

LogisticsWarehouseOperations

🎯 Role Definition

We are seeking a reliable, safety-minded Dock Clerk to manage day-to-day dock operations, coordinate incoming and outgoing freight, and maintain accurate shipping and receiving documentation. The ideal candidate will be experienced with shipping/receiving workflows, pallet and freight handling, RF scanners and warehouse management systems (WMS), and able to communicate effectively with carriers, drivers, warehouse staff, and front-office teams. This role is critical to maintaining inventory accuracy, ensuring on-time shipments, and supporting overall logistics efficiency.

Key keywords: Dock Clerk, dock operations, shipping and receiving, freight handling, inventory control, WMS, RF scanner, bill of lading (BOL), carrier coordination, dock scheduling.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Warehouse Associate / Material Handler
  • Forklift Operator / Pallet Jack Operator
  • Shipping & Receiving Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Dock Supervisor / Lead
  • Shipping & Receiving Supervisor
  • Logistics Coordinator / Planner
  • Warehouse Operations Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Inventory Control Clerk
  • Customer Service Representative (Logistics)
  • Transportation Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Receive, inspect and verify incoming shipments against purchase orders and bills of lading (BOL), documenting shortages, damages, and discrepancies in the warehouse management system (WMS) and escalating issues to procurement and receiving managers.
  • Coordinate and schedule inbound and outbound truck appointments, communicate arrival windows with carriers and drivers, and manage dock assignments to minimize dwell time and optimize throughput.
  • Prepare and process shipping documentation, including bills of lading, packing slips, commercial invoices (when applicable), carrier documentation, and hazardous material paperwork in accordance with DOT and company policies.
  • Load and unload trailers and containers safely using hand trucks, pallet jacks, and forklifts (if certified), ensuring correct pallet configuration, load stability, and adherence to load weight and balance guidelines.
  • Operate RF barcode scanners and maintain accurate scanning of SKUs, serial numbers, and lot numbers to ensure real-time inventory updates; perform cycle counts and assist with periodic physical inventories.
  • Stage and palletize outbound product to meet carrier pickup schedules, applying correct labeling, shrink-wrap, strapping and documentation to guarantee compliance with shipping instructions and customer requirements.
  • Verify outbound shipments for accuracy against sales orders and shipping manifests, ensuring correct quantity, SKU, and packaging; print and attach shipping labels and confirm carrier pick-up instructions.
  • Maintain and update daily dock logs, load manifests, temperature records (for temperature-controlled shipments), and exception reports; provide daily reports to warehouse leads and operations managers.
  • Inspect and record damage or non-conformances on incoming and outgoing loads; coordinate with Quality Assurance and vendors to initiate claims, returns, or corrective actions.
  • Coordinate third-party carrier pickups, freight broker communications, and local carrier relationships to support expedited shipments, special handling, and oversized freight movements.
  • Handle paperwork and inbound processing for cross-dock operations, ensuring expedited transfers from receiving to shipping when orders require same-day fulfillment.
  • Monitor dock safety and housekeeping, ensure that dock areas are clear, dock plates are secure, and pallets, straps, and debris are removed promptly to maintain OSHA-compliant conditions.
  • Assist in the implementation and enforcement of procedures for hazardous materials (HAZMAT) handling, proper labeling and segregation, maintaining MSDS/SDS access and compliance with DOT/49 CFR requirements.
  • Communicate with internal teams (sales, customer service, production) to confirm shipping windows, address shipment exceptions, and prioritize shipments based on customer SLAs and carrier constraints.
  • Use basic computer skills to input and extract data from WMS/ERP systems, generate shipping reports, load plans, and carrier documentation to support continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Perform weight verification and check freight dimensions for billing accuracy and to avoid carrier chargebacks; document pallet counts, cube, and weight for freight claims and audits.
  • Load and secure specialized shipments (e.g., fragile, hazardous, unitized skids, temperature-sensitive products) according to corporate standard operating procedures and customer-specific handling instructions.
  • Train new dock associates on safe material handling, proper documentation procedures, RF scanning, and site-specific dock policies; lead by example to maintain consistent quality and throughput.
  • Execute emergency or after-hours shipments as necessary, coordinate with supervisors for overtime dock coverage, and be available for on-call support during high volume periods or critical shipments.
  • Participate in continuous improvement projects (5S, Kaizen) focused on dock layout, pallet flow, label accuracy, and reducing turnaround times for better freight velocity.
  • Reconcile daily freight invoices and assist accounting with invoice verification for carrier billing, accessorial charges, and claims documentation when needed.
  • Monitor and report dock KPIs such as shipments per hour, dwell time, on-time carrier arrivals, and loading accuracy to support operations metrics and performance reviews.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional audits and compliance reviews by providing dock records, manifests, and shipment history.
  • Assist inventory control team with cycle counts, discrepancy investigations, and root-cause analysis for recurring receiving errors.
  • Participate in seasonally-driven capacity planning, helping to scale dock staffing, temporary labor coordination, and scheduling during peak shipping windows.
  • Help develop and refine SOPs and training materials for dock operations, improving onboarding speed and consistency of work practices.
  • Support ad-hoc reporting and data requests related to dock throughput, carrier performance, and claim histories for operations and procurement teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Shipping & receiving documentation: BOL creation, packing slips, manifests, and commercial invoices.
  • Warehouse Management System (WMS) and ERP experience (e.g., Manhattan, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Fishbowl) for scan-to-ship and inventory reconciliation.
  • Proficiency with RF barcode scanners, handhelds and label printers (Zebra, Sato) for carton and pallet-level scanning.
  • Forklift operation and certification (Class II/III) and safe operation of pallet jacks, hand trucks, and dock levelers.
  • Freight handling & load securement: shrink-wrapping, strapping, blocking/bracing and load balancing to avoid freight damage.
  • Basic MS Office skills (Excel for simple reports, Outlook for carrier communication).
  • Familiarity with DOT and OSHA shipping regulations, handling dangerous goods (basic HAZMAT awareness), and temperature-controlled procedures where applicable.
  • Knowledge of carrier terms, accessorial charges, dimensional (DIM) weight calculations, and freight claim procedures.
  • Document control and record-keeping: accurate logs, digital scanning, invoice reconciliation, and exception reporting.
  • Use of shipment tracking and carrier portals (UPS, FedEx, LTL carriers, regional carriers) and ability to coordinate service level agreements (SLAs).

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail with a focus on error-free documentation and inventory accuracy.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication for driver interaction, carrier coordination, and internal stakeholder updates.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to manage multiple shipments and tight carrier windows.
  • Physical stamina and ability to lift, bend, and stand for extended periods in a fast-paced dock environment.
  • Problem-solving mindset for handling shipment exceptions, damaged goods, or scheduling conflicts.
  • Teamwork and coaching: ability to train new hires and collaborate with warehouse, quality, and logistics teams.
  • Customer service orientation when interacting with drivers, vendors, and internal customers.
  • Adaptability and ability to work under pressure during peak seasons or unexpected freight surges.
  • Safety-first mindset with commitment to PPE use, lock-out/tag-out basics, and safe equipment operation.
  • Initiative for continuous improvement and contribution to process and KPI enhancement.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or technical credential in Logistics, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or related field
  • Certifications such as OSHA safety, Forklift Certification, or basic HAZMAT (HAZWOPER/HAZMAT awareness) are advantageous

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Industrial Technology or Operations Management
  • Business Administration
  • Transportation and Distribution

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–3 years in warehouse, shipping & receiving, or dock operations.

Preferred:

  • 1–3 years of hands-on experience in shipping and receiving or dock clerk roles.
  • Experience with a WMS/ERP system and RF scanning workflows.
  • Prior forklift certification and evidence of safe equipment operation.
  • Exposure to carrier relationships (LTL, TL) and freight documentation practices.

Keywords: Dock Clerk job description, dock operations responsibilities, shipping and receiving skills, freight handling, WMS, RF scanner, bill of lading, inventory control, logistics career path, dock supervisor.

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