Nature of the Work Workers in this group are responsible for a variety of communications and recordkeeping operations in business and government. In general, they coordinate, expedite, and keep track of orders for personnel, equipment, and materials. Dispatchers receive requests for service and initiate action to provide that service.
Duties vary, depending on the needs of the employer.
Traffic, shipping, and receiving clerks keep track of all incoming and outgoing shipments of goods transferred between businesses, suppliers, and customers. Traffic clerks keep a record of destination, weight, and charges of all incoming and outgoing shipments. Shipping clerks assemble, address, stamp, and ship merchandise or materials. Receiving clerks unpack, verify, and record incoming merchandise. In a small company, one clerk may perform all of these tasks.