Much of their time is spent at video display terminals, viewing monitors and observing traffic patterns. As a result of working for long stretches with computers and other electronic equipment, dispatchers can experience significant eyestrain and back discomfort. Shipping, receiving, traffic, and stock clerks work in a wide variety of businesses, institutions, and industries. Some work in warehouses, stock rooms, or in shipping and receiving rooms that may not be temperature controlled. Others may spend time in cold storage rooms or outside on loading platforms, where they are exposed to the weather.
Most jobs involve frequent standing, bending, walking, and stretching.
Some lifting and carrying of smaller items may also be involved. Although automation, robotics, and pneumatic devices have lessened the physical demands in this occupation, their use remains somewhat limited. Work still can be strenuous, even though mechanical material handling equipment is employed to move heavy items. In 1998, material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers held about 4 million jobs. Stock clerks 2,300,000 Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks 774,000 Production, planning, and expediting clerks 248,000 Dispatchers 248,000 Procurement clerks 58,000 Weighers, measurers, checkers, and samplers 51,000 Meter readers, utilities 50,000 All other material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers 196,000 About 7 out of 10 material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing jobs were in services or wholesale and retail trade.