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Shipping Clerk Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Last updated March 23, 2025
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

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4 min read

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Shipping Clerk interview questions and answers.

  1. What have been your primary roles and responsibilities in the shipping process? See answer
  2. Give an example of when you received a damaged product or a short order and the steps you took to resolve it. See answer
  3. Which shipping tools have you used to manage shipments and inventory? See answer
  4. Which types of carriers and modes of transportation do you have experience working with? See answer
  5. How would you improve the shipping clerk position with your last company? See answer
  6. In your opinion, how important is it for a shipping clerk to have problem-solving and critical thinking skills? See answer
  7. As a 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk, how important is it for you to follow safety rules and regulations?
  8. What is your experience in working with warehouse logistics software?
  9. As a 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk, what organizational method do you follow for documenting the details of shipments?
  10. Let us assume that you lost a shipment. What did you do to rectify the situation?
  11. Describe the steps you would take to implement an organizational method for managing the stock in the warehouse.
  12. What measures would you take to prevent or minimize stock losses in the warehouse.
  13. Explain why it is essential for shipping clerks to be punctual in their work.
  14. In your opinion, how important is it for shipping clerks to be physically fit?
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Hire your next Shipping Clerk today.

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Hire your next Shipping Clerk today.

Post a job
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Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
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6 Shipping Clerk Interview Questions and Answers

What have been your primary roles and responsibilities in the shipping process?

A shipping clerk must be able to manage several tasks at the same time and remain calm under pressure. If a potential 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk candidate only has experience with one specific role in the entire shipping process, such as to crosscheck packing lists with actual shipments, they may not be ready to manage the many different responsibilities that are required within the role of a shipping clerk.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Demonstrate multitasking capabilities
  • Understand all the different roles and responsibilities of a shipping clerk
  • Work with multiple modes of transportation

Example:

“My primary role was to manage the daily details in the shipping process, including to create documents and to verify inventory.”

Give an example of when you received a damaged product or a short order and the steps you took to resolve it.

Most shipments will arrive in the right quantity and in good condition. However, it is possible that you might receive the wrong product, a short quantity or some products that have been damaged either in transit, during the loading process or prior to shipping. Once the 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk determines there is an issue, they must then relay the information and take action to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.

What to look for in an answer:

  • The ability to pay attention to detail
  • Experience resolving problems with shipments
  • An understanding of what to look for

Example:

“A damaged piece arrived in a shipment. I immediately took photos, verified it was part of the original order and notified the shipping manager.”

Which shipping tools have you used to manage shipments and inventory?

The shipping tools used today will vary from employer to employer, but many will be similar across the industry. A 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk should have experience working with a warehouse management system (WMS) and other shipping applications and software. They should be able to create electronic documents, use a barcode scanner and much more. They should also be familiar with the company ERP or CRM and have experience with carrier websites.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding the difference between a WMS and an ERP or CRM
  • Ability to track shipments
  • Knowledge of how to use a barcode scanner

Example:

“I use many shipping tools each day, including barcode scanners, WMS systems and shipment trackers, along with many others.”

Which types of carriers and modes of transportation do you have experience working with?

Each company will require the use of many modes of transportation and a preferred set of carriers. A 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk should be able to work with all over-the-road types of transportation, including less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL), as well as air transportation for emergencies. The important aspect is that they understand that different carriers provide different types of transportation and service different regions of the country and the world.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Lists names of several carriers
  • Experience with several modes of transportation
  • Willingness to learn more about shipping

Example:

“I am familiar with many regional and national careers, such as FedEx and ABF. I have also worked with truckloads and courier modes of transportation.”

How would you improve the 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk position with your last company?

A top candidate should have ideas on the ways to improve upon a shipping clerk position. They should want to improve productivity and job performance rather than just to do the minimum and go home with a paycheck. They should have been able to notice areas that have room for improvement even if they were unable to speak up in their last position because all jobs can be improved.

What to look for in an answer:

  • Specific examples of room for improvement
  • Ability to speak up about a problem
  • Insight and vision to improve a job

Example:

“I think it is a good job, but I would have spent more time on metrics to eliminate wasted and redundant time on the dock.”

In your opinion, how important is it for a 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk to have problem-solving and critical thinking skills?

To keep an accurate track of the various shipments that move in and out of the warehouse, shipping clerks have to be detail-oriented and organized in their work. By asking this question, interviewers want to make sure that candidates are capable enough of managing the inventory of supplies, materials and products. An efficient shipping clerk will know how to work independently and also collaborate with buyers, service providers, customer service representatives, logistics technicians, drivers, and other people in the shipping department.

The candidate's answer should include:

  • Attention to detail
  • Organizational ability
  • Communication skills

A sample response would be something like this:

Example:

"It is extremely important for a 23838415322warehouse20.4forklift operator3.66shipping and receiving2.26warehouse associate1.54material handler1.5184055420847019.0019.1032.85HOURLY45402373792025-10-012025-10-312025-09-012025-09-302025-11-05shipping clerk to have problem-solving and critical thinking skills. In the course of my work, I have to maintain accurate database records, monitor the inventory, checks the bills for received goods, determine the postage costs of parcels according to their weights, keep to the shipping schedule, and track shipments. Things don't always go according to plan, though, and there can be unexpected delays, errors, and lost shipments. When that happens, I have to contact the people involved and work with them to resolve these issues."

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