Will shipping clerks be replaced by AI?
Updated
Shipping clerks score 47 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 43%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 38% outright, and 19% stays with people.
- 38% AI can do it
- 43% AI helps
- 19% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 67% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 11 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 4 of them today, speeds up 5 and leaves 2 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Compute amounts, such as space available, shipping, storage, or demurrage charges, using computer or price list. Charge and space calculations are arithmetic against rate tables. | 75% AI can do it |
| Prepare documents, such as work orders, bills of lading, or shipping orders, to route materials. Bills of lading and shipping orders are routine, template-driven documents. | 72% AI can do it |
| Record shipment data, such as weight, charges, space availability, damages, or discrepancies, for reporting, accounting, or recordkeeping purposes. Logging weights, charges and discrepancies is mostly structured data entry. | 65% AI can do it |
| Determine shipping methods, routes, or rates for materials to be shipped. Transport management software already selects methods, routes and rates. | 60% AI can do it |
| Compare shipping routes or methods to determine which have the least environmental impact. Emissions comparison can be computed with tools, but needs data and review. | 55% AI helps |
| Examine shipment contents and compare with records, such as manifests, invoices, or orders, to verify accuracy. Record comparison is digital, but physical inspection of goods stays human. | 45% AI helps |
| Contact carrier representatives to make arrangements or to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials. Carrier emails and booking can be drafted, but phone coordination stays human. | 45% AI helps |
| Confer or correspond with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, or nonconformance to specifications. AI can draft correspondence, but resolving issues needs live human contact. | 40% AI helps |
| Requisition and store shipping materials and supplies to maintain inventory of stock. Supply ordering can be software-driven, but stocking shelves is physical. | 30% AI helps |
| Pack, seal, label, or affix postage to prepare materials for shipping, using hand tools, power tools, or postage meter. Packing, sealing and taping are hands-on physical work. | 10% Needs a person |
| Deliver or route materials to departments using handtruck, conveyor, or sorting bins. Moving materials with handtrucks and conveyors is physical labor. | 5% Needs a person |
How shipping clerks compare
All occupations (923)
Office and administrative support (51)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $45,260 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 816,870 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -7.6% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Check freight rate calculations against carrier price lists in Excel
- Resolve receiving discrepancies in warehouse management system WMS exception queues
- Inspect received goods against manifests before signing receipts
- Lead damage and shortage calls with carrier representatives by phone
- Reconcile shipment records and charges in SAP software
Safer roles nearby
5 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about shipping clerks and AI
Will AI replace shipping clerks?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly computing shipping and space charges and preparing bills of lading. Moving freight by handtruck or conveyor, packing and sealing, and phone calls with carriers stay with people because they need physical work and live contact.
Which shipping clerk tasks is AI taking over?
Charge and space calculations score 75 on exposure, and bills of lading and shipping orders score 72. Rate tables and document templates are structured, so software already runs them. Recording weights, charges and discrepancies in WMS or SAP is mostly data entry, scoring 65.
Which shipping clerk tasks stay human?
Delivering materials by handtruck or conveyor scores 5 on exposure, and packing and sealing scores 10. Both need hands on freight, which only a person can do. Resolving damages and shortages with carriers scores 40 because it needs live conversation, even though AI can draft the emails.
How can shipping clerks stay valuable?
Move toward the steps software leaves open. Check every rate calculation in Excel against the current carrier price list before it goes out. Inspect goods against manifests before signing receipts in your WMS, and lead damage claims and shortage calls with carriers by phone.
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