What Is Outbound Ship Dock at Amazon? [Job Description]

Trying to understand all the different jobs at Amazon warehouses can be incredibly confusing as there are simply so many. If you are considering working at Amazon or transferring to Outbound Ship Dock, you probably have a few questions.

So, let’s find out: What does Outbound Ship Dock mean at Amazon?

What Is Outbound Ship Dock at Amazon?

Outbound Ship Dock workers are responsible for taking Amazon packages that are ready to be shipped off the conveyor belt and moving them into the Amazon trucks. It can be a physically challenging position, as you often need to get on and off the truck and carry heavy boxes. 

In this article, we are going to find out everything there is to know about the Outbound Ship Dock job at Amazon, so you can decide for yourself if it’s a position you’re interested in trying!

What Does Outbound Ship Dock at Amazon Do?

The Amazon Outbound Ship Dock job description is fairly simple: In this job, you are required to take ready-to-ship Amazon packages off the conveyor belt at the outbound docks and load the boxes into waiting trucks.

Usually, you will be assigned to a lane at the bottom of a conveyor with other employees, and together you will ensure the lane does not get backed up by quickly and continuously moving the arriving boxes onto the truck.

It is also important that you organize the boxes on the truck so that the items inside will not be damaged during transport and so that the packages will be easy to unload at their next destination.

Is Outbound Ship Dock a Good Job at Amazon?

While the job may sound easy enough, there is some debate as to whether Outbound Ship Dock is a good job at Amazon.

Some employees have stated that working on the outbound docks is incredibly stressful as the conveyor belts never seem to stop bringing boxes, and therefore, you never have a minute to breathe, let alone take a bathroom break.

On the other hand, some people enjoy working at Outbound Ship Dock as there is no rate or time off task metric, so you don’t feel quite the same pressure as those working inside the warehouse.

Almost everyone agrees that this gig is physically very strenuous as you are constantly lifting boxes and moving them onto the truck, so while it may or may not be the right job for you, you’ll certainly be getting a bit of a workout in.

Outbound Ship Dock Salary

Outbound Ship Dock Salary

If you are hired at Amazon as an Outbound Ship Dock worker, you should expect to make anywhere between $15-$18 per hour, depending on where your warehouse is located.

Almost every entry-level position at Amazon warehouses receives this same initial salary, but it’s important to know that you will most likely get a raise within the first 6 months of your Amazon employment.

How to Succeed in Outbound Ship Dock at Amazon

In order to succeed in Outbound Ship Dock at Amazon, there are a few things you need to be able to do:

  • Work fast. The packages arrive down the conveyor belt consistently, and it can be hard to keep up. If you can work fast, you won’t fall behind, and you will certainly be seen as doing a better job.
  • Stay organized. While you’re packing the truck, you will make your life a whole lot easier if you place the boxes intentionally to make space for everything that needs to get on that truck.
  • Stay fit. As you now know, this job can be extremely physically taxing, so it’s important that you show up for work healthy and able to get the job done.

Can Amazon Ship Dock Also Be Inbound?

It can often be confusing because there is an almost identical job to Outbound Ship Dock on the inbound docks, which is either known as Inbound Receive Dock or Inbound Ship Dock.

So yes, Ship Dock can be inbound, but you may also hear it called Receive Dock; both are the same job that mirrors what Outbound Ship Dock workers do, i.e., unload the boxes from incoming trucks.

Conclusion

Outbound Ship Dock at Amazon is a position in which employees are required to retrieve packed Amazon items from a conveyor belt, move them to an awaiting delivery truck, and organize them in the truck. It can be one of the most physically challenging jobs at Amazon warehouses.