CWLP Shipping and Receiving 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a 'return merchandise authorization' (RMA) in receiving operations?
- To authorize the shipment of new orders to customers
- To track and control the return of goods from customers (Correct answer)
- To approve overtime for receiving dock workers
- To document insurance claims for damaged freight
Correct answer: To track and control the return of goods from customers
An RMA is a transaction that authorizes a customer to return merchandise, allowing the warehouse to track, receive, and process returned goods properly.
Question 2: A shipper wants to send a 48,000 lb shipment of uniform goods on one truck. Which shipping mode is most cost-effective?
- Less-than-truckload (LTL)
- Full truckload (FTL) (Correct answer)
- Parcel shipping
- Intermodal rail
Correct answer: Full truckload (FTL)
FTL is most cost-effective for large, single-shipper loads as the shipper pays for the entire truck and avoids the higher per-unit rates of LTL or parcel.
Question 3: What does 'dunnage' refer to in the context of shipping and receiving?
- Overweight freight surcharges
- Materials used to protect and secure cargo during transit (Correct answer)
- Dock equipment used to level trailers
- The space between pallets in a trailer
Correct answer: Materials used to protect and secure cargo during transit
Dunnage includes packaging materials such as airbags, foam, wood blocks, and strapping used to fill voids and prevent cargo movement during transit.
Question 4: When performing a receiving count, the warehouse finds 10 extra units beyond what the PO specifies. The BEST action is to:
- Add the extra units to inventory without documentation
- Return the extra units to the carrier immediately
- Document the overage and quarantine until the discrepancy is resolved with the supplier (Correct answer)
- Dispose of the extra units to avoid accounting issues
Correct answer: Document the overage and quarantine until the discrepancy is resolved with the supplier
Overages should be documented and held separately until the supplier is contacted, as the extra units may be needed to correct a billing error or future credit.
Question 5: What is a 'straight bill of lading' as opposed to an 'order bill of lading'?
- A non-negotiable document consigned directly to a named party (Correct answer)
- A document that can be transferred to a third party as a financial instrument
- A bill issued for straight (non-palletized) freight only
- A simplified BOL used for domestic shipments only
Correct answer: A non-negotiable document consigned directly to a named party
A straight bill of lading is non-negotiable and names a specific consignee, meaning it cannot be transferred or used as collateral like an order (negotiable) bill of lading.
Question 6: Which type of dock equipment is used to bridge the gap and height difference between a truck trailer and a loading dock?
- Dock bumper
- Dock leveler (Correct answer)
- Dock seal
- Wheel chock
Correct answer: Dock leveler
A dock leveler is a hinged platform that adjusts to bridge height and gap differences between the warehouse floor and the trailer bed.
Question 7: Under the Carmack Amendment, what is a common carrier's liability for loss or damage to interstate freight?
- Limited to $50 per shipment regardless of value
- Limited to the declared value stated on the bill of lading
- Full actual loss, subject to any agreed-upon liability limitations (Correct answer)
- No liability if damage occurs due to acts of nature
Correct answer: Full actual loss, subject to any agreed-upon liability limitations
The Carmack Amendment holds common carriers liable for the full actual loss of freight unless the carrier has limited liability through a tariff or signed agreement.
CWLP Shipping and Receiving 4
What is the primary purpose of a 'return merchandise authorization' (RMA) in receiving operations?