What is the main purpose of a shipping manifest?

The main purpose of a shipping manifest is to identify the material loaded onto a truck. A shipping manifest serves as a comprehensive document that details all the items being shipped, including quantities, descriptions, and often the destination. This information is crucial for transportation personnel, warehouse staff, and receiving entities to ensure that the correct items are loaded and delivered.

By having a clear record of what is on board, the manifest aids in verifying the contents during loading and unloading processes, minimizes the risk of errors, and facilitates accurate inventory management. It may also assist in customs inspections and compliance with shipping regulations.

The other options, while related to shipping logistics, do not align with the primary function of a shipping manifest. For instance, calculating shipping costs pertains to pricing procedures rather than listing contents, and estimating delivery times focuses on logistics scheduling rather than the items themselves. Listing names of shipping personnel is not relevant to the core purpose of item identification on the manifest.