ShipStation Carriers

Explains ShipStation carriers program, how to set up billing, and available features & services.

With ShipStation Carriers you can start shipping your orders right away! ShipStation Carriers provide immediate access to multiple carriers with our pre-negotiated preferred rates. There is no need to open and manage your own separate carrier accounts (but you can do that, too). Additionally, you'll purchase all ShipStation Carrier labels using the funds in your ShipStation Balance. Instead of managing payments for multiple postal accounts, use just one balance for all labels!

Once you activate ShipStation Carriers, you can create labels using any of the available services immediately.

Activate ShipStation Carriers

To activate ShipStation Carriers, you must provide the payment method you wish to use for purchasing labels. This payment method will fund your ShipStation Balance, which is used for label purchases and any related label fees.

You'll be prompted to add your payment method the first time you attempt to create a label, or you can follow the steps below to add the billing method in advance:

  1. Click the Get Started button.

    ShipStation Carriers settings with arrow pointing to Get Started button
  2. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your billing details, agree to the terms and conditions, and finish the setup.

This billing method will apply funds to your ShipStation Balance, which is used for any labels you create using ShipStation Carriers and for ParcelGuard (US only) shipment insurance costs. Charges to add funds to the balance will appear on your credit card reports with the description “STAMPS."

Enable Auto-Funding For a Seamless Experience

We recommend you enable auto-funding to ensure your balance never falls below a set threshold amount.

Update ShipStation Balance Payment Method

To change the payment method details for your ShipStation balance:

  1. Click the action menu for ShipStation Balance and select Update payment method.

    The update payment method option is shown for ShipStation balance.
  2. Update your billing details and click Save changes.

View Transaction History

Transaction History is where you can view an itemized list of transactions that affect your ShipStation Balance.

The Transaction History grid lists transactions chronologically by date starting with the most recent. It includes the following transaction types:

  • Label purchases

  • Insurance purchases

  • Service charges

  • Debits and credits to theShipStation balance

  • Refunds

Available Features for ShipStation Carriers

Different carriers support different carrier features. Below is a quick reference table that shows which features are included with each carrier. For more details about a specific carrier, visit the specific carrier help article.

Additional Features for ShipStation Carriers

In addition to the common features listed above, many carriers also have additional features you may be able to take advantage of, like scheduling a pickup within the ShipStation app. For details about what additional features are available for a specific carrier, visit the Additional Features section of the carrier-specific help article.

The carrier can be used to create domestic shipping labels.

The carrier can be used to create international shipping labels.

ShipStation will submit international customs declarations electronically to the carrier.

The carrier can be used to create domestic return labels.

ShipStation will display estimated shipping rates for the carrier based on the connected account information and shipment details.

Shipment insurance, provided by the shipment's selected carrier, can be added to the shipment in ShipStation. This insurance would be in addition to any default coverage already provided by that carrier.

Shipping labels created for this carrier will include a tracking number that can be used to view the shipment status on the carrier's tracking website. Tracking may not be available for all shipping services.

When tracking is available, ShipStation will automatically track the shipment status and update the tracking status on the Shipments tab. This feature allows for other advanced ShipStation features like delayed notifications and the Branded Tracking Page.

ShipStation will manifest the day's shipments for the carrier and submit the manifest electronically. The End of Day process may be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. A printable file may or may not be available when submitted electronically - see End of Day (PDF).

ShipStation can manifest the day's shipments for the carrier and create an End of Day PDF that you can print and provide to the carrier. The End of Day process may be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. The file may or may not be submitted electronically - see End of Day (Electronic).

ShipStation can print the store's logo on shipping labels created for this carrier. Label branding may not be available for all services supported by this carrier.

ShipStation can print information on the label as a label message (configure in Label Document Options). The carrier may or may not support all 3 label message fields and label messages may not be available for all services supported by this carrier.

This carrier can be used to create multi-package shipments, where multiple labels are created for a single shipment and the individual packages are linked together in a single shipment record with a master tracking number.

Disable Services or Carriers

Once activated, all available ShipStation Carriers and their included services are enabled by default. However, you can enable and disable specific services or disable the carrier entirely so you or your staff only select from the services you actually plan to use.

To enable or disable specific services:

  1. Click the Services link next to the carrier whose services you want to edit. 

    ShipStation Carriers settings page with Services column highlighted
  2. Deselect the services you don't want to use (you can also reselect them to enable them at any time). 

    Shipping Options popup. Box highlights some Checkbox options to select or deselect.
  3. Click Save

    The disabled services will now no longer appear in your Services drop-down menu when configuring your shipments or browsing rates. They will also no longer be available to use in Automation Rules.

If you do not plan to use a specific carrier at all, you can disable all of the services at once so the carrier no longer appears in your Services drop-down or in the Rate Calculator at all. Essentially, this is a single-click process that disables all of the services for that carrier. You can always re-enable the carrier at any time if you change your mind.

To disable a ShipStation Carrier:

  1. Click the toggle next to the carrier you wish to disable.  

    The toggle next to one carrier is set to off while another is set to on.

    The disabled carrrier will now no longer appear as an option to select when configuring your shipments, browsing rates or creating an Automation Rule.

Notes about ShipStation Carriers

The following notes apply broadly to all carriers included with ShipStation Carriers. However, individual carriers may also have specific limitations or other noteworthy information. Be sure to check the notes section in a specific carrier's help article for notes specific to that carrier.

  • Post-shipping adjustments may occur with certain carriers if actual package details (like weight and dimensions) do not match the package details used to print the label. These adjustments are assessed by the carrier and reported back to ShipStation. They are then automatically either credited to or deducted from your ShipStation balance.

  • When you void a label created with ShipStation Carriers, the cost of the label is credited back to your ShipStation balance. Most funds for voided labels are credited back the same day but can take up to 21 business days to process.

  • When you cancel your ShipStation account with any remaining balance, you will automatically receive a refund within 30 business days.

  • ShipStation handles all billing requests for ShipStation Carriers. To submit a request about billing, contact ShipStation's Support Team.

  • If there are updates to the Terms of Service or expanded functionality to any ShipStation Carriers, you will see a banner on the Carriers page with the option to click the Update button.

Troubleshooting Tips for ShipStation Carriers

Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.

Issue

How to Troubleshoot or Resolve

Unable to save payment details during the initial setup. The Finish Setup button disappears when attempting to save.

What to do: Try clearing your web browser's cache. Then, try adding your payment method again with your browser in a private or incognito mode.

The carrier can be used to create domestic shipping labels.

The carrier can be used to create international shipping labels.

ShipStation will submit international customs declarations electronically to the carrier.

The carrier can be used to create domestic return labels.

ShipStation will display estimated shipping rates for the carrier based on the connected account information and shipment details.

Shipment insurance, provided by the shipment's selected carrier, can be added to the shipment in ShipStation. This insurance would be in addition to any default coverage already provided by that carrier.

Shipping labels created for this carrier will include a tracking number that can be used to view the shipment status on the carrier's tracking website. Tracking may not be available for all shipping services.

When tracking is available, ShipStation will automatically track the shipment status and update the tracking status on the Shipments tab. This feature allows for other advanced ShipStation features like delayed notifications and the Branded Tracking Page.

ShipStation will manifest the day's shipments for the carrier and submit the manifest electronically. The End of Day process may be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. A printable file may or may not be available when submitted electronically - see End of Day (PDF).

ShipStation can manifest the day's shipments for the carrier and create an End of Day PDF that you can print and provide to the carrier. The End of Day process may be mandatory or optional, based on the carrier and your account with them. The file may or may not be submitted electronically - see End of Day (Electronic).

ShipStation can print the store's logo on shipping labels created for this carrier. Label branding may not be available for all services supported by this carrier.

ShipStation can print information on the label as a label message (configure in Label Document Options). The carrier may or may not support all 3 label message fields and label messages may not be available for all services supported by this carrier.

This carrier can be used to create multi-package shipments, where multiple labels are created for a single shipment and the individual packages are linked together in a single shipment record with a master tracking number.