What is Carrier Service?

Carrier Service allows you to create and print carrier labels directly through Fulfillment instead of duplicating data entry from a carrier's web portal.

Carrier Service contacts the carrier to generate labels. This process is done through the Advance Ship Notice (856) and is available for UPS, USPS, FedEx, Purolator, and Canada Post.

Why use Carrier Service?

Using multiple web portals and copying data between them is time consuming and error prone. Carrier Service allows you to book the best shipping rates based on location and delivery date then generate and print the carrier label - all within Fulfillment!

Set up Carrier Service

Before Carrier Service can be used, you'll need to work with SPS Commerce to set up your Fulfillment and Carrier accounts to speak to each other. Reach out to your implementation consultant or support@spscommerce.com to get started!

Once Carrier Service is setup in your account, your Advance Ship Notice will have additional fields to input so you can book and print your carrier labels right in Fulfillment.

Using Carrier Service

Since carrier labels will generate from Advance Ship Notices, you will first create an Advance Ship Notice then follow the instructions below to complete the new information in that document.

Carrier Tab

Check the box in the new Carrier tab to enable Carrier Service for that Advance Ship Notice. You'll fill out information here such as carrier type, service type, and ship date.

Third Party Billing

Some Trading Partners allow Third Party Billing. If this is an option and you have an account other than your own to charge, you will see a dropdown in the Carrier tab to add these details.

If you use Third Party Billing, we recommend Auto Sourcing these details to streamline your document creation. Learn more about Auto Sourcing here.

Carrier Service Pack Information

In addition to the new Carrier tab, there will be a new section in the Order tab to provide pack details such as weight to accurately calculate shipping costs per pack.

Click Check for Errors to ensure you've completed all required fields. After all errors are resolved, you are ready to book your shipment and send your Advance Ship Notice.

Book Shipment

At the top of the document next to save and send, click Book Shipment. A success message will pop up and let you Print Carrier Labels.

**Booking your shipment does not send your ASN**

Once your shipment has physically left your warehouse or facility, you still need to click Send for your Trading Partner to receive the ASN data.

Rate Shopping

If there is no preference on which carrier and/or service to ship with, you can use the Rate Shopping feature to shop for the best rates.

Click the More Actions ellipses next to Book Shipment to Shop Shipping Rate.

If you have more than one Carrier setup, such as both UPS and FedEx, leave the Carrier and Service Type fields blank in the Carrier Tab for rate shopping to shop all available options.

This window will show all shipping options you have across your carriers.

Filter by Carrier and Service Type if you'd like.
Click Select to choose your desired option.

You will then be brought back to the Advance Ship Notice screen where you can Book Shipment and Send your Advance Ship Notice as normal.

Discard Carrier Shipment

If you have booked your shipment, but not yet sent your Advance Ship Notice, you can discard the shipment to make changes.

For example, if you were planning to ship two items, but are now only shipping one. Click the Discard Booked Shipment button at the top of the screen (which has replaced the Book Shipment button) and your shipment booking will be discarded so you can edit the information you need to update.

After changing the necessary information, re-book the shipment by clicking the Book Shipment button again.

Once you've printed your shipping labels, don't make any changes to the ASN. If you do need to make a change, make sure you discard the shipment, re-book, and print new shipping labels.

Some carriers charge per shipment booked even if they are discarded. Please contact your carrier to make sure the shipment is discarded so you won't incur a charge

Accessing Labels

There are several ways you can access your Carrier Shipping Labels.

After Booking a Shipment:

Click Print Carrier Label(s) from the popup.

Within the ASN:

Click the Print Shipping Documents icon in the top right corner of the document.

Within the Transactions tab:

Locate the Order or ASN
Click the More Actions icon on the right side of the screen
Click Print Shipping Documents

To access multiple shipments on the Transactions tab:

Locate the shipments
Click the check boxes to select the shipments you wish to access
In the Actions Panel at the bottom of the screen, click Print Shipping Documents

Auto Sourcing

Auto Sourcing allows you to default information that will not change from document to document. Use Auto Sourcing to default consistent Carrier Service options such as Carrier, Service Type, or Third Party Billing details so you don't have to fill those fields out each time. Learn more about how to use Auto Sourcing here.