Shipping Service Codes: UPS, FedEx and USPS API Service Code Lists

A service code tells a carrier API which delivery service to rate or ship with. UPS uses two-character codes (03 is UPS Ground, 65 is UPS Worldwide Saver), FedEx uses uppercase names (FEDEX_GROUND, PRIORITY_OVERNIGHT) and the USPS REST APIs use mail classes (USPS_GROUND_ADVANTAGE, PRIORITY_MAIL).

In RocketShipIt you send the carrier's own code as service, on every carrier. Rate responses return it in service_code with a readable name in desc, so the value you get back from a rate is the value to send when you create the label.

UPS service codes#

These are the codes for the UPS-REST carrier (and the legacy UPS carrier, which uses the same codes).

Codes 92 to 95 are the old SurePost codes. UPS renamed the service without changing them, and rate responses still describe them as "UPS SurePost"; see UPS Ground Saver.

A code that isn't in this table (for example 74, UPS Express 12:00 in Europe) is still sent to UPS unchanged, so it works if UPS offers it on the lane. The rate comes back with the correct service_code and a desc of "Unknown service code".

Is UPS Saver the correct code for international shipping?#

Yes. 65 is UPS Worldwide Saver, UPS's international express service with end-of-day delivery, usually one to three business days. The same code is called "UPS Saver" or "UPS Express Saver" when you ship from outside the US. It is not the domestic US saver service. That one is 13, UPS Next Day Air Saver, and it isn't Ground Saver (92/93) either, which is an economy ground service.

For international shipments from the US, the choice is usually between:

Not every service is offered on every lane. Rate the shipment without a service to see which ones UPS offers between the two addresses.

Rating one UPS service#

UPS-REST rates every available service by default (UPS's Shop request option, with transit times). To rate a single service, send its code with "request_option": "Rate":

{
  "carrier": "UPS-REST",
  "action": "getallrates",
  "params": {
    "key": "your-key-from-authenticate-request",
    "account_number": "YOUR_ACCOUNT",
    "service": "65",
    "request_option": "Rate",
    "ship_city": "Atlanta",
    "ship_state": "GA",
    "ship_code": "30328",
    "ship_country": "US",
    "to_city": "Toronto",
    "to_state": "ON",
    "to_code": "M5V 2T6",
    "to_country": "CA",
    "packages": [
      { "weight": 5, "length": 10, "width": 8, "height": 6 }
    ]
  }
}

To ship with that service, send the same service on submitshipment.

FedEx service types#

FedEx calls them service types. Send one as service on the FedEx-REST carrier (the legacy FedEx carrier takes the same values).

FEDEX_GROUND vs GROUND_HOME_DELIVERY is the one that trips people up: both are FedEx's ground network, but FedEx requires Home Delivery for residential addresses. Set residential correctly and rate without a service to see which one FedEx returns.

FedEx Freight LTL (FEDEX_FREIGHT_PRIORITY, FEDEX_FREIGHT_ECONOMY) has its own carrier and credentials since FedEx Freight moved to a separate API; see FedEx Freight.

USPS mail classes#

The USPS-REST carrier sends service to USPS as the mail class:

For domestic rates, leave service empty (or send ALL) to get every mail class USPS offers for the package. With a service, RocketShipIt asks USPS for that one mail class only. In the response, service_code is the USPS SKU of the price and local_service_code is the mail class. International rates return international mail classes, such as PRIORITY_MAIL_INTERNATIONAL, in the same field.

The short values in Parameters (PRIORITY, EXPRESS, MEDIA...) belong to the retired USPS Web Tools API, not the REST carrier. If you're moving to the REST APIs, switch them to mail classes.

Other carriers#

• DHL Express product codes (P Express Worldwide, D Express Worldwide documents, N Domestic Express...), Stamps.com (US-GA, US-PM...), DHL eCommerce and other carriers are listed in Parameters. DHL special service codes, which go in addons, are in DHL Service Codes.
• UPS Mail Innovations (M2–M6): Mail Innovations.