Configure Carrier Accounts

atoship offers two ways to ship: use our pre-negotiated discounted rates, or connect your own carrier accounts for maximum flexibility.

Two Ways to Ship

Option 1: System Rates (Recommended for Most Users)

Use atoship's pre-negotiated rates with no setup required:

Benefits:

• No carrier account needed
• Discounted commercial rates
• Instant access to all carriers
• Simplified billing through atoship wallet
• Support for USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and more

How It Works:

1. Add funds to your atoship wallet
2. Create labels - rates are automatically applied
3. Costs deducted from wallet balance

Option 2: BYOCA (Bring Your Own Carrier Account)

Connect your own carrier accounts for custom rates:

Benefits:

• Use your negotiated rates
• Bill directly to your carrier account
• Maintain existing carrier relationships
• Higher volume discounts
• Custom service configurations

Supported Carriers

Direct Carrier Integrations

Setting Up BYOCA

Step 1: Access Carrier Settings

1. Go to Settings > Carriers > My Carrier Accounts
2. Click Add Carrier Account
3. Select your carrier from the list

Step 2: Enter Credentials

Each carrier requires different credentials:

USPS

• Account Type: eVS, Commercial Plus, or Retail
• Username: Your USPS Web Tools username
• Password: Your Web Tools password
• Mailer ID: 9-digit mailer identifier (if applicable)

FedEx

• Account Number: 9-digit account number
• Meter Number: Assigned by FedEx
• API Key: From FedEx Developer Portal
• API Secret: From FedEx Developer Portal

UPS

• Account Number: 6-digit shipper number
• Username: My UPS username
• Password: My UPS password
• Access License: OAuth 2.0 credentials

DHL

• Site ID: Your DHL site identifier
• Password: Site password
• Account Number: DHL account number

Step 3: Configure Settings

After connecting, configure your account:

Default Settings:

• Default package type (box, envelope, etc.)
• Default service level
• Pickup preferences

Service Restrictions:

• Enable/disable specific services
• Set service-level pricing rules
• Configure residential surcharge handling

Notifications:

• Low balance alerts
• Shipment exception notifications
• Weekly usage reports

Step 4: Test Connection

1. Click Test Connection button
2. System verifies credentials with carrier
3. Creates a test rate request
4. Displays success or error message

Managing Multiple Accounts

Why Use Multiple Accounts?

• Different Business Units: Separate shipping costs by department
• Multiple Locations: Origin-specific accounts
• Rate Comparison: Compare your rates vs system rates
• Backup Accounts: Failover if primary account has issues

Account Priority

Set priority order for rate shopping:

1. Go to Settings > Carriers > Rate Shopping Rules
2. Drag accounts to set priority
3. Configure rules like:
   • "Use my UPS account for packages over 10 lbs"
   • "Use system USPS for all First Class"
   • "Always compare and show cheapest"

Rate Comparison

When you have both BYOCA and system accounts:

1. Create a label as usual
2. Rates display shows both sources:
   • Your Rates: From your connected accounts
   • atoship Rates: Pre-negotiated system rates
3. Choose the best option for each shipment

Pro Tip: Enable "Auto-select cheapest" to automatically pick the lowest rate.

Troubleshooting

Connection Failed

• Verify credentials are correct (no extra spaces)
• Check account is active with carrier
• Ensure API access is enabled
• Confirm account is in good standing

Missing Services

• Services may need activation with carrier
• Check regional availability
• Verify account permissions include the service
• Some services require specific account types

Rate Not Appearing

• Check package weight/dimensions meet service requirements
• Verify origin/destination is supported
• Confirm service is enabled in your settings

Billing Issues

• For BYOCA: Check balance/credit with carrier directly
• For system rates: Add funds to atoship wallet
• Payment failures logged in Settings > Billing > History

Best Practices

1. Test First: Create a test label before going live
2. Monitor Usage: Check carrier dashboards for adjustments
3. Keep Credentials Updated: Rotate API keys periodically
4. Set Up Alerts: Configure low balance notifications
5. Regular Audits: Compare rates quarterly to optimize

Need Help?

• Email: [email protected]
• Support Ticket: Create Ticket at /dashboard/support
• API Docs: Developer Documentation at /docs