Create a FedEx Shipment

HTTP Request

POST /v1/shipments

Summary

This operation creates a post-paid shipping label using FedEx® as the carrier. Shipments can originate from the U.S. and Canada.

Prerequisites

The merchant must have an existing FedEx account and must register the account with Pitney Bowes. See Onboard a Merchant to Print FedEx Labels.

Considerations

  1. Addresses: The following address fields are required in the fromAddress and toAddress objects:

    • addressLines

    • postalCode

    • countryCode

  2. Services: For the available services and special services, see Services and Special Services on the FedEx reference page.

  3. Labels: For information on label options, see Labels on the FedEx reference page.

  4. Shipper ID: You must specify a SHIPPER_ID in the shipmentOptions array and set its value to the merchant’s postalReportingNumber. To retrieve a merchant’s postalReportingNumber, use the Get Merchant Accounts API.

  5. Reference IDs: You can print a merchant-defined reference field on the shipping label by specifying the PRINT_CUSTOM_MESSAGE_1 shipment option in the shipmentOptions array.

  6. Error Handling: If your request returns the HTTP 500 Internal Server Error, see Troubleshoot the 500 Internal Server Error.

    For other errors, do not resubmit the request without first checking whether the label was created. To check whether the label was created, issue the Retry Shipment API.

Request URLs

Sandbox: https://shipping-api-sandbox.pitneybowes.com/shippingservices/v1/shipments
Production: https://shipping-api.pitneybowes.com/shippingservices/v1/shipments

Request Headers

Name

Description

Authorization

Required. OAuth token generated using the Generate an OAuth Token API.

Content-Type

Required. The media type of the request entity. Set this to application/json.

Accept-Language

Language and country code. Default: en-US

X-PB-TransactionId

Required. A unique identifier for the transaction, up to 25 characters. The following characters are allowed: letters, numbers, hyphens (-), and underscores (_).

Important: Ensure this is a unique ID.

X-PB-Shipper-Carrier-AccountId

Conditional. The unique identifier for the carrier account. To retrieve the identifier, see this FAQ.

This header is required if the merchant has registered multiple accounts for the same carrier. For more information, see Add Carrier Accounts.

X-PB-UnifiedErrorStructure

Recommended. Set this to true to use the standard error object if an error occurs.

Request / Response Elements

The API call sends and receives a Shipment Object. The following table describes all possible fields in a Shipment Object.

Important

Some fields in the Shipment Object do not apply to this operation and are marked accordingly.

Name

Data Type

Description

fromAddress

Address Object

Required. Origin address.

If you want a different address to appear on the label from the one listed here, see How do I print a return address that is different from the origin address?

toAddress

Address Object

Required. Destination address.

FedEx, UPS: If you are shipping with FedEx or UPS to Puerto Rico or an international destination, and if the importer is different from the final recipient, this is the address of the importer. Enter the recipient’s address in the soldToAddress object. If importer’s address is the same as the final recipient, the toAddress and soldToAddress must match.

altReturnAddress

Address Object

PB Expedited, CBDS Only. Sets the address for parcel returns. Use this in the following situations:

  • PB Expedited: If you are sending an international shipment and if you have set the NON_DELIVERY_OPTION option to redirect, use this field to specify the address for a parcel return.

  • CBDS shipment: By default, parcel returns are sent to a shipment’s fromAddress. (Parcel returns are sent from the Consolidation Center.) If the fromAddress is the wrong address for your returns, then you must use the altReturnAddress to enter the correct address for returns. Failure to enter the correct address will result in parcels being returned to the wrong address.

parcel

Parcel Object

Required. Contains physical characteristics of the parcel.

rates

Array[Rates Object]

Required. Specifies the carrier, service, parcel, and other information. In a response, this field also contains the service charges.

Important: In a request, the rates array can contain only one rates object.

documents

Array[Documents Object]

Conditional. Defines the label, manifest, or other shipping document created by the API call. In a response, this array provides the URL or Base64 string for a document and in some cases can contain multiple objects.

This field is required, except in the following cases:

  • This field does not apply to Rate Parcel requests.

  • This field does not apply to the Create CBDS Shipment request if the merchant prints the first-mile label prior to invoking the API.

shipmentOptions

Array[Object]

Required. Each object in this array defines a shipment option. Specify each option as a name-value pair in the array.

The SHIPPER_ID option is required. For additional requirements for a carrier, see the Considerations section on the carrier’s Create Shipment page.

shipmentOptions.name

String

The name of the shipment option.

shipmentOptions.value

String

The value of the shipment option.

customs

Object

Conditional. For shipments that use customs forms, this object contains the customs information. This field is required for the following carriers in the following situations:

  • PB Expedited: Required for shipments to international destinations. Conditional for shipments to APO/FPO/DPO, U.S. Territories, and FAS, as explained in this FAQ.

  • CBDS: Required for all shipments.

  • FedEx: Required for shipments to international destinations and Puerto Rico.

  • UPS: Required for shipments to international destinations and Puerto Rico.

customs.customsInfo

Customs Info Object

Customs clearance information for the commercial invoice. When using the Customs Info Object, make sure to include the fields marked Required.

customs.customsItems

Array[Customs Items Object]

Customs clearance information for each commodity. When using the Customs Items Object, make sure to include the fields marked Required.

The maximum number of objects in this array is 30.

domesticShipmentDetails

Domestic Shipment Details Object

CBDS Only. Required if the merchant prints the first-mile label prior to invoking the Create CBDS Shipment API. This object contains information about the first-mile leg of the shipment.

soldToAddress

Address Object

FedEx, UPS Only. The final recipient of a the shipment. Required for a shipment from the U.S. to Puerto Rico or to an international destination. Otherwise optional.

This address must match the toAddress.countryCode, with the exception of shipments to Canada and to U.S. satellite countries.

If the final recipient’s address is the same as the importer’s address, the entries in the soldToAddress object must match the entries in the toAddress object.

shipmentType

String

Return Labels Only. Set this to RETURN. Required for Rate Expedited Returns, Create Expedited Returns, and Create Standard Returns. Note: You cannot rate Standard Returns.

references

Array[Object]

PB Standard, CBDS Only. Conditional. The merchant’s reference fields. Each object in the array includes a name-value pair that defines a reference field. This array applies only to the following two carriers:

To pass references for carriers other than the above, see Reference Fields.

references.name

String

PB Standard, CBDS Only. The name of the reference field.

references.value

String

PB Standard, CBDS Only. The value for the reference field.

hazmatDetails

Hazmat Details Object

PB Standard Only. If shipping hazardous materials with PB Standard, use this object.

carrierPayments

Array[Shipment: Carrier Payments Object]

FedEx, UPS Only. Indicates that one or more of the shipment costs should be charged to a third-party account.

shipmentId

String

RESPONSE ONLY. Unique identifier for the shipment, generated by the system in response to shipment purchase.

parcelTrackingNumber

String

RESPONSE ONLY. Tracking number assigned to the shipment by the system.

Sample Request

FedEx Domestic Shipment Sample Request
curl -X POST .../v1/shipments \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <oauth_token>" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-H "Accept-Language: en-US" \
-H "X-PB-TransactionId: <unique_transaction_id>" \
-H "X-PB-Shipper-Carrier-AccountId: <unique_carrier_account_id>" \
-H "X-PB-UnifiedErrorStructure: true" \
-d '
{
    "fromAddress": {
        "company": "Emporium",
        "name": "Kathryn Smith",
        "phone": "334-555-0000",
        "email": "kathryn@example.com",
        "residential": false,
        "addressLines": [
            "2352 Bent Creek Rd"
        ],
        "cityTown": "Auburn",
        "stateProvince": "AL",
        "postalCode": "36830",
        "countryCode": "US"
    },
    "toAddress": {
        "company": "Shop",
        "name": "Mary Jones",
        "phone": "620-555-0000",
        "email": "mary@example.com",
        "residential": false,
        "addressLines": [
            "284 W Fulton St"
        ],
        "cityTown": "Garden City",
        "stateProvince": "KS",
        "postalCode": "67846",
        "countryCode": "US"
    },
    "parcel": {
        "weight": {
            "unitOfMeasurement": "OZ",
            "weight": 20
        }
    },
    "rates": [ {
        "carrier": "FEDEX",
        "serviceId": "2DA",
        "parcelType": "PKG",
        "specialServices": [ {
            "specialServiceId": "INS",
            "inputParameters": [ {
                "name": "INPUT_VALUE",
                "value": "50"
            } ]
        } ]
    } ],
    "documents": [ {
        "size": "DOC_4X6",
        "printDialogOption": "NO_PRINT_DIALOG",
        "type": "SHIPPING_LABEL",
        "contentType": "URL",
        "fileFormat": "PDF"
    } ],
    "shipmentOptions": [ {
        "name": "SHIPPER_ID",
        "value": "9024324564"
    } ]
}'

Sample Response

FedEx Domestic Shipment Sample Response
{
    "fromAddress": {
        "company": "Emporium",
        "name": "Kathryn Smith",
        "phone": "334-555-0000",
        "email": "kathryn@example.com",
        "residential": false,
        "addressLines": [
            "2352 Bent Creek Rd"
        ],
        "cityTown": "Auburn",
        "stateProvince": "AL",
        "postalCode": "36830-6433",
        "countryCode": "US",
        "carrierRoute": "C010",
        "deliveryPoint": "52"
    },
    "toAddress": {
        "company": "Shop",
        "name": "Mary Jones",
        "phone": "620-555-0000",
        "email": "mary@example.com",
        "residential": false,
        "addressLines": [
            "284 W Fulton St"
        ],
        "cityTown": "Garden City",
        "stateProvince": "KS",
        "postalCode": "67846-5352",
        "countryCode": "US",
        "carrierRoute": "C007",
        "deliveryPoint": "84"
    },
    "parcel": {
        "weight": {
            "unitOfMeasurement": "OZ",
            "weight": 20.0
        }
    },
    "rates": [ {
        "carrier": "FEDEX",
        "parcelType": "PKG",
        "inductionPostalCode": "36830",
        "specialServices": [ {
            "fee": 0.0,
            "inputParameters": [ {
                "name": "INPUT_VALUE",
                "value": "50"
            } ],
            "specialServiceId": "INS"
        } ],
        "deliveryCommitment": {
            "estimatedDeliveryDateTime": "2020-12-18 16:30:00",
            "guarantee": "FULL"
        },
        "serviceId": "2DA",
        "baseCharge": 24.38,
        "currencyCode": "USD",
        "surcharges": [ {
            "fee": 2.85,
            "name": "DELIVERY_AREA"
        },{
            "fee": 2.04,
            "name": "FUEL"
        } ],
        "totalCarrierCharge": 29.27,
        "totalTaxAmount": 0.0
    } ],
    "documents": [ {
        "contentType": "URL",
        "contents": "https://.../d7efae383834ed19a6b733a3818a4.pdf",
        "fileFormat": "PDF",
        "size": "DOC_4X6",
        "type": "SHIPPING_LABEL"
    } ],
    "shipmentOptions": [ {
        "name": "SHIPPER_ID",
        "value": "9024324564"
    } ],
    "parcelTrackingNumber": "79487353815",
    "shipmentId": "FEDEX220012345678182"
}

Error Codes

For a list of all error codes returned by the Ecommerce APIs, please see Error Codes.