Pitney Bowes Expedited and PB Delivery and PB Return Services

Overview

Pitney Bowes provides both expedited and standard shipping through PB Expedited (USPS) and PB Standard (PBCS). Both provide delivery and returns shipping.

PB Expedited offers domestic and international shipping and offers accelerated delivery. On qualifying shipments, PB Expedited offers PB Delivery Guarantee. By default, all developer and merchant accounts have access to ship with PB Expedited.

PB Standard offers domestic shipping at lower costs. PB labels are always postpaid labels. When printing PB Delivery labels, shippers must containerize parcels. To ship with PB Standard, a merchant must first onboard.

When writing your code for Pitney Bowes delivery labels, you can write one Create Shipment request that integrates to both PB Standard and PB Expedited. For an example, see Write One Request for PB Expedited and PB Standard.

API Operations

PB Expedited API Operations

PB Expedited uses the following operations. For an operational sequence, see the Shipping Workflow.

Operation


Method

Resource Path


Get Carrier Rules

GET

/v1/information/rules/rating-services?carrier=USPS&originCountryCode={XX}&destinationCountryCode={YY}

Get Carrier Countries

GET

/v1/countries?carrier=USPS&originCountryCode={two-character-ISO-code}

Find Carrier Facilities

POST

/v1/carrier-facility

Validate an Address

POST

/v1/addresses/verify

Suggest Addresses

POST

/v1/addresses/verify-suggest

Rate a Service

POST

/v1/rates

Create a PB Expedited Delivery Label

POST

/v1/shipments

Create a PB Expedited Returns Label

POST

/v1/shipments

Reprint a Label

GET

/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}

Retry a Label

GET

/v1/shipments?originalTransactionId={transaction_id}

Void a Label

DELETE

/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}?cancelInitiator=SHIPPER

Create a USPS SCAN Form

POST

/v1/manifests

Get Tracking Information

GET

/v1/tracking/{trackingNumber}?packageIdentifierType=TrackingNumber

Get Transaction Reports

GET

/v4/ledger/developers/{developerId}/transactions/reports

Get Archived Reports

GET

/v4/ledger/developers/{developerId}/transactions/archived

Merchant Accounts APIs

——

See API Operations for Merchant Accounts.

PB API Operations

PB uses the following operations. For an operational sequence, see the Shipping Workflow. In addition to the operations here, APAC Services provide URLs for PB requests that originate in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Operation


Method

Resource Path


Find Carrier Facilities

POST

/v1/carrier-facility

Validate an Address

POST

/v1/addresses/verify

Suggest Addresses

POST

/v1/addresses/verify-suggest

Rate a Service

POST

/v1/rates

Create a PB Delivery Label

POST

/v1/shipments

Create a PB Returns Label

POST

/v1/shipments

Reprint a Label

GET

/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}?carrier=PBCS

Retry a Label

GET

/v1/shipments?originalTransactionId={transaction_id}&carrier=PBCS

Void a Label

DELETE

/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}?carrier=PBCS&cancelInitiator=SHIPPER

Electronic Delivery

POST

/v1/shipments/{shipmentId}/email

Create a PB Standard Closeout

POST

/v1/manifests

Create a Container Label

POST

/v1/container-manifest

Get Tracking Information

GET

/v1/tracking/{trackingNumber}?packageIdentifierType=TrackingNumber

Get Transaction Reports

GET

/v4/ledger/developers/{developerId}/transactions/reports

Merchant Accounts APIs

——

See API Operations for Merchant Accounts.

Services

Note

As of July 9, 2023: USPS will introduce the new parcel Ground Advantage service and new parcel Ground Advantage Return service to replace existing parcel First-Class and ground services. For details, see this item in the Release Notes.

Delivery Services

The following table shows services and supported parcel types. The table does not show compatible special services. To determine compatible special services, use the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual. Some domestic services require a customs form, as described in this FAQ.

Service


ID

PB Expedited
      (USPS)


PB Delivery
    (PBCS)


Parcel Types


Bound Printed Matter

BPM

          ✓

PKG

First-Class Mail

FCM

            ✓

FLAT, IRRPKG, LETTER, NMLETTER

Library Mail

LIB

            ✓

LGENV, PKG

Media Mail

MEDIA

            ✓

LGENV, PKG

Parcel Select

PRCLSEL

          ✓

PKG

Priority Mail

PM

            ✓

FRB, FRE, LGENV, LFRB, LGLFRENV, MLFRB, PKG, PFRENV, SOFTPACK, SFRB

Priority Mail Express

EM

            ✓

FRE, LGENV, LGLFRENV, PKG, PFRENV

Ground Advantage

UGA

            ✓

PKG, SOFTPACK

Returns Services

The following table shows services and supported parcel types. The table does not show compatible special services. To determine compatible special services, use the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual.

Service


ID

PB Expedited
      (USPS)


PB Standard
    (PBCS)


Parcel Types


UGA Return Service _

UGA

            ✓

PKG

Parcel Select Return Service

PRCLSEL

           

          ✓

PKG

Priority Mail Return Service

PM

            ✓

PKG, FRE, LGLFRENV, PFRENV

International Services (PB Expedited Only)

When you use an international service, the returned label includes the customs form. The following table shows supported services and parcel types but does not show compatible special services. To check compatibility, use the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual.

Service


ID

Parcel Types


First-Class Mail International

FCMI

LGENV, LTR, NMLTR

First-Class Package International Service
(supports E-DELCON)

FCPIS

PKG

Priority Mail Express International

EMI

FRE, LGENV, LGLFRENV, PFRENV, PKG

Priority Mail International

PMI

DVDBOX, FRB, FRE, LFRB, LGENV, LGLFRENV, PFRENV, PKG, SFRB, VIDEOBOX

Special Services

PB Expedited Special Services

PB Expedited supports the following special services. Before using a special service, use the Rules API to determine:

  • If the special service is compatible with the combination of service and parcel type.

  • If the service and parcel type require a trackable special service. If so, DelCon is trackable and has no charge.

  • If the special service is compatible with other special services.

  • The input parameters.

Important

  • The table does not show compatible parcel types.

  • The table does not show compatibility with other special services.

  • Use of a special service might be subject to other restrictions.

  • Do not include a special service unless you intend to apply it.

Note: If you use the FCM mail class, no special service is required.

Special Service


ID


Services


Adult Signature Required

ADSIG

EM, FCM, PM, UGA

Adult Signature with Restricted Delivery

ADSIGRD

EM, FCM, PM, UGA

Certified Mail

Cert

FCM, PM

Certified Mail with Adult Signature

CERTAD

FCM, PM

Certified Mail with Adult Signature and Restricted Delivery

CERTADRD

FCM, PM

Certified Mail with Restricted Delivery

CertRD

FCM, PM

Collect On Delivery (COD)

COD

EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA

Collect On Delivery with Restricted Delivery

CODRD

EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA

Delivery Confirmation

DelCon

FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA

Electronic Return Receipt

ERR

FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA

Hazardous Materials

hazmat

EM, FCM, PM, UGA

Hazardous Materials Restricted Electronic Device (Applies to lithium batteries packaged with used, damaged, or defective electronic devices)

hazmat-electronics

UGA

Holiday Delivery

holiday

EM

Insured Mail

Ins

EM, EMI, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PMI, UGA,

Insured Mail with Restricted Delivery

InsRD

EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA,

Live Animal

liveanimal

EM, FCM, PM, UGA,

Live Animal - Day Old Poultry

liveanimal-poultry

EM, FCM, PM, UGA,

Registered Mail

Reg

FCM, PM

Registered Mail with COD

RegCOD

FCM, PM

Registered Mail with Insurance

RegIns

FCM, PM

Registered Mail with Insurance and Restricted Delivery

RegInsRD

FCM, PM

Registered Mail with Restricted Delivery

RegRD

FCM, PM

Return Receipt

RR

EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA,

Signature Confirmation

Sig

EM, FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA,

Signature with Restricted Delivery

SigRD

FCM, LIB, MEDIA, PM, UGA,

Sunday Delivery

sunday

EM

Sunday holiday Delivery

sunday-holiday

EM

The following special services are returned in the response if fees for non-standard sizes apply.

Non-Standard Dimension 1

NonStandardDim1

Applies if length is greater than 22 inches and less than or equal to 30 inches.

Non-Standard Dimension 2

NonStandardDim2

Applies if the length is greater than 30 inches.

Non-Standard Volume


NonStandardVol


Applies if volume is greater than 2 cubic feet.


PB Delivery Special Services

The following special services are supported for PB Delivery shipments created through the Global Ecommerce APIs. Do not include a special service unless you intend to apply it.

Special Service


ID


Input Parameters

Notifications

NOTIFICATIONS

To set input parameters, see PB Delivery Notifications.

Hazardous Materials

hazmat

See HAZMAT_TYPE Input Parameter.

The following are fees that may be returned in the Rate response, when applicable.

Fuel Surcharge

FUEL

NA

Remote Area Fee

REMOTE AREA FEE

NA

Extended Remote Area Fee

EXTENDED REMOTE AREA FEE

NA

Non-Machinable Fee

NON MACHINABLE FEE

NA

Non-Continental Fee

NON CON FEE

NA

Peak Surcharge

PEAK SURCHARGE

NA

HAZMAT_TYPE Input Parameter

Note

As of July 9, 2023: The HAZMAT_TYPE input parameter will specify the type of hazardous material.

Note

You cannot use the hazmat or hazmat-electronics special services when shipping to or from international or APO/FPO/DPO destinations. In addition, for Standard transactions you cannot ship hazmat to or from Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

As of July 9, 2023, the hazmat special service will require the HAZMAT_TYPE input parameter to specify the type of hazardous material. The HAZMAT_TYPE input parameter will take one of the values in the table below. Enter the value in the inputParameters.value field, as shown here:

{
    "specialServiceId": "hazmat",
    "inputParameters": [ {
        "name" : "HAZMAT_TYPE",
        "value" : "Class 9 Lithium Battery with New Device"
    } ]
}

Value


Description

Air Eligible Ethanol

Air Eligible Ethanol Package – authorized fragrance and hand sanitizer shipments

Class 1 Toy Propellant or Safety Fuse

Ground shipments only. Class 1 – Toy Propellant/Safety Fuse Package.

Class 3

Ground shipments only. Class 3 - Hazardous Materials Package - Hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, ethanol base products, flammable liquids, etc.

Class 7 Radioactive Materials

Ground shipments only. Class 7 – Radioactive Materials Package (e.g., smoke detectors, minerals, gun sights, etc.)

Class 8 Air Eligible Corrosive Materials

Class 8 – Corrosive Materials Package - Air Eligible Corrosive Materials (certain cleaning or tree/weed killing compounds, etc.)

Class 8 Sealed Lead Acid Battery

Class 8 – Nonspillable Wet Battery Package - Sealed lead acid batteries

Class 9 Dry Ice

Class 9 – Dry Ice Package (limited to 5 lbs. if shipped via Air)

Class 9 Lithium Battery Marked Ground Only

Ground shipments only. Class 9 - Lithium Battery Marked – Ground Only Package - New Individual or spare lithium batteries (marked UN3480 or UN3090)

Class 9 Lithium Battery Unmarked

Class 9 – Lithium batteries, unmarked package – New electronic devices installed or packaged with lithium batteries (no marking)

Class 9 Lithium Battery with New Device

Class 9 - Lithium batteries, marked package - New electronic devices packaged with lithium batteries (UN3481 or UN3091)

Class 9 Magnetized Materials

Class 9 – Magnetized Materials Package

Consumer Commodity

ID8000 Consumer Commodity Package - Air Eligible ID8000 Consumer Commodity (non-flammable aerosols, flammable combustible liquids, toxic substance, miscellaneous hazardous materials)

Div 4.1 Mailable Flammable Solids

Ground shipments only. Division 4.1 – Mailable flammable solids and Safety Matches Package – Safety/strike on box matches, book matches, mailable flammable solids

Div 5.1 Hydrogen Peroxide 8 to 20 Percent

Division 5.1 – Oxidizers Package - Hydrogen peroxide (8 to 20% concentration)

Div 5.2 Organic Peroxides

Division 5.2 – Organic Peroxides Package

Div 6.1 Toxic Materials

Division 6.1 – Toxic Materials Package (with an LD50 of 50 mg/kg or less) - (pesticides, herbicides, etc.)

Div 6.2 Biological Materials

Division 6.2 Hazardous Materials - Biological Materials (e.g., lab test kits, authorized COVID test kit returns)

Excepted Quantity Provision

Excepted Quantity Provision Package (e.g., small volumes of flammable liquids, corrosive, toxic or environmentally hazardous materials – marking required)

Ground Only Hazardous Materials

Ground shipments only. Ground Only Hazardous Materials (for items that are not listed, but are restricted to surface only)

Lighters

Ground shipments only. Lighters Package - Authorized Lighters

Limited Quantity Ground Only

Ground shipments only. LTD QTY Ground Package – Aerosols, spray disinfectants, spray paint, hair spray, propane, butane, cleaning products, etc. – fragrances, nail polish, nail polish remover, solvents, hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, ethanol base products, etc. – other limited quantity surface materials, (cosmetics, cleaning products, paints, etc.)

Small Quantity Provision

Ground shipments only. Small Quantity Provision Package (markings required)

Parcel Types

PB Expedited Letters and Flats

The following table shows parcel types and compatible services. The table does not show compatible special services. For compatible special services, use the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual.

Parcel Type


ID


Services


Large Envelope/Flat

Use one of the following IDs, depending on the service:

LGENV: Use for services other than First-Class.

FLAT: Use only with First-Class Mail. FLAT requires the DOC_6X4 label size. FLAT does not support special services. The generated label has an IMb. See this FAQ on printing an IMb label.

The services are specific to the ID:

LGENV supports EM, EMI, FCMI, LIB, MEDIA, PM, and PMI

FLAT supports FCM

Flat Rate Envelope

FRE

EM, EMI, PM, PMI

Letter

LETTER

Use only with First-Class Mail and a label size of either DOC_6X4 or DOC_9X4. LETTER does not support special services. The generated label has an IMb. See this FAQ on printing an IMb label.

FCM

Legal Flat Rate Envelope

LGLFRENV

EM, EMI, PM, PMI

Letter

LTR

Use only with First-Class Mail International (FCMI).

FCMI

Nonmachinable Letter

NMLETTER

Use only with First-Class Mail. For steps to ship non-machinable letters, see this FAQ.

FCM

Nonmachinable Letter

NMLTR

Use only with First-Class Mail International (FCMI). For steps to ship non-machinable letters, see this FAQ.

FCMI

Padded Flat Rate Envelope

PFRENV

EM, EMI, PM, PMI

Soft Pack Envelope

SOFTPACK

See How are rates calculated for USPS soft packs?

PM

PB Expedited Packages

The following table shows parcel types and compatible services. The table does not show compatible special services. For compatible special services, use the Rules API or Domestic Mail Manual.

Parcel Type


ID

Services


DVD Flat Rate Box

DVDBOX

PMI

Medium Flat Rate Box 1,
Medium Flat Rate Box 2

FRB

PM, PMI

Irregular Parcel

For steps to ship irregular parcels, please see this FAQ.

IRRPKG

UGA

Large Flat Rate Box

LFRB

PM, PMI

Military Large Flat Rate Box

MLFRB

PM

Package

PKG

EM, EMI, UGA, FCPIS, LIB, MEDIA, PM, PMI

Small Flat Rate Box

SFRB

PM, PMI

Large Video Flat Rate Box

VIDEOBOX

PMI

PB Delivery and PB Return Packages

PB Delivery and PB Returns use the Package (PKG) parcel type.

Parcel Type


ID

Services


Package

PKG

BPM, PRCLSEL

Labels

Considerations

Please read the following considerations before printing a label:

  • The value for the label size uses an uppercase X. Do not use a lowercase x.

  • For ZPL2 labels, if your printer does not support Unicode, see this topic.

  • Labels retrieved through URLs are available for 24 hours after creation.

  • Advise shippers on correct label placement.

The following considerations apply only to PB Expedited labels:

  • For FCM / FLAT shipments, set the label size to DOC_6X4.

  • For FCM / LETTER shipments, set the label size to DOC_6X4 or DOC_9X4.

  • For shipments that use the customs object, set the label size to DOC_4X6 or DOC_8X11. The returned label includes the customs form. The form serves as both shipping label and customs declaration. For more information, see these FAQs.

  • To print Doc Tabs, see this FAQ.

Label Sizes Per Carrier

Label size


Expedited Delivery


Expedited Returns


PB Delivery


PB Returns



DOC_4X4

        ✓

DOC_4X5

        ✓

DOC_4X6

        ✓

        ✓

        ✓

        ✓

DOC_4X8

        ✓

DOC_6X4

        ✓

        ✓

DOC_8X11

        ✓

        ✓

        ✓

DOC_9X4

        ✓

Expedited Delivery Labels

Note

See the Considerations above.

PB Expedited Delivery labels use the following options.

size


fileFormat


contentType


resolution


DOC_4X6

PDF


PNG
ZPL2

URL


BASE64
BASE64

not applicable


DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)
DPI_203 (default), DPI_300 (domestic labels only)

DOC_4X8

PDF


PNG
ZPL2

URL


BASE64
BASE64

not applicable


not applicable
not applicable

DOC_6X4

PDF


PNG
ZPL2

URL


BASE64
BASE64

not applicable


DPI_203
DPI_203

DOC_8X11

PDF


PNG

URL


BASE64

not applicable


DPI_300

DOC_9X4

PDF


PNG

URL


BASE64

not applicable


DPI_203

Expedited Returns Labels

Note

See the Considerations above.

PB Expedited Returns labels use the following options.

size

fileFormat

contentType

DOC_4X6

PDF


PNG
ZPL2

URL


BASE64
BASE64

DOC_8X11

PDF


PNG

URL


BASE64

PB Delivery Labels

PB Delivery labels use the following options. For APAC Services, see instead APAC Label Settings.

size


fileFormat


contentType


resolution


DOC_4X5

PDF


PNG
ZPL2
TIF
BMP

URL


BASE64
BASE64
BASE64
BASE64

DPI_203


DPI_203
DPI_203 (default), DPI_300
DPI_203, DPI_300, DPI_600 (default)
DPI_203, DPI_300, DPI_600 (default)

DOC_4X6

PDF


PNG
ZPL2
BMP

URL


BASE64
BASE64
BASE64

DPI_203


DPI_203
DPI_203 (default), DPI_300
DPI_203, DPI_300, DPI_600 (default)

PB Returns Labels

PB Returns labels use the following options:

size


fileFormat

contentType

resolution


DOC_4X6

PDF


PNG
ZPL2

URL


BASE64
BASE64

DPI_300


DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)
DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)

DOC_6X4

PDF


PNG
ZPL2

URL


BASE64
BASE64

DPI_300


DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)
DPI_203, DPI_300 (default)

DOC_8X11

PDF

URL

DPI_300

PB Returns QR Codes

PB Returns QR codes use the following options:

fileFormat


contentType

GIF

URL


BASE64

PB Expedited Surcharges

For PB Expedited, the following USPS surcharges can apply. If a surcharge applies, it is returned in the rates.surcharges array.

Surcharge


Definition

irregular

The parcel is an Irregular Parcel.

nonmachinable

The parcel is a Nonmachinable Letter.

Oversize

The parcel is subject to oversize pricing.

Note: If the rates.surcharges array returns an Oversize fee of 0.0, the oversize fee is already included in the base charge.

Onboard with PB Delivery and PB Returns

To onboard a merchant to use PB Standard:

  1. Contact your Pitney Bowes representative to register the merchant at one or more PB Standard facilities. Pitney Bowes will provide the merchant with a set of PB IDs for use when shipping with PB Standard.

  2. Email a request to GEC-TechSupport@pb.com asking Pitney Bowes to enable the merchant to use PB Standard. In the request, include the merchant’s Shipper ID and PB Standard IDs.

PB IDs

Pitney Bowes provides a merchant with the following IDs during onboarding. Pitney Bowes also provides test values for the IDs for use when testing on Sandbox.

ID


Description


Sandbox Test Value


CLIENT_ID

The unique ID assigned to the merchant for use with PB Standard.

NGST

CLIENT_FACILITY_ID

The merchant’s facility. A merchant can have multiple client facility IDs.

0093

CARRIER_FACILITY_ID

The PB facility assigned to the merchant. A merchant can be assigned multiple PB facilities.

1585

Additional Reference Information