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🎉 ShipEngine is becoming ShipStation API 🎉

Over the next few months you'll notice the ShipEngine website, documentation portal, and dashboard being rebranded as ShipStation API. For our ShipEngine customers, you don't need to take any action or change any of your integrations in any way. All endpoints will remain the same and continue to function as they always have.

To learn more about what's coming, review our New ShipStation API page.

Parcelforce from ShipEngine

Parcelforce from ShipEngine offers domestic and international services to UK-based ShipEngine accounts shipping from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Irelan, Isle of Man, the Scottish Highlands, Islands, and Scilly Isles.

This guide provides developers with the details needed to build Parcelforce from ShipEngine shipping capabilities into your ShipEngine workflows.

ShipEngine also allows you to connect your own existing Parcelforce Worldwide account and the requirements and service details are different than those for Parcelforce from ShipEngine. For details about connecting and using your own Parcelforce Worldwide account with ShipEngine, see our Parcelforce World Guide.

Requirements

carrier_name: parcelforce_walleted

  • A ShipEngine account based in the UK.
  • ShipEngine Carriers must be activated for the account and have a positive account balance to create labels. See our Using ShipEngine Carriers page for details about activating in your account.
  • All shipments must originate from an address in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Irelan, Isle of Man, the Scottish Highlands, Islands, or Scilly Isles.
  • Both weight and dimensions are required for all shipments.
  • Both a first and last name are required in both the Ship To and Ship From addresses.
  • All shipments require a Ship To phone number.

Rates

Parcelforce from ShipEngine supports rate shopping with ShipEngine.

Service Details

Available Parcelforce from ShipEngine services are provided below. Please note that carriers may update their available services at any time. To ensure you are always using valid services, you can use the list carrier services endpoint at any time.

Parcel Weight limit for all services (domestic and international): ≤30KG

Max parcel dimensions:

  • All services except Express 48 Large: 1.5m length and length + girth = ≤3m
  • Express 48 Large: 2.5m length and length + girth = ≤5m

Domestic Services

ServiceAPI Code
Express AMExpAM
Express 24Exp24
Express 48Exp48
Express 24 Collectionparcelforce-walleted_exp_24_collection
Express 48 Collectionparcelforce-walleted_exp_48_collection
Express 48 Large Collectionparcelforce-walleted_exp_48_large_collection

International Services

ServiceAPI Code
Euro EconomyEuropHome

Shipping to Northern Ireland

Parcelforce intends to support all movement types for shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, in accordance with the Windsor Framework.

The data requirements for each movement type may vary. We will provide more details in this section as soon as they are available.

Return Services

Parcelforce from ShipEngine supports return labels for domestic parcels using either Express 24 or Express 48 services. Returns must be dropped off at a local PO.

Review the Return Shipping Labels page for details on creating return labels with ShipEngine.

Packages

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not include specific carrier package types. You can use the generic package type or custom package types.

Adding Shipment Insurance

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not support adding carrier insurance to shipments created in ShipEngine. Parcelforce does incude default coverage up to £100/£200. See Inclusive compensation for a breakdown of amount by service.

Label Support

  • Label sizes: 4" x 6"
  • Label formats: PDF

Label Reference Fields

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not support adding custom label messages. The order number is mapped to a label reference field by default.

Multi-Package Labels

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not currently support multi-package shipments.

Label Branding

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not support label branding.

Voiding Labels

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not support voiding labels with ShipEngine.

You may request reimbursement for unused labels by submitting a claim to ShipEngine with the following information:

  • Nature of the claim (unused postage, label no longer needed)
  • Tracking # or package identifier
  • Order # (if applicable)
  • Specific courier and service used to create the label
  • Ship date used to create the label
  • Claim amount (equal to the carrier fee for the shipping label)
  • Contact email address
  • Contact phone number

Paperless Labels

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not support paperless labels.

Delivery Confirmation

All shipments require a signature upon delivery unless the No Signature Required (NSR) option has been applied to the shipment.

Confirmation TypeAPI CodeDescription
No signature requirednoneNo confirmation requested. When this option is selected, a “safe place” must also be selected so the carrier knows where it is safe to leave the package if no one is available to claim it upon delivery.
Adult signature requiredadult_signatureSignature is required for the shipment to be delivered.

See our Delivery Confirmation page for more details about using the confirmation property.

Advanced Options

Parcelforce from ShipEngine supports certain advanced options, which you can add to the shipment object when creating a shipment or label.

OptionTypeDefault ValueDescription
additional_handlingbooleannullIndicates the package requires special handling.
NotificationsPhonestringnullThe carrier will send SMS tracking notifications if phone number is present.
NotificationsEmailstringnullThe carrier will send email tracking notifications if email address is present.
saturday_deliverybooleanfalseIndicates that the carrier should charge for delivery on Saturday for services that do not otherwise include saturday delivery. Only valid for certain services.

To ensure you always have the most up-to-date information about a carrier's advanced options, use the list carrier options call.

Manifests

Parcelforce from ShipEngine shipments do not require manifesting. Parcelforce does run a "clean sweep" process automatically at 2:00 am to transfer all shipments with a printed status into an archive. Those shipments with a status of “Allocated” and “No Label Printed” are then canceled.

Scheduling Pickups

Parcelforce from ShipEngine does not support scheduling pickups. Express and Euro Economy services are drop-off only. Collection services are automatically scheduled for pickup on the next business day.

Service Points (PUDO)

Parcelforce from ShipEngine Express and Euro Economy services are all Pickup/Dropoff (PUDO) services.

See our Intro to Service Points for more details about how to use service points with ShipEngine.

Tracking

ShipEngine's integration with Parcelforce from ShipEngine supports receiving tracking updates. Review our ​Track a Package guides​​ for details on tracking with the ShipEngine API.