The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a service called USPS Modern that requires you to connect it as a carrier in ShipHero. This article will outline the steps to set up your USPS Modern account on the USPS website and connect that account to ShipHero.
By signing up for a USPS Modern account and connecting it to ShipHero, you automatically have ShipHero's Merchant Rate Card activated on your account. Here is a link to view ShipHero's MRC with USPS.
Table of Contents
- How to Create a USPS Modern Account
- How to Connect Your USPS Modern Account to ShipHero
- Setting up Global Direct Entry
Important Notes for Customers with NSA Rates
Before connecting your USPS Modern accounts with ShipHero, contact Support@shiphero.com to enable the NSA settings for your account. This ensures the "Use my NSA" checkbox is available when you are connecting your USPS Modern account with ShipHero. Once you do that, proceed to the How to Connect Your USPS Modern Account section of this article.
NSA (Negotiated Service Agreement): A customized and mutually beneficial contractual agreement between the USPS and a specific mailer (customer or organization). An NSA provides for customized pricing, and classifications under the terms and conditions established in the NSA and may include modifications to current mailing standards and other postal requirements.
How to Create a USPS Modern Account
Before you are able to use the USPS Modern connection in ShipHero you will need to register for a USPS Business Account and enroll in USPS Ship. Follow these instructions to enroll:
NOTE: Your account must have approval from USPS Modern to ship internationally and to military bases.
- Navigate to the Customer Onboarding Portal and click the Create Account button.
- Fill in all the required fields:
- Username
- Security Information
- Contact Information
- Business Address
- Click Verify Address.
- Once you have filled out this information and verified the address, click Continue > Create Account.
-
On the next screen select the USPS APIs service.
-
On the following screen select the number of shipping locations and click Continue.
NOTE: If you are a 3PL or a Brand that has multiple warehouse locations and would like to use separate MIDs and EPS accounts per location, you’ll need to work with your USPS representative to help configure your account.
-
Accept the Terms and Conditions and Select your Payment Method, then click Continue.
-
Enter your payment information and save your card.
NOTE: The payment information entered here must match the payment information on the payment method being used (name, address, etc.)
-
On the Welcome page your CRID, MID(s), and EPS Number(s) will be listed. Save this information before navigating away from this page.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Different MIDs are used for Outbound and Returns.
- If you opted to use a different payment account for Returns, you will have a separate EPS Number as well.
- After saving your information from the Welcome page, click the link on the bottom left of the page to open the Business Customer Gateway (BCG).
-
Accept the Terms and Conditions by clicking Continue at the bottom of the page. This completes your set-up.
At this point you should have received a USPS.com Business Account email, USPS.com Business Account Access email and a USPS Business Customer Gateway email. You should also have your CRID, MID(s) and EPS Number in the USPS.com Business Account Access email.
IMPORTANT NOTE FROM USPS: EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
With the retirement of the Electronic Verification System (eVS) program, the eVS Helpdesk is transitioning to the USPS Ship Helpdesk. As part of this transition, a new email address has been established for the USPS Ship helpdesk, however, the phone number will not be changed.
The transition should have no impact on customers contacting the helpdesk by phone or email.
- Submit a request by phone: 877-264-9693 or 1-877-672-0007 Option 7, Option 1
- Submit a request by email: USPSShipSupport@usps.gov
How to Connect Your USPS Modern Account to ShipHero
Connecting your USPS Modern Account has two parts. First, you will connect your account to ShipHero, then you will need to Grant Platform USPS Account Access to complete the setup.
If you do not see your USPS Modern account listed on the Carriers page after completing the steps below, please reach out to support@shiphero.com for assistance.
Step 1: Connect USPS Modern to ShipHero
- Go to the Shipping > Carriers page and click Connect Carrier.
- Select USPS Modern from the dropdown.
- Fill in the information using the email you received from the USPS Business Customer Gateway (BCG).
- Click Connect. You will be directed to the USPS.com login page.
USPS Connection fields Defined
| Field | Required Input |
| Profile (Required) | Profiles have multiple uses in ShipHero. When connecting a carrier you can set different settings to the carrier account connection and have them only apply to orders with that profile selected. Learn more about the uses of profiles HERE. |
| Warehouse (Required) | Select the physical warehouse the account is being connected to. If you have multiple warehouses, carrier connections are managed separately for each. |
| CRID (Required) | Customer Registration ID; provided by USPS. |
| Content Type (Required) |
Select from dropdown. Available options: MERCHANDISE - Commercial goods (default), GIFT, DOCUMENT, COMMERCIAL_SAMPLE , RETURNED_GOODS, OTHER, HUMANITARIAN_DONATIONS, and DANGEROUS_GOODS. |
| Manifest MID (LABEL_OWNER) (Required) | Master Mailer ID for manifesting. |
| MID (LABEL_OWNER) (Required) | Mailer ID for label ownership. If you only have one MID, use the same as Manifest MID. |
| EPS Account Number (RATE_HOLDER) (Required) | EPS account that holds the rates. |
| EPS Account Number (PAYER) (Required) | EPS account that pays for shipping. If you only have one EPS Account, use the same as RATE_HOLDER. |
| Use my NSA (Optional) | Check the box to use Negotiated Service Agreement rates. Default: Off. |
Step 2: Grant Platform USPS Account Access
- Use your business account information to login to be redirected to the Business Customer Onboarding Portal.
- Select the Outbound MID and Return MID that you setup in previous steps.
- Click Use These MIDs.
-
Verify the information and click Use This Account Information, then click Continue to accept the selected EPS Account.
-
Accept the USPS Terms and Conditions and click the Authorize & Continue button to Grant Platform USPS Account Access.
You will be redirected to your ShipHero Carrier page and will receive a final email from USPS stating that you’ve successfully completed your USPS.com Onboarding and connected your account to ShipHero.
Editable Settings After Connecting USPS Modern
The following table defines the editiable settings available after connecting your USPS Modern account to ShipHero.
Pro Tip: If you often use different content types while shipping, we recommend to creating separate profiles and connecting your account to each of them accordingly. More infomration about using custom profiles can be found in the setion below.
| Carrier Setting | Definition |
| Cut-Off time | Determines the shipping date printed on the label. Once the cut-off time is reached, labels will be generated for the following day. The carrier's cut-off time generally coincides with your carrier pick-up times; labels generated after pick-up don't ship that day, so you'd want the label to reflect the next shipping day accordingly. |
| Content Type | Selectable from dropdown. |
| Use my NSA | Can be enabled or disabled after connecting. |
| Disable Quoting | Do not include this carrier as part of quoting or cheapest rate calculations. |
Setting up Global Direct Entry (GDE)
The Global Direct Entry® (GDE) Wholesaler Program is a USPS initiative that partners with selected wholesalers to handle international shipments. After U.S. Customs, they are handed over to USPS for final delivery. Approved wholesalers get listed on the USPS website and receive business leads, helping them grow.
To join the program, wholesalers must meet certain criteria and get USPS approval. They also need to ensure any representatives or agents follow all program rules and regulations.
NOTE: After USPS approves you for the GDE program, please contact our support team to enable it for your USPS account connected to ShipHero.
Important Reminders when Connecting a Carrier Account
- Using Custom Profiles: Custom profiles allow you to connect the same carrier account multiple times with unique settings, such as specific Incoterms or 3rd Party Billing. For these settings to apply, the order must be assigned to that specific profile. If the assigned profile lacks a connected carrier, ShipHero will automatically use the carrier account connected the warehouse’s default profile for the selected shipping method. This ensures your specialized billing and shipping terms are applied correctly to every label. Visit the following article for more information on How to Use Warehouse Profiles.
- Multi-Warehouse Accounts: To generate labels from multiple warehouses, you must connect your carrier account to each individual location in ShipHero to avoid shipping errors or billing discrepancies. Please consult your carrier to determine if a single account number supports multiple origins or if unique accounts are required for each site. This is especially critical for international locations, as carrier operations vary by country.
- Note for 3PLs: When connecting a new carrier account to ShipHero, double check your 3PL Clients' Settings to ensure you are connecting the carrier account to the correct ShipHero account; if Use Customer's Shipping Accounts is enabled the carrier account must be connected at the child account level, if Use Customer's Shipping Account is not enabled, the carrier account needs to be enabled at the 3PL level. More information about Managing 3PL Client Settings can be found here.