Add a live shipping carrier

Overview

This article walks through adding a live shipping carrier (USPS, UPS, or FedEx) and selecting which of its services to offer. For how live rates work and how they combine with other shipping, see [Live Shipping Rates].

Setting up a carrier is a two step process: first you activate the carrier and choose its settings, then you enable the specific services (rates) you want to show customers.

Before you start

Live rates apply to categories whose delivery type is set to "Shipped using live shipping rates." Make sure the relevant categories use that delivery type and have a default weight configured.

FedEx also requires connecting your FedEx account before it will return any rates. UPS works with Foxy's default standard rates out of the box; connecting your own UPS account is optional and only needed for your negotiated rates. See "Connect your UPS or FedEx account" below.

Steps

1. 1

   In the Foxy admin, go to Settings and open the Shipping page.

2. 2

   In the Shipping methods list, click the carrier you want to add: United States Postal Service, Federal Express, or United Parcel Service.

3. 3

   A New shipping method panel opens with the provider preselected. Configure:

   • Container — the package type sent to the carrier for rate calculation. If you don't choose one, dimensions default to 5"×5"×5".

   • Drop type — how you hand packages to the carrier. This can affect the rate tier returned (see [Live Shipping Rates] for details).

   • Destinations — toggle Use for domestic destinations and/or Use for international destinations depending on where you ship.

4. 4

   Click Create.

5. 5

   The shipping method detail panel opens with an Additional services list. Check each service (rate) you want to offer customers, for example Priority Mail, Ground Advantage, or 2 Day. Changes in this list are saved automatically.

6. 6

   Click Save (top right) to save the Shipping page.

Connect your UPS or FedEx account

Connecting a carrier account is currently done in the legacy Foxy admin (admin.foxycart.com), under the Integrations section, not the new admin.

FedEx (required). FedEx requires connecting your FedEx account to return any rates.

1. 1

   If you don’t already have a FedEx account, go to fedex.com and create one — it’s free. If you already have an account, log in. Keep FedEx open in another tab; you’ll need to copy details from it in a later step.

2. 2

   In the legacy Foxy admin (admin.foxycart.com), go to Integrations (under the Account section), then scroll to the native integrations list and find FedEx.

3. 3

   Check the FedEx checkbox, review the FedEx End User License Agreement, check “I have read and understand,” and click I accept. This reveals the account information fields.

4. 4

   Enter your account details, matching what’s shown in FedEx:

   • Your account number and account name are in the Accounts & Payments section of your FedEx portal.

   • Your billing address is on the same page — click the down arrow at the right end of your account row to expand it.

5. 5

   Click Validate the address. This step is handled by FedEx directly, so if it fails, double-check your FedEx account details and try again.

6. 6

   When the verification step appears, we recommend choosing EMAIL. FedEx sends a one-time code to the email on file; enter that code back in Foxy.

7. 7

   Once you see “FedEx Account Connected Successfully,” click Update Integrations to save.

8. 8

   Test it: add an eligible product to your cart and enter a shipping address at checkout. Rates should now come from FedEx’s live API using your connected account.

UPS (optional, for negotiated rates). UPS returns standard rates through Foxy without connecting your own account. If you want your negotiated (discounted) UPS rates instead, connect your UPS account using the "Connect to UPS" option in the legacy admin Integrations section.

Get negotiated rates approved by UPS

Connecting your UPS account in the legacy admin only starts the process. UPS has to separately approve your account for API access before negotiated rates will actually come back.

1. 1

   After connecting your account and entering your UPS shipping settings, contact your UPS Account Manager and ask them to enable your My UPS User ID for Account Based Rates / Negotiated Rates.

2. 2

   If you don’t know your UPS Account Manager, call 1-800-PICK-UPS, or reach UPS technical support directly at 877-289-6418.

3. 3

   Within 24 hours of your account being verified (UPS will need information from your bill), your account should show as Approved in their system.

4. 4

   Once Approved, ask the rep to also check the Authorized radio button. This is what allows your account to retrieve rates through the UPS API.

5. 5

   Once your account is both Approved and Authorized, you’re ready to test.

USPS does not require connecting a separate account to return rates.

Rate calculation setting

On the Shipping page, the Rate calculation dropdown controls whether addresses are rated as residential, commercial, or based on the customer's company field. Set this to match how you ship. See [Live Shipping Rates] for what each option does.

Test your rates

Add a product from an eligible category to your cart and proceed to checkout with a shipping address. The carrier rates you enabled should appear.

For UPS negotiated rates specifically:

• Run a transaction through checkout and note the rates returned.

• In the legacy admin, uncheck use my shipping account, save, and run the same transaction again. Compare the rates — they should differ once your negotiated rates are active.

• Put your account info back, save, and test once more to confirm.

• Repeat with a few different countries and shipping methods, not just one, since negotiated rates can vary by service and destination.

If they don’t:

• Confirm the product’s category delivery type is “Shipped using live shipping rates” with a default weight.

• Confirm you enabled at least one service for the carrier.

• For FedEx, confirm your FedEx account is connected and the EULA accepted in the legacy admin.

• For UPS negotiated rates, confirm your account shows as both Approved and Authorized with UPS — if not, contact your UPS Account Manager before troubleshooting further on the Foxy side.

Notes

International FedEx shipments. If you ship internationally from the United States with FedEx, select both International Economy and International Ground in the carrier’s Additional services list (step 5 above). Ground covers Canada and Mexico; Economy covers overseas destinations. Selecting only one means some countries won’t return a rate.