How to set up a FedEx Freight Baseline account [Step-by-Step guide]

When setting up an FedEx Carrier account, you will have to:

NOTE: This article describes how to set up the Carrier baseline account.
If the Carrier baseline account has already been set up and you intend to add a new Billing Account, refer to: How to add and set up a FedEx Freight Billing Account [Step-by-Step guide]

NOTE: If you already have the FedEx API keys and Meters, SKIP the stages of this guide to the "FINAL PHASE - CREATE, SET AND TEST THE PRODUCTION ACCOUNT" section.

INTRODUCTION

The Fedex Freight account setup consists of several stages, not only as techSHIP setup, but also on operations within the FedEx Web Services platform.

Besides of having the account set up at your Techship Portal, you’ll have to send the labels for review and approval to FedEx’s WIS team.

There is information defined by you, as well as FedEx. 

Once the labels are approved, and the testing account has been tested properly, you can start using the production account. The process is the following:

PHASE 1 - OBTAIN KEYS

To begin the process, you’ll need to access FedEx’s site with your FedEx credentials in order to request Test and Production keys. 

These keys will be used for the Carrier setup and the Client information within TechShip, allowing you to enable usage of the shipping services.

Before accessing, it’s important to understand who provides what information in the process:

YOU:

• FedEx Username and Password (which should log in here https://developer.fedex.com/api/en-us/catalog/ship/v1/docs.html#operation/CancelTag)
• FedEx Production Account number

FEDEX:

• Production Account (to you, upon keys request)
• Production Key (to you, upon keys request)
• Production Password (to the FedEx Main contact via e-mail, who should forward the FedEx e-mail to you if you're not it)

Now that you know what's the source of the full set of keys, let's review the steps to get them:

ACCESSING FEDEX WEB SERVICES PAGE

1. Click Sign Up or Log In in the side bar

2. Click Log In and enter your FedEx credentials (https://developer.fedex.com/api/en-us/catalog/ship/v1/docs.html#operation/CancelTag) with your Username and Password

1.1 GETTING THE TEST KEY

First of all: What is a Test Key? 

It's a group of values that allows us to connect to FedEx, and at this particular stage, to setup a test account in techSHIP so we can print labels, which we will need to get certified by FedEx before you can move into Production stage.

Let’s see how to get them:

1. Click My Projects

2. Click Create a Project; this project will be the source of connection on FedEx's end

3. Select the option "I work for a company that ships with FedEx and is using a third-party software solution that has requested API Keys"

4. Complete the information for the third-party information (Techdinamics) as:

• Third-party company: Techdinamics
• Third-party product: techSHIP
• Third-party product website: www.techdinamics.com

5. Press Continue to move forward

6. Check all the API Services

7. Press Next, and accept the terms clicking I Understand in the Summary 

8. Complete the Signature with your full name as indicated and check the box in agreement to the terms and conditions

9. Press I Accept to complete the process 

You will be taken to configure the project in the Project Overview screen, where you will have the information in the Test Key section:

• API Key: To be used in the Baseline setup
• Secret Key: To be used in the Baseline setup
• Shipper Account: To be used in the Baseline and Billing Account setup
• Bill-to Account: To be used in the Baseline and Billing Account setup 

1.2 GETTING THE PRODUCTION KEY

First of all: What is the Production Key? It’s the actual credential (together with more information which will be mentioned) with which TechShip will connect with the Carrier and through which you will operate.

Let’s see how to get them. Once you have created the Project and obtained the Test Keys, you'll only need to switch to the Production tab to begin the process.

The following steps include accessing the Project, but assume you're already logged in.

1. Click My Projects

2. Click the Project you created when setting up the Test Credentials

3) Switch to the Production Key tab

4) Name the API Key connection as you wish (suggested: techSHIP connection)

5) Select the FedEx account you wish to use through this connection

6) Press Next

Once the key is ready, you'll be able to access it through the Production tab:

With the keys at hand, you can move forward with the setup.

Whichever the case, in techSHIP, you will have to use the:

• Account number accordingly for the Account field
• API Key at the Key field
• API Secret at the Secret/Password field

PHASE 2 - CARRIER SECTION

Now that you have the test key and password, to set up the Baseline Carrier account in techSHIP.

NOTE: The Carrier must be added by Techdinamics' staff, you won't be able to do it by yourself. Once the Carrier is available, you'll be in charge to set up the accounts under it.
If the Carrier has not been added yet, reach your Techdinamics representative.

1. Access Maintenance and select Carriers

2. Click the Carrier for which you'll add the account to from the list

3. Click the Accounts tab

4. Click Add Account

5. In General Options set:

1. Name -> FedEx Freight - [Account number] (e.g. FedEx Freight - 123456789)
2. Usage mode -> Test
3. Status -> Active
4. Label mode -> ZPL
5. SCAC -> Carrier/SCAC code you're using in the WMS
   
   

1. Account Number -> FedEx Test Account number 
2. Meter Number -> FedEx Test Meter number 
3. User Key -> FedEx Test Key
4. User Password -> FedEx Test Key Password
5. Sender address info -> Warehouse induction address

OPTIONAL

1. Pick Up Open, Close and Ready Hours time -> Warehouse pick up open and pick up close time, as well as Ready Hours (how many hours will it take you to be ready from your open time)

Once ready, proceed to setting up the Billing Account as described in How to add and set up a FedEx Freight Billing Account [Step-by-Step guide], using the following values:

Test Account Number with Payment Type as Sender instead of the Production one.

PHASE 4 - IMPORT TEST ORDERS

Since FedEx requires you to have the labels approved before moving into production.

You will need to send them test labels to verify these comply with their requirements. 

This is the preparatory stage for such process. 

Create a manual LTL shipment to generate a label with it.

To do so, follow the steps:

1. Following this guide 16 - How to create a manual order - [Step-by-step guide], create a shipment with the described features:

GENERAL OPTIONS TAB

• Batch number, Pick Order, Customer Order number, Customer PO: Use the same number to find the order easily for this test and in the future
• Ship-to-Address: Any valid address in your area which is not the same as the Ship-From address you defined
• Ship-to-Phone: Any valid phone in your area

CARRIER OPTIONS TAB

• Freight Class: 55
• NMFC Class: Leave the field empty

PACKAGING TAB

• Add one box with
  • Height, Width and Length: 48
  • Weight: 200
  • Add a SKU with a complete line information (HST is the only field not required)

PHASE 5 - PROCESS AND PRINT LABELS

In this Phase, you will have to process and print the created batch so you can have the label ready for the next one.

NOTE: If you have problems when importing due to Missing the Service Code, choose an option from the Default Service Code dropdown that applies to the type of batch you're importing (e.g. if you are importing the FedEx Express batch, choose one of the FedEx Express options. Save and Retry.

You can opt between two paths to take to print the labels:

• SCENARIO A: Setting up the Techdinamics Print Client (to print directly from techSHIP)
• SCENARIO B: Download the labels and print them from the file straight to the printer

Each scenario will be described separately:

5.A - PRINT THROUGH TECHDINAMICS PRINT CLIENT

To set up the Techdinamics Print Client and your Printer, follow the instructions here:

• How to install the Techdinamics Print Client - [Step-by-step guide]

Once ready, press Process and Print in the batch to print the labels in your currently active printer.

Once the Processing has been successful, the batch orders should show that have been processed OK, as well as Status Printed.

WARNING: Do not proceed without repeating Phases 4 and 5 for the remaining batch file. Both are important and critical for complete approval.

5.B - DOWNLOAD THE LABELS AND PRINT THROUGH WINDOWS PRINT SERVICE 

To process the batch and download the labels, follow the instructions here:

• Press Process to process the orders

• Download the labels as described here 09 - How to download labels and packing slips in PDF format [Step-by-Step guide]
• Print the downloaded labels through the Windows Print service

Once ready the batch orders should show that have been processed OK, but the printing is still unprocessed, since you printed these outside of techSHIP.

WARNING: Do not proceed without repeating Phases 4 and 5 for the remaining batch file. Both are important and critical for complete approval.

PHASE 6 - SCAN AND SEND LABELS FOR APPROVAL

This step consists in two main tasks: 

1. Scanning the printed labels

2. Sending the label over e-mail with a case sheet to FedEx WIS team

Labels should be scanned in a minimum of 600dpi and not have any cut off parts outside the scan area. We strongly suggest you stick 3 labels per page, on an A4 or Letter sized paper.

Once you’ve got the scans you’ll have to send the labels to FedEx WIS team for approval, together with the complete WIS Label Cover Sheet document, as indicated in each field. 

This Cover Sheet document should have been sent by FedEx to the main contact when the keys were requested.

Compose an e-mail to the following address: label@fedex.com 

The mail should contain:

1. Body text requesting the certification

2. The subject that applies to the case

3. The label attached

4. The WIS Cover Label Sheet

5. Request to activate Address Validation Services for FedEx Web Services

An example of it would be the following (missing point 5), where the blurred out element is your Company Name:

WARNING: If you do not request to enable Address Validation Services and you attempt to use it, you will see the Address Validation failed - 1000 ERROR Authentication Failed error message.
If you requested it and still get it, reach your FedEx representative to solve the issue.

The approval procedure usually takes between 1 and 3 business days, so be patient. Once the approval is received, you will receive two e-mails, one with the approval, and another one with details, continue to the last step.

FINAL PHASE - CREATE, SET AND TEST THE PRODUCTION ACCOUNT

Once you've done so, you'll have to repeat a similar process to the one you followed for the Test Account, but for the Production one:

1. Access Maintenance and select Carriers

2. Click the Carrier for which you'll add the account to from the list

3. Click the Accounts tab

4. Click Add Account

5. In General Options set:

1. Name -> FedEx Freight - [Account number] (e.g. FedEx Freight - 123456789)
2. Usage mode -> Production
3. Status -> Active
4. Label mode -> ZPL
5. SCAC -> Carrier/SCAC code you're using in the WMS
   
   

1. Account Number -> FedEx Production Account number 
2. Meter Number -> Repeat use of the FedEx Production Account number 
3. User Key -> FedEx Production Key
4. User Password -> FedEx Production Key
5. Sender address info -> Warehouse induction address
6. Pick Up Open, Close and Ready Hours time -> Warehouse pick up open and pick up close time, as well as Ready Hours (how many hours will it take you to be ready from your open time)