Package Add-ons & Shipping Options

Introduction to Add-ons & Options

ShipBoss offers a range of package-level add-ons and shipment-level options that can be applied when creating a shipment. These options let you protect your packages, meet carrier compliance requirements, and customize delivery behavior. This guide explains each option, how to configure it, and how it may affect your shipping rate.

Where Add-ons Appear

Add-ons and options are accessible during the shipment creation flow:

• Package-level options (Insurance, Dry Ice, Signature, Hazmat, Battery, Reference) are added per package in the Packages section.
• Shipment-level add-ons (C.O.D.) are added in the Add-ons section of the shipment form.

How to Add a Package Option

To add a package option:

1. Navigate to the Ship page and add or edit a package.
2. Click the Add Option button within the package row.
3. Select the desired option from the dropdown.
4. Fill in the required fields that appear.

About Insurance

The Insurance option allows you to declare a value for your package, which triggers a Declared Value Charge accessorial from the carrier. This provides coverage in the event of loss or damage.

How to Add Insurance

1. Within a package, click Add Option and select Insurance (+$).
2. Enter the dollar amount in the Value field (e.g., 250.00).
3. The declared value is applied per package.

Insurance — Supported Carriers

Insurance / Declared Value is supported by the following carriers:

Insurance — Important Notes

• The declared value field accepts decimal increments (e.g., 0.50).
• The value you enter is the insured amount per package, not the total shipment value.
• The additional charge is calculated by the carrier based on the declared amount and will appear as a line item in your rate breakdown.

About Signature Confirmation

The Signature option instructs the carrier to require a signature upon delivery. Different signature levels offer varying degrees of confirmation.

How to Add Signature

1. Within a package, click Add Option and select Signature (Free).
2. Choose one of the following options from the dropdown:

• Adult Signature Required — A person aged 21 or older must sign. Ideal for high-value or age-restricted items.
• Signature Required (Direct) — Any adult at the delivery address must sign in person.
• Signature May Be Required (Indirect) — The carrier may obtain a signature from a neighbor or leave a notice.
• Signature Not Required — Overrides any default signature requirement for the service.
• Default for That Service — Uses the carrier's default behavior for the selected service level.

Signature — Supported Carriers

Signature options are supported by:

Signature — Important Notes

• Adult Signature Required and Signature Required (Direct) may result in an additional accessorial charge depending on the carrier and service.
• Signature Not Required and Default for That Service do not add a surcharge.
• A signature option is applied per package and affects the entire delivery attempt for that package.

About C.O.D.

C.O.D. (Collect on Delivery) is a shipment-level add-on that instructs the carrier to collect payment from the recipient at the time of delivery before releasing the package.

How to Add C.O.D.

1. In the shipment form, locate the Add-ons section.
2. Select C.O.D. (+$) from the available add-ons.
3. Enter the Amount to be collected from the recipient (must be greater than $0).
4. Optionally enable the Secured Payment toggle to require guaranteed funds (e.g., a money order or cashier's check) instead of a personal check.

C.O.D. — Supported Carriers

C.O.D. is supported on:

C.O.D. — Validation Rules

• An amount must be entered — the field cannot be left blank.
• The amount must be greater than zero.
• C.O.D. is available for domestic parcel shipments.

About Hazmat

The Hazmat option is available for freight shipments and allows you to declare that a package contains regulated hazardous materials. ShipBoss looks up the official UN hazmat classification based on the UN number you provide.

How to Add Hazmat

1. Within a freight package, click Add Option and select Hazmat.
2. Enter the 4-digit UN Number for the hazardous material (e.g., 1090 for acetone).
3. ShipBoss will automatically look up the material and display all matching classification options.
4. Each result shows:
   • UN Number
   • Description — the official material name
   • Class — the hazard class (e.g., 3 for flammable liquids)
   • Package Group — the packing group (I, II, or III) indicating hazard severity
5. Select the correct classification from the displayed options.

Hazmat — Important Notes

• The UN number must be exactly 4 digits to trigger the classification lookup.
• If the UN number is invalid or not found, ShipBoss will display: "Invalid UN number. Please try a different one."
• Hazmat is only available for freight package types — it does not appear for parcel shipments.
• Shippers are responsible for ensuring accurate UN number entry and compliance with DOT and carrier hazmat regulations.

About Dry Ice

The Dry Ice option is used when shipping temperature-sensitive items packed with dry ice. This option is required by carriers to comply with dry ice shipping regulations.

How to Add Dry Ice

1. Within a parcel package, click Add Option and select Dry Ice (+$).
2. Enter the Weight of the dry ice in pounds (e.g., 2.5). This is the weight of dry ice per package, not the total shipment weight.
3. Optionally toggle Medical Use if the dry ice is being used for medical or pharmaceutical purposes.

Dry Ice — Supported Carriers

Dry Ice — Important Notes

• Weight accepts decimal values in 0.50 lb increments.
• The Medical Use toggle is optional and should only be enabled when the shipment contains medical or clinical specimens.
• Dry Ice is regulated by IATA and carrier-specific guidelines — ensure your packaging meets carrier requirements.

About Battery Option

The Battery option is available for parcel shipments and is used to declare the type of battery contained in or shipped with a package. This option is only available when your account has Dangerous Goods enabled.

How to Add Battery

1. Within a parcel package, click Add Option and select Battery (Free).
2. Select the Battery Type from the dropdown:

Then select the Packing Type that describes how the battery is packaged:

Battery — Important Notes

• Both Battery Type and Packing Type are required fields.
• The Battery option only appears if your account has Dangerous Goods shipping enabled by your administrator.
• Battery declarations are subject to IATA, IMDG, and carrier-specific dangerous goods regulations.
• This option is free — it does not add a carrier surcharge but is required for regulatory compliance.

About Reference Numbers

The Reference option allows you to attach up to two custom reference numbers to a package. These are free-of-charge labels for internal tracking, PO numbers, or customer order identifiers.

How to Add a Reference

1. Within a parcel package, click Add Option and select Reference (Free).
2. Enter a value in the Reference_1 field (max 35 characters).
3. Optionally enter a second value in the Reference_2 field.

Reference Numbers — Important Notes

• References appear on the shipping label and in carrier tracking.
• If your account has default references configured, they may auto-populate from saved suggestions.
• Reference numbers are free and do not affect your rate.

About Stackable

The Stackable option is available for freight shipments and indicates whether the freight can be stacked on top of by other freight during transit.

How to Add Stackable

1. Within a freight package, click Add Option and select Stackable.
2. The toggle defaults to enabled (stackable). You can toggle it off if the freight must not be stacked.

Options by Shipment Type

Use this quick reference to identify which options are available for each shipment type:

Troubleshooting: I Don't See the Battery Option

The Battery option is only displayed when your account has Dangerous Goods shipping enabled. Contact your account administrator or ShipBoss support to have this feature activated on your carrier billing account.

Troubleshooting: My Hazmat UN Number Returns No Results

Ensure the UN number is exactly 4 digits (pad with leading zeros if needed, e.g., 0004). If the number is valid but still returns no results, verify the material is approved for the selected carrier's hazmat program.

Troubleshooting: C.O.D. Is Grayed Out or Disabled

C.O.D. may be disabled for your shipment if it is not supported for the selected carrier or service. Verify you are using a domestic parcel service with FedEx or UPS.

Troubleshooting: My Insurance Charge Is Not Showing on the Rate

Declared Value charges only appear if the carrier applies them based on your contracted rates. Ensure the declared value is greater than the carrier's free coverage threshold. Contact support if the charge does not appear after refreshing rates.

Troubleshooting: I Added an Option but It Disappeared After Refreshing Rates

Package options are preserved when you refresh rates. If an option is missing, it may have been removed due to a package edit. Re-add the option and verify the package was saved before requesting rates.