By Manifests are one of the most basic elements of any shipping process. They contain information about the goods you are sending and the means of transport they will be carried in. The manifest may also include a barcode that helps the carrier scan your package quickly. Manifests are a requirement for some carriers, and can streamline the pickup and delivery process.
Manifests are also referred to as End of Day (EOD) forms, Order Summaries, Scan Forms, and Shipment Confirmations. A manifest is a single-page document that lists the cargo, its route, the cargo’s origination state, its destination, and other relevant information. It is generally a good idea to have a manifest on hand for your next shipment, but you’ll need to find out whether or not your carrier requires it. Some carriers, like FedEx and UPS, require manifests, while others don’t. Depending on the carrier, you’ll need to create a manifest for each shipment.
A manifest can be a useful tool, especially if you ship many packages. For instance, if you’re shipping a large number of packages with USPS, you’ll need a manifest. If you’re shipping with Canada Post, you won’t need a manifest, although it is a good idea to have a manifest if you are shipping internationally. You’ll need a manifest if you are shipping with Australia Post, though. Also, if you’re importing items to the manifest Shipping USA from another country, you’ll need a manifest.
Using a manifest to track your shipment is also a good idea. Whether you’re an e-commerce business or a retail outlet, having a good tracking system is essential to protecting you and your customers. Manifests help to minimize the possibility of a package being lost or damaged. As long as you have an accurate manifest, you can track your shipments with confidence.
The best manifests are also the most efficient. Some carriers require you to submit a manifest to their system electronically, which helps to eliminate a lot of manual processing and paperwork. By uploading a data file with an image of the top copy of your manifest, you’ll save money on a paper processing fee. Additionally, you can send your goods’ precise location and weight information to your system while you’re still in the port.
While you can use a manifest to streamline the pickup and delivery of your packages, you’ll need to choose which labels to include in your manifest. Using a software solution like ShipEngine, you can create and print manifests for the exact labels you need, automatically splitting shipments by warehouse or carrier. And, for many carriers, you can download your manifest in PDF format, if you prefer.
Manifests are important to e-commerce companies and their shipments, but they aren’t required by all carriers. Manifests can be a time-consuming task, especially when you’re shipping multiple products. So, it’s probably not a good idea to try to do it yourself. Alternatively, you can hire a company like Manifest Shipping to handle the entire process for you.
