If you want to use your own private fleet of drivers, or you want to use a carrier that Shippit doesn't currently support, you can use a plain label. Plain labels allow you to keep all of your orders on the Shippit platform, streamlining your operations, while still accessing your chosen carriers. Plain label shipping labels allow you to use your own branding, along with a generated barcode for easy scanning. Plain labels are configured as a carrier in your Shippit account, and automatically sends booking details as a CSV file, which you can then use to provide order information to your chosen carrier, or your fleet management software.
This article covers how to set up your plain label, creating orders that are allocated to a plain label, and troubleshooting plain labels. For more information about using NowGo to power your own fleet, see the NowGo knowledge base.
Configure plain labels
This section describes how to enable and configure the Plain Label service in your account.
Plain label delivery options
You can choose to have your labels sent using SFTP, or email. Whether you choose to enable these options, you can always download the label directly from your Shippit account.
If you choose to have your plain labels sent using SFTP, you need to provide your FTP details. When you allocate orders to the plain label, a CSV file is generated and securely sent to the FTP server and folder you specify.
If you choose to have your plain labels sent using email, you need to provide an email address. When you allocate orders to the plain label, the PDF label is sent to the email address you specify.
Configuring plain labels
Log in to your Shippit account.
Navigate to Settings → Carriers.
In the Other section, turn on the Plain label toggle to show the plain label configuration settings
Turn on the Display a generated barcode on the label toggle, to display a barcode on your label.
Optional: You can choose to have your labels sent using SFTP, or email. Whether you choose to enable these options, you can always download the label directly from your Shippit account.
Click Update at the bottom of the carrier settings page to save your changes.
Book an order with a plain label
When you have enabled plain labels, it appears as any other available carrier. You can select plain label as the carrier when you create a new order, and the label is sent using your chosen delivery method. Alternatively, you can always download the plain label directly from your Shippit account.
💡NOTE: When you allocate an order to a plain label carrier, the quote is shown as No quote, with a total cost of $0.00. The order is also marked as Untrackable and does not have a tracking page created.
You can also book orders with a plain label using your integration, or the Shippit APIs. For example order payloads using plain labels, see the Developer documentation.
Troubleshooting
This section contains information about some common issues you might encounter with your plain label bookings. If you can't find an answer to your question here, get in touch with us using the chat in your Shippit account, or reach out to Shippit support.
Plain label doesn't appear in the carrier list when I create a new order
Double check that you have turned on the plain label carrier in your carrier settings. When you have toggled on the plain label carrier and made your configuration settings, scroll down the page and click Update to save your changes.
I didn't receive the CSV file after I created an order
The CSV file is generated after the order has been confirmed. Make sure the order is confirmed in the New Orders page. If you still don't receive the CSV file, double check your FTP settings. Go to Settings → Carriers and in the plain label section, make sure you have the SFTP option checked, and that you have entered the correct FTP details. When you have made changes, scroll down the page and click Update to save your changes.
Why is the order marked as 'Untrackable'?
Plain Label orders do not contain tracking, pricing, or an ETA. They generate a label, and optionally a CSV file, which you can use to pass to your carrier or internal fleet for fulfilment using their platform.