A futile pickup occurs when a carrier attempts to collect your order, but the pickup is unsuccessful for some reason. When this happens, the carrier might charge you futile pickup fee.
This article discusses what a futile pickup charge is, and some of the reasons why a carrier might charge you a futile fee.
Reasons for futile pickups
Some of the reasons an why a pickup might be marked as futile include:
Goods not prepared on time: The items are not ready for collection when the driver arrives.
Goods incorrectly declared: The size or weight of the goods was inaccurately entered during booking.
Goods not packaged correctly: The items are not adequately packaged for transit.
Driver access issues: The courier is unable to access your designated pick-up location.
Pickup location closed: Your business or pickup location is closed when the driver attempts collection.
Incorrect or missing labels: The packages are either labelled incorrectly or have no labels attached.
Avoiding futile pickup charges
To avoid being charged for futile or missed pickups:
Prepare your orders in advance: Make sure all your items are correctly packaged and labelled before booking or manifesting your packages in Shippit.
Check your declarations: Ensure you accurately declare the size and weight of your goods during the booking process.
Cancel early: If you need to cancel a pickup, make sure you provide the carrier with at least 24 hours notice.
Provide clear access: Ensure the carrier has clear and unobstructed access to your pickup location during the scheduled time.
Confirm operating hours: Verify that your pickup location will be open during the expected collection window. You can also update your operating hours in your Shippit settings to help avoid futile pickups during your closed hours.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: If the driver can collect some, but not all, packages, you might still be charged a futile pickup fee.
For more information about additional fees and charges, including futile pickup fees, see the misdeclarations and additional charges article.