Package pickup: What services do different shipping carriers offer?

How do I schedule a UPS pickup? When can I get someone to pick up USPS packages? What’s required to schedule a FedEx pickup? Learn this and more below.
SendTech Staff Pitney Bowes
01/23/2023 Office

Table of contents

  1. What is package pickup and how does it work?
  2. How do I schedule a package pickup with UPS?
  3. How do I schedule a package pickup with USPS?
  4. How do I schedule a package pickup with FedEx?
  5. I scheduled my pickup. What happens next?
  6. How can PitneyShip® help?

What is package pickup and how does it work?

Can’t get to the Post Office, UPS or FedEx? Simply want to save yourself the trip? Each carrier offers an easy way to schedule package pickup. The process requires you take just a few quick steps.

Choose your carrier. Each has different pickup and delivery options depending on where you’re shipping from, what you wish ship, how you wish to ship it (e.g., Express vs. Ground) and the premium you are willing to pay.

Schedule package pickup. Each carrier has a simple online form to schedule package pickup. You may also be able to request pickup via phone.

Prepare to ship. Ensure your package is ready for pickup, complete with any required labels and prepayment, then place it where you promised it would be.

It’s really that simple. Let’s unpack a few specific details.

 

How do I schedule a package pickup with UPS?

If you have preprinted shipping labels or plan to pay the driver via check or money order, you can go to the Schedule a Pickup page. Otherwise, go to Create a Shipment on UPS.com and you’ll be guided through a six-step process that includes printing your own UPS shipping label. The process is easy. Here’s how it works:

  1. Designate where you’re shipping from—and to.
  2. Describe your package: UPS requires the package weight and dimensions as well as information on package value, contents and packaging. They also ask about premium services you may wish to request.
  3. Schedule your pickup: UPS will give you a pickup-time window.
  4. Choose a shipping option, depending on how quickly you need your package delivered and/or what you are willing to pay for shipping. UPS offers a wide range of options, including Saturday delivery.
  5. Choose how you prefer to pay. To see how your charges break down, including the mail pickup charges that will apply, you can click the yellow bar at the bottom of the web page.

 

Most packages are eligible for pickup. There are some key package pickup restrictions to be aware of:

  • Package must weigh no more than 150 lb.
  • Packages valued at more than $1000 require a UPS high-value shipping summary.
  • You cannot ship any illegal materials.
  • Hazardous materials, if permissible, may require special shipping papers.

Save time and money shipping when scheduling UPS package pickups in PitneyShip® software. After you print a discounted UPS shipping label, easily schedule a pickup with UPS under the Shipping and Mailing tab under the End of Day section.

What does UPS charge for package pickup?

Weekday and Saturday On-Call charges are per pickup, regardless of how many packages you are shipping. When you preprint your UPS label pickup can happen without even meeting the driver. For a one-time weekday UPS On-Call Pickup®, the charge is $12 for same-day and $7 for a future-day pickup. For a one-time Saturday UPS On-Call Pickup®, the charge is $10.10 for same-day and $9 for a future-day pickup.

If you and UPS schedule pickup on a more routine basis, your pick-up costs are based on two factors: how often you require pickup and your weekly billing total.

When you ship in PitneyShip® software, you can access UPS On-Call Pickup(R) discounts. Same-day and future-day pickups are only $3.80, plus you can avoid residential pickup surcharges*
*Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice

How do I schedule a package pickup with USPS?

Scheduling a pickup with USPS is easy to do online, too. Just go to the USPS Schedule a Pickup and follow the simple steps to indicate when, where and how much you want to ship. As long as your pickup meets the following criteria, there are no package or mail pickup charges. You won’t even need a USPS account.

Requirements for free USPS pickup

- Pickup can be made during your regular mail delivery.
- Your packages weigh 70lbs or less and measure less than 130 inches (length + width + height).
- At least one package is being sent via one of the following premium services:

o Priority Mail Express®
o Priority Mail®
o First-Class Package Service®
o Parcel Select Ground®
o Returns
o International

- Postage and all related services are prepaid. A USPS pre-paid shipping label is required for packages weighing 10 oz or more.

Save time and money shipping when scheduling USPS package pickups in PitneyShip® software. After you print a discounted USPS shipping label, easily schedule a pickup with USPS under the Shipping and Mailing tab under the End of Day section. Manage all USPS shipments and pickups in one place.

How much does package pickup cost for USPS?

USPS package pickup is free of charge for many premium services provided the packages meet the USPS criteria noted above. Just schedule USPS next day pickup and your letter carrier will pick up your packages when they deliver the next day’s mail.

Two key things to remember: USPS requires that you send via a premium service to pick up USPS packages for free—and that any package over 10 oz. or more than 1/2-inch thick must have a USPS pickup label (you cannot pay your postage for these packages using stamps).

In addition to the free pickup options, you can opt for the USPS Pickup on Demand® service. This allows you to choose a specific pickup time when timing is critical. USPS will supply a two-hour pickup window and the pickup charge is $25.

How do I schedule a package pickup with FedEx?

FedEx requires you have an account with them for pickup. But don’t worry, setting up an account is simple—and it can entitle you to discounted FedEx shipping rates.

Like UPS, FedEx does have mail pickup charges for one-time pickups. Here’s how it works: Once you’ve set up your account, you’ll just log in, input your shipping information, print your shipping labels and schedule your pickup. You can also schedule your pickup via FedEx Customer Service (1.800.GoFedEx). Note that you can schedule FedEx Express® and/or FedEx Ground® pickups—but must schedule each of these types of pickups separately. Domestic shipments over 150 lbs. must be sent via FedEx Freight®.

Compare rates across shipping carriers and save time scheduling FedEx package pickups in PitneyShip® software. After you print a FedEx shipping label, easily schedule a pickup with FedEx under the Shipping and Mailing tab under the End of Day section. Manage all shipments and pickups in one place.

How much does package pickup cost for FedEx?

FedEx pickup charges are the same for single- instance pickup whether you are shipping using FedEx Express® or FedEx Ground®. You must book each type of shipment (Express or Ground) separately, but in either case, The FedEx pickup cost is $4 per package.

If you’re going to send packages regularly but not every day, using FedEx Express® and/or FedEx Ground® Automated Pickup may save you money. This service requires you ship with a single FedEx account number, from a single location. The advantage: With Automated Pickup, FedEx Express® pickup is free and your FedEx ground pickup fee becomes just $15 per week, payable only on weeks when you ship. Call 1.800.GoFedEx to schedule FedEx pickup and ask to enroll in FedEx Express & FedEx Ground Automated Pickup if this sounds like a good fit.

I scheduled my pickup. What happens next?

After scheduling your pickup, you’ll need to follow the instructions of your package pickup service to be sure your package is ready. USPS, for example, expects that your package is fully prepped and labeled and placed where you agreed, while UPS offers the option for you to get your shipping labels from your driver.

How fast your package will reach its destination will vary based on when your package is picked up and which shipping option you choose. You’ll want to pay attention to your carrier’s promises.

With USPS, you can schedule pickups Monday - Saturday until 2:00 AM CT on the day of the pickup. After 2:00 AM CT, same-day pickup is not available. You can also edit or cancel a scheduled pickup request until 2:00 AM CT on the day of the pickup.

UPS and FedEx will provide pickup windows based on when you say your package will be ready and on their local carrier routes. You will be informed of these pickup windows as you complete your package pickup service request.

Each carrier will give you an estimated delivery time as well as package tracking information based on the services you choose. Note that these times may vary somewhat from those available via drop-off—if you’re in a hurry, it may be worth comparing these two options.

After scheduling your pickup, you may be wondering what happens from there? How long will it take for my package to arrive? When you ship using PitneyShip® software, you’ll receive automated, end-to-end parcel tracking right within the application, making it easy to see when your package arrives at its destination.

How can PitneyShip® help?

If you’re finding this complicated, you’re not alone. PitneyShip® software can help you navigate the complexities, providing insight into different carriers’ promises, performance, and various services, costs and fees. In fact, with PitneyShip® Pro, you can schedule package pickup service from USPS carriers right from the homepage of the app. Once you schedule a shipment with UPS or FedEx within the PitneyShip® Pro platform, there’s a convenient link to schedule package pickup.

We want to help make shipping easier, faster and more reliable. We work closely with each of the three carriers to increase transparency, simplify decisions and save shippers money. With PitneyShip® Pro, you’ll be able to quickly compare different carrier delivery options, choose what works best, print labels automatically and track your package. No matter how many carriers you use, you can schedule and track every shipment all from one intuitive interface.