Shipping Systems

• Starship
• Starship Cloud - User Connector Config
• Starship - User Setup Printers
• Starship Cloud - User Print Profile
• Shipping
• Create a Starship Shipment with FedEx Freight Page
• Shipping to APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses
• Basic Shipping Quote Training

Starship

Starship Cloud - User Connector Config

1.       Double-click on "Starship Online Connector"

2.       Click on the "Printing" tab

3.       Click on "Configure"

4.       Choose the location (s) where the User will be shipping from. You can choose multiple locations.

5.       Click "OK"

6.       Click on "Save and Restart". Then wait until the Staus shows Connected and the location(s) are in there with Active next to them.

7.       Once it looks like below with the location(s)  and the Active showing, you are done here. DO NOT CLOSE the Connector. This MUST STAY OPEN while you are using Starship Cloud. It can be minimized.

8.       MINIMIZE the window

9.       Open a browser

10.   Type in "let.starship.online" and go to the page
Log in with your Starship Cloud Username and Password. This should have been emailed to you.

11.   Click on the Gear icon

12.   Click "New Company"

13.   Choose the connector you just created.

14.   Click "Next"

15.   For Company Name - Your Username (the example below is swithers)
For Sage Company Code - LET
Click on "Next"

16.   Click "Finish"

Starship - User Setup Printers

Follow these steps to setup the Printers for the user. Typically 2 printers are needed: 

• Laser Printer
• Lable Printer

The Starship Online Connector on your desktop must be setup and running on your desktop before you can do any of these steps. 

1.   Click on "Rate/Ship"

2.       Choose the user connector

3.       Click on Setup

4.       Click on "Printing and Scale"

5.       Under Printers choose the Connector you want to add printers to

7.       Click on "Add Printer"

8.       Select the Printer to add

10.   Click Submit

11.   Continue until all of the Printers the user will be using are added.

Starship Cloud - User Print Profile

The Starship Online Connector on your desktop must be setup and running on your desktop before you can do any of these steps. 

Printing Profiles are used to print the correct labels and paperwork for each of the different Shipping companies that we use. In Blaine, there are 2 main profiles, one for Truck lines and one for Parcel shipments, although each station can ship both.

For purposes today, we are going to Copy the profile 

1. In Starship Cloud click on Setup

2. Click on "Printing and Scale"

3. Click on "Printing Profiles"

4. Click on the Printing Profile you want to copy and then click on "Copy"

5. Choose the connector that you want to create the profile for

6. Name the Profile and choose the printer you want to copy of the user.

7. Click OK and then you are done.

 

Shipping

Create a Starship Shipment with FedEx Freight Page

Create a Starship Shipment with FedEx Freight 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shipping to APO, FPO, and DPO Addresses

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

Shipping to APO / FPO / DPO Addresses

---

1. Scope and Definitions

APO / FPO / DPO
Military mail destinations. These are handled through USPS regardless of physical overseas location.

• APO – Army / Air Force Post Office
• FPO – Fleet Post Office (Navy / Marines)
• DPO – Diplomatic Post Office

Key Rule:
All APO/FPO/DPO shipments are treated as USPS shipments, not FedEx, UPS, or DHL.

---

2. Shipment Type Decision

Before quoting or processing, determine shipment type:

A. Small Parcel Shipment (Standard Process)

Use USPS directly when:

• Shipment consists of individual boxes
• Total shipment is manageable (typically < ~10–15 boxes)
• No palletization required

B. Large Shipment (Consolidation Required)

Use consolidation when:

• Shipment is palletized or large volume
• Example:
  • 1,000 backers + 5,000 targets
  • 20+ boxes
• USPS direct shipment becomes inefficient or cost-prohibitive

---

3. Small Parcel Workflow (USPS Direct)

Step 1: Prepare Box Data

For each box:

• Measure dimensions (L × W × H)
• Determine weight
• Identify contents (if needed for internal reference)

Important Rules:

• Each box must be processed individually
• USPS does not support multi-box quoting in a single entry
• Even identical boxes must be entered separately (or calculated once and multiplied)

---

Step 2: Use USPS Rate Calculator

Navigate to: USPS.com → Calculate a Price

Input:

• Ship From ZIP Code: 55449 (Action Target) (confirm if needed)
• Ship To:
  • City: APO / FPO / DPO
  • State: AE / AP / AA (auto-populates)
  • ZIP: Provided by customer (e.g., 09439)

---

Step 3: Enter Package Details

For each box:

• Weight
• Dimensions
• Quantity = 1

Repeat for each box OR:

• If identical boxes:
  • Calculate one box
  • Multiply cost by total quantity

---

Step 4: Select Service Type

General guidance:

• USPS Priority Mail → Preferred for APO/FPO/DPO
• USPS Retail Ground / Standard → Rarely used for military mail

Note:

• APO/FPO/DPO is technically treated as domestic mail but behaves like international
• Priority typically offers better reliability

---

Step 5: Calculate Total Shipping Cost

• Sum all individual box costs

---

Step 6: Apply Markup

Apply standard margin:

• Typical: 10%–20%
  

---

Step 7: Provide Quote

Deliver:

• Total shipping cost (with markup)
• Service type (Priority recommended)

---

4. Large Shipment Workflow (Consolidation Required)

Step 1: Identify Consolidation Need

Trigger conditions:

• Pallet shipment
• Excessive number of boxes
• High USPS cost or labor burden

---

Step 2: Contact Customer

Request the following:

“Please provide a stateside consolidation point address and all required routing information for forwarding to your unit.”

---

Step 3: Required Customer Information

Customer must provide:

• Consolidation point address (U.S.-based)
• Unit information (final destination)
• Required identifiers (if applicable):
  • TCN number
  • DSN number
  • Unit number
  • Contact name (e.g., John Doe)
• Any special labeling instructions

---

Step 4: Create Sales Order

Ship-To Address

• Enter consolidation point address

Order Notes

Include ALL provided routing data:

• Final APO/FPO/DPO destination
• Unit identifiers
• Contact details
• Any special instructions

Principle:
More information is always better for downstream handling.

---

Step 5: Create Shipment Placard (Required)

Create a document (Word or equivalent) containing:

• Final destination (APO/FPO/DPO)
• Unit information
• TCM / DSN / routing numbers
• Contact name

---

Step 6: Labeling and Placement

For palletized shipments:

• Print placard
• Attach:
  • Front of pallet
  • Back of pallet

---

Step 7: Shipment Execution

• Ship to consolidation point via standard domestic carrier - may be any LTL carrier.
• After delivery:
  • Consolidator assumes responsibility
  • They route shipment to final APO/FPO/DPO destination

---

5. How Consolidation Routing Works

The consolidator determines final routing based on:

• Information on placard
• Sales order / packing slip data
• Internal military logistics systems

Key Insight:
You do NOT control final leg routing.
Your responsibility is to provide complete and accurate data.

---

6. Edge Cases and Exceptions

A. Customer Insists on Direct USPS (Large Order)

• Possible but inefficient
• Requires:
  • Manual calculation of every box
  • Potentially very high cost (e.g., $8,000+)
• Proceed only with customer approval

---

B. Customer Does Not Know Consolidation Process

Guide them:

“Please check with your logistics or supply chain contact for a consolidation shipping address and required routing information.”

---

C. Mixed Box Types

If boxes differ:

• Each must be calculated separately
• No batching allowed

---

7. Key Rules Summary

• USPS is mandatory for APO/FPO/DPO
• No FedEx, UPS, or DHL
• Each box must be quoted individually
• Large shipments require consolidation
• Always collect routing data from customer
• Always include redundant labeling

---

8. Quick Decision Flow

1. Is shipment small (few boxes)?
   • YES → USPS direct
   • NO → Go to consolidation
2. Is shipment palletized or large volume?
   • YES → Request consolidation point
   • NO → USPS direct

---

9. Operational Best Practices

• Always over-communicate shipping constraints
• Avoid underestimating labor for large USPS shipments
• Default to consolidation for anything non-trivial
• Include redundant routing info on:
  • Sales order
  • Packing slip
  • Physical labels

Basic Shipping Quote Training