In March 2014 USPS required a set of new tags if wanting a quote for Parcel Post (now being called Standard Post).
To get rate quotes for Parcel Post, and Standard Post you need to make 3 changes.
- You need a tag of <Container> Within <Container> you also need a new tag of <ContentType>
- You need a new tag of <GroundOnly> immediately after <Container>
- You need a new tag of <Revision> right after the <RateV4Request> header.
A properly formatted RateV4Request for Parcel / Standard Post is below. Bold Entries are what are required as of 7 March 2014 to quote USPS Parcel Post. Note Parcel is acceptable (in place of Standard Post) until July 2014. You may also omit the Content tags if shipping LARGE packages (ones too large for Priority Mail). See the USPS Webtool API docs for the required values. I’m writing this up because I added the Content and GroundOnly tags and fought for hours until I realized the Revision tags was also required as the Error Message of:
This mail service requires Ground Transportation Only. HelpContext 1000440
was not very informative.
USPS RateV4Request for Standard Post and Parcel Post
<RateV4Request USERID="xxxxxx" PASSWORD="xxxx">
<Revision>2</Revision>
<Package ID="0">
<Service>STANDARD POST</Service>
<ZipOrigination>10001</ZipOrigination>
<ZipDestination>21201</ZipDestination>
<Pounds>6</Pounds>
<Ounces>2</Ounces>
<Container>RECTANGULAR</Container>
<Size>REGULAR</Size>
<Content><ContentType>HAZMAT</ContentType></Content>
<GroundOnly>TRUE</GroundOnly>
<Machinable>TRUE</Machinable>
….
