USPS Cubic, Connect Local & Ground Advantage Regional

USPS Cubic: small, heavy packages

Cubic is a USPS commercial program that prices small, heavy packages by cubic feet instead of weight. Eligibility: package must be ≤ 20 lb, ≤ 0.5 ft³, and have no side longer than 18 inches. For a 5-pound, 6×6×8 inch box, Cubic is often 25-35% cheaper than Priority Mail. ShipWave automatically checks eligibility and shows the Cubic rate alongside standard Priority rates when it qualifies.

USPS Connect Local: same-day delivery

Connect Local is USPS's same-day local delivery program. You drop packages at a participating local USPS facility between 5 AM and 7 AM, and USPS delivers them same-day to addresses in the same metro. Pricing is flat-rate by package size. Good for perishables, hyperlocal e-commerce, and last-minute holiday rushes. Eligibility depends on your origin ZIP—ShipWave checks it for you and shows the rate when available.

Ground Advantage Regional

USPS Ground Advantage replaced Retail Ground in 2023. Commercial customers get zone-based pricing with significant savings on Zones 1-4 (under ~600 miles). ShipWave applies a regional surcharge factor that varies by destination ZIP and weight. For most domestic ground shipments, GAR beats UPS Ground and FedEx Home Delivery on price, with comparable transit times.

Toggling programs

At Admin → Settings → Carriers → USPS, you can enable or disable each program. By default, Cubic and Ground Advantage are on; Connect Local is off (because it requires a specific morning workflow). Disable any program you don't want to see in rate results to keep the rate picker clean.

When does each show up?

At rate time, ShipWave evaluates every USPS program against your package and shows the eligible ones. You'll see a small badge ("Cubic", "GAR Zone 3", "Connect Local") next to the service name so you know which program priced the rate. The cheapest USPS service wins by default unless you sort by speed.

FAQs

Do I need a special USPS account for Cubic?

No. ShipWave provides commercial Cubic rates through our EasyPost integration. You don't need a separate USPS commercial contract.

How accurate is the dimensional check for Cubic?

Eligibility is determined by the dimensions you enter on the label. If your dimensions are off and the package is measured larger at the post office, USPS may rebill you at a non-Cubic rate. See <a href="/help/automatic-dim-corrections-feature">automatic dimension corrections</a> for guidance on accurate measuring.

Can I use Connect Local without a same-day workflow?

Not really. The morning drop-off window is hard—miss it by an hour and your package won't deliver same-day. We recommend turning Connect Local off unless you're committed to the 5-7 AM cutoff.

Does GAR work for residential and commercial deliveries?

Yes. Ground Advantage has no residential surcharge, which is one of its biggest advantages over UPS Ground and FedEx Home for residential-heavy catalogs.

USPS Cubic, Connect Local, and Ground Advantage Regional