Shipping Manifest & SCAN Forms: Complete Guide
A shipping manifest groups your daily shipments into one document for carrier acceptance. Learn why manifests matter and how to create them efficiently.
What is a shipping manifest?
A shipping manifest (also called SCAN form or end-of-day form) is a document listing all packages being shipped together. Carriers scan the manifest once to accept all packages, rather than scanning each individually. This speeds pickups, confirms acceptance, and provides proof of mailing.
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| Carrier | Service | Price | Delivery Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS SCAN Form | Free | $0 | Required for pickup | Cheapest |
| UPS Manifest | Free | $0 | Included | |
| FedEx Manifest | Free | $0 | Included | |
| Daily Pickup Service | USPS | $27.40/month | Scheduled |
Free
Free
Free
USPS
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Why Shipping Manifests Matter
Proof of mailing: The manifest timestamp proves when packages were tendered to the carrier. Essential for customer disputes about shipping times or lost packages.
Faster pickups: Drivers scan one barcode instead of each package. A 50-package pickup takes 30 seconds instead of 10 minutes.
Acceptance confirmation: When the carrier scans your manifest, all packages show as "Accepted" in tracking - a better customer experience than "Label Created."
USPS SCAN Forms
What they do: SCAN (Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice) forms bundle all USPS shipments into one barcode. When scanned, all packages immediately show "Accepted by USPS."
When to create: Generate at end of shipping day, before pickup or post office drop-off. Only include packages ready to ship - do not add packages you will ship tomorrow.
How to create: Most shipping platforms (ShipWave, Stamps.com, Pirate Ship) have a "Create SCAN Form" or "End of Day" button. One click generates the form for all unmanifested shipments.
UPS & FedEx Manifesting
UPS End of Day: Process closes out the day's shipments and triggers pickup notification. Required for scheduled pickups. Available through UPS.com, WorldShip, or third-party platforms.
FedEx End of Day: Similar process through FedEx Ship Manager or shipping platforms. Closes shipments and prepares pickup documentation.
Third-party platforms: Services like ShipWave and ShipStation handle manifesting across all carriers from one dashboard.
Pro Tips to Save More
Manifest Daily at Cutoff
Create manifests at the same time daily, right before carrier pickup time.
Keep Manifest Copies
Save digital and print copies of manifests for proof of mailing records.
Separate Problem Packages
Do not include packages with issues in your manifest. Handle them separately.
Match Package Count
Verify the manifest package count matches your physical packages before pickup.
Use Shipping Software
Manual manifesting is tedious. Shipping platforms automate the process.
Schedule Pickups in Advance
Consistent daily pickups are more efficient than on-demand requests.
Frequently Asked Questions
- No, but it is best practice. Individual packages can be dropped off without a manifest, but they will not show "Accepted" status until individually scanned (which may take hours).
- Packages will still ship, but tracking will not show acceptance until scanned at the carrier facility. Customers see "Label Created" instead of "Accepted" which can cause concern.
- No. Once created, manifests are closed. Create a new manifest for additional packages, or wait until the next day's batch.
- Essentially yes. SCAN form is USPS's specific term for their manifest system. Other carriers use "manifest" or "end of day" terminology.
- After creating your SCAN form, schedule pickup at usps.com/pickup or through your shipping platform. Hand the driver your packages and printed SCAN form.
- No. Creating SCAN forms and manifests is free with all carriers. It is simply a documentation process, not an additional service.
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