Optima Guide

Optima is a regional last-mile delivery service exclusively covering the New England area, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. With next-day delivery to over 1,000 zip codes in the region, a dedicated customer service team, and a 99% on-time delivery rate, Optima is a reliable shipping partner for businesses.

This guide includes detailed information on utilizing Optima shipping with the EasyPost API, focusing on account setup, rates, label creation, manifests, tracking, and more.

Sign up for an EasyPost account to obtain a Test and Production API key. See Authentication and Key Management for more information.

Upon sign-up with EasyPost, users gain immediate access to Default Carrier Accounts, which can be enabled directly from the Dashboard. For additional carriers, EasyPost supports a Bring Your Own Account (BYOA) option. This requires users to register directly with the respective carrier.

1. Contact Optima to request a shipper account. A representative will be in touch for additional details regarding the account.
2. Inform Optima about using EasyPost’s API for label purchases.
3. Acquire rates and align any additional shipping needs.
4. Obtain the following test and production account credentials:
   1. Optima Username
   2. Optima Password
   3. Optima Account Number
5. Input carrier-specific credentials within the EasyPost Carrier Account Dashboard for comprehensive rate access.

The API structure specified by EasyPost can also be used to add the Optima carrier shipper account.

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/carrier_accounts \
  -u "$EASYPOST_API_KEY": \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "type": "OptimaAccount",
  "description": "OptimaAccount",
  "carrier_account": {
    "credentials": {
      "account_number": "VALUE",
      "password": "VALUE",
      "username": "VALUE"
    },
    "test_credentials": {
      "account_number": "VALUE",
      "password": "VALUE",
      "username": "VALUE"
    }
  }
}'

Download an EasyPost Client Library or utilize the REST API with cURL.

Examine the EasyPost Objects section to understand the API's structure, which is critical for constructing requests and interpreting responses.

When integrating an Optima account with EasyPost, users should be aware of how rates are managed and displayed. Here’s a breakdown of key points:

• EasyPost initially returns a one-cent rate for shipments once the Optima account is set up.
• Optima will charge the appropriate amount for postage via their billing system.

Optima delivers six days per week (Monday - Saturday) and offers the following services:

Optima supports two-day delivery services across New England, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

There are no predefined packages for Optima.

With EasyPost, generating shipping labels for Optima is the same process as generating them for any other carrier.

Review the Getting Started Guide for help generating a shipping label.

Manifesting is not supported or required for Optima.

Returns are not supported.

Voiding Optima labels through EasyPost is supported.

EasyPost offers native Optima labels in PNG, ZPL, and PDF formats.

This guide does not specify handling hazardous materials with Optima. Shippers are advised to contact Optima directly for specific hazmat inquiries.

Optima accommodates pickups based on individual agreements with customers. While regular pickups can be arranged directly with Optima during the account registration process, they cannot be scheduled via the EasyPost API.

EasyPost simplifies package tracking by offering two methods:

• Tracking with an existing number and carrier.
• Using a Tracker included with an EasyPost-purchased shipping label.

The service integrates webhooks for timely shipment updates. For detailed information on tracking methods, visit the Tracking Guide.

The Carrier Metadata endpoint can programmatically return information about service levels, predefined packages, supported features, and shipment options.

Use this information to quickly integrate and make educated decisions about the mix of carriers for shipping needs. Additionally, the Carrier Metadata endpoint is available to retrieve comprehensive information about all carriers on the EasyPost platform, enhancing decision-making for carrier services.

In addition to the guidance provided in our Carrier Guides, EasyPost offers support to assist with FAQs, troubleshooting issues, and inquiries related to the EasyPost platform.

Please visit the Help Center for more information.

For questions about getting started with the EasyPost API please talk to a Shipping Expert or contact our Support team.