Frequently Asked Questions About Carrier Accounts Set Up
1. What happens if I don't add any carriers to the AfterShip carrier list?
If no carriers are specified or added in your AfterShip carrier list, the system will attempt to match the tracking number against all carriers available in the AfterShip system. It will automatically assign the first carrier whose tracking number format matches. This may result in incorrect carrier assignments, so it is recommended to configure your carrier list and set their priority for more accurate tracking.
2. Why do some carriers require a carrier account connection?
Certain carriers only share tracking data with merchants who are actively using their services, for example, via API key, FTP/SFTP, or webhook. For these carriers, a valid carrier account connection is mandatory. AfterShip cannot retrieve tracking information without authenticated credentials. Additionally, connecting a carrier account can result in faster and more frequent status updates.
3. Why are tracking updates not appearing immediately despite importing the correct tracking number?
This can happen because of two possible reasons.
- The carrier enforces a rate limit, a restricted number of calls allowed within a specific time frame (for example, 10 requests/sec). When this limit is reached, additional requests for tracking are placed in a queue, which can delay the updates to reflect on your Shipments dashboard.
- A tracking number may be generated before the carrier has physically received/scanned your package. In this case, tracking updates will only appear once the carrier scans it for the first time. Until then, you can visit the carrier's website directly to see if they have any information on file.
4. How does the auto-correction feature work in AfterShip, and can I be notified when it occurs?
AfterShip's auto-correction feature automatically detects and fixes incorrect carrier assignments for tracking numbers, which is a common cause of Pending status. This correction typically takes effect after approximately 4 days. To receive notifications when auto-correction occurs, you can set up a Pending status notification flow, select the 'Wrong Carrier' sub-status, and use the internal notification feature to alert the relevant team members.
5. What is the accuracy of AfterShip's auto-correction feature?
AfterShip's auto-correction feature has an accuracy rate of 100%.
Updated on: 12/03/2026