UPS Premier

Overview

UPS Premier is a specialized service for healthcare and life sciences shipments that require enhanced monitoring and handling for temperature-sensitive and time-critical deliveries. 

Service Tiers

UPS Premier supports the following service tiers:

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/shipments \
  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY:" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "shipment": {
      "to_address": { ... },
      "from_address": { ... },
      "parcel": { ... },
      "options": {
        "carrier_options": {
          "ups": {
            "premier": {
              "category_id": "03",
              "sensor_id": "TEMP_SENSOR_12345",
              "handling_instructions": "003"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }'

Handling Instruction Codes

Note: Code 013 is not defined in the UPS PLD0200 specification.

Validation Rules

• Code 001 (No Special Handling) cannot be combined with a UPS Premier category. If no special handling is required, omit category_id and handling_instructions entirely rather than sending 001.
• Code 013 is intentionally not assigned by UPS and is not accepted.
• Codes 008 and 009 (Expedite to Receiver – All Modes / Air Network only) require Gold or Platinum tier. Silver tier provides RFID point-in-time visibility only and cannot fulfill expedited re-routing requests.
• Descriptions are taken verbatim from the UPS PLD0200 specification, segment *EAPRM, field PRM4 UPSPremierHandlingInstructionCode1.
• Each package may carry up to eight (8) handling instruction codes (PRM4–PRM11 in the PLD0200 spec). The EasyPost API currently accepts a single code per package; pass the highest-priority instruction.

Common Examples

Vaccine Distribution

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/shipments \
  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY:" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "shipment": {
      "to_address": { ... },
      "from_address": { ... },
      "parcel": { ... },
      "options": {
        "carrier_options": {
          "ups": {
            "premier": {
              "category_id": "03",
              "sensor_id": "VAX_SENSOR_001",
              "handling_instructions": "015"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }'

Clinical Trial Materials

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/shipments \
  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY:" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "shipment": {
      "to_address": { ... },
      "from_address": { ... },
      "parcel": { ... },
      "options": {
        "carrier_options": {
          "ups": {
            "premier": {
              "category_id": "02",
              "handling_instructions": "016"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }'

Temperature-sensitive Shipments

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/shipments \
  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY:" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "shipment": {
      "to_address": { ... },
      "from_address": { ... },
      "parcel": { ... },
      "options": {
        "carrier_options": {
          "ups": {
            "premier": {
              "category_id": "03",
              "sensor_id": "BIO_TEMP_456",
              "handling_instructions": "003"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }'

Chain of Custody Shipments

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/shipments \
  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY:" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "shipment": {
      "to_address": { ... },
      "from_address": { ... },
      "parcel": { ... },
      "options": {
        "carrier_options": {
          "ups": {
            "premier": {
              "category_id": "02",
              "handling_instructions": "017"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }'

Multi-package Shipments

UPS Premier options apply to all packages in a multi-package shipment when set at the shipment level.

curl -X POST https://api.easypost.com/v2/orders \
  -u "EASYPOST_API_KEY:" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "order": {
      "to_address": { ... },
      "from_address": { ... },
      "shipments": [
        {
          "parcel": { ... }
        },
        {
          "parcel": { ... }
        }
      ],
      "options": {
        "carrier_options": {
          "ups": {
            "premier": {
              "category_id": "03",
              "handling_instructions": "003"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }'

FAQs

Q: How do I sign up for UPS Premier? 

Work with your UPS account manager to get UPS Premier enabled on your UPS account. 

Q: When should UPS Premier be used?

UPS Premier is typically used for healthcare and life sciences shipments that require temperature control, monitoring, or chain-of-custody handling. 

Q: Is a sensor required for UPS Premier shipments? 

No. sensor_id is optional and may be used when temperature monitoring devices are assigned to a shipment.

Q: Can UPS Premier be used without handling instructions? 

Yes. UPS Premier may be used with only a category_id, or with a sensor_id and no handling instructions. 

Q: Are all handling instruction codes available for every service tier? 

No. Codes 008 and 009 are not supported for Silver-tier shipments.

Additional Resources

UPS Carrier Guide