Preferred Shipping
Preferred Shipping is a US-based logistics services provider and the oldest authorized DHL Express reseller in the country, offering international express shipping, heavy air freight, and multi-carrier shipping via its proprietary PSCSHIP platform to small and medium businesses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSugar Land, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Preferred Shipping does
Preferred Shipping is a US-based transportation and logistics services provider founded in 1992 and headquartered at 12835 Jess Pirtle Blvd in Sugar Land, Texas. The company operates as the oldest authorized DHL Express reseller in the United States, delivering international express exports and imports, heavy air freight (110-2,200 lbs per piece), domestic parcel shipping, and trucking coordination to small and medium businesses that lack the volume to negotiate directly with global carriers. Its primary customer segment is SMBs requiring affordable international shipping without volume commitments or contracts, served through a sales-led model with dedicated account representatives distributed across the country and a live (non-automated) customer service desk.
The company's core technology asset is PSCSHIP, a proprietary web-based multi-carrier shipping platform offered free to all customers with unlimited users. PSCSHIP consolidates quoting, labeling, pickup scheduling, and tracking across DHL Express, FedEx (added via REST API integration in 2023), UPS, and USPS within a single interface, and includes rate optimization, paperless customs invoicing, HTS code lookup, and two-factor authentication (rolled out June 2024). The platform extends to ecommerce through direct integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento 2, BigCommerce, and ShipStation, enabling checkout-level international shipping rate calculation.
Preferred Shipping generates revenue primarily through transaction fees on shipped packages, capturing margin on DHL volume buying power, supplemented by a small recurring SaaS fee for ecommerce integrations. Pricing is usage-based with no pickup fees, no volume requirements, no contracts, Net-14 payment terms, and a 4% credit card processing fee scheduled to take effect April 1, 2026. International distribution leverages DHL's network of 220+ countries with typical 1-3 day delivery, while domestic trucking is fulfilled through partner company Preferred Logistics covering flatbed, stepdeck, specialized/project freight, and LTL across the United States.
Preferred Shipping firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Preferred Shipping
- Legal name
- Preferred Shipping
- Website
- https://preferredship.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Preferred Shipping is a US-based logistics services provider and the oldest authorized DHL Express reseller in the country, offering international express shipping, heavy air freight, and multi-carrier shipping via its proprietary PSCSHIP platform to small and medium businesses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Preferred Shipping industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Logistics and Shipping Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (49211)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Air Courier Services (4513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cross-Border E-commerce Parcel (DDP/Delivered Duty Paid) (TLAAANAD)
Keywords
Where Preferred Shipping is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sugar Land
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Preferred Shipping business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- International Shipping Services: Preferred Shipping generates revenue as an authorized DHL Express reseller by providing international express shipping services to small and medium businesses. The company leverages its volume buying power with DHL to offer competitive rates to customers, with revenue coming from service fees on shipped packages. No pickup fees, volume requirements, or contracts required from customers.
- Ecommerce Integration Services: Small SaaS fee charged for integrating shipping rates into major ecommerce platforms including Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Monthly | Standard International Shipping |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Credit Card Payments |
| Quote-based/ custom | Pay-as-you-go | Heavyweight Spot Rate Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
Preferred Shipping product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Preferred Shipping is a logistics and shipping services provider that operates as the oldest authorized DHL Express reseller in the United States (since 1992), delivering door-to-door international express shipping to 220+ countries for small and medium businesses. The company bundles these shipping services with PSCSHIP, its proprietary web-based multi-carrier platform that lets customers quote, ship, and track packages across DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS, and complements international services with heavy air freight, ecommerce fulfillment, domestic shipping, and domestic trucking via partner Preferred Logistics.
Product overview
Preferred Shipping operates as a logistics services provider offering a suite of international and domestic shipping solutions built around its proprietary PSCSHIP multi-carrier shipping platform. The core product is PSCSHIP, a free web-based shipping system available to all customers that consolidates quoting, labeling, pickup scheduling, and tracking across multiple carriers (DHL Express, FedEx, UPS, USPS) into a single interface. This platform is complemented by a range of service offerings: International Export Express and International Import Express leveraging the DHL Express network for door-to-door international delivery in 1-3 days to 220+ countries; International Ecommerce Shipping with direct integrations to Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento2, BigCommerce, and other platforms; Heavy Air Freight for 110lb-2,200lb shipments via the DHL network with 3-5 day delivery; Ecommerce Fulfillment Center for order fulfillment; National Trucking Services (via partner Preferred Logistics) covering flatbed, stepdeck, LTL, and specialized freight; and Domestic Shipping via USPS and other carriers. The company functions as the oldest authorized DHL Express reseller in the US, reselling DHL's global network alongside multi-carrier domestic options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PSCSHIP: Proprietary multi-carrier shipping platform that allows customers to quote, ship, and track shipments from a single web-based interface. Includes rate optimization features and supports domestic USPS, FedEx, UPS, and international DHL Express services.
Products and services
- PSCSHIP Multi-Carrier Shipping Platform Proprietary web-based multi-carrier shipping platform available free to all Preferred Shipping customers; enables quoting, creating shipments, scheduling pickups, tracking packages, rate optimization across carriers (DHL Express, FedEx, UPS, USPS), paperless customs invoicing, and unlimited user accounts in a single interface.
- International Export Express Door-to-door international express export shipping service using the DHL Express network from the US to 220+ countries and territories, with typical 1-3 day delivery, customs brokerage, and dedicated account support for SMBs.
- International Import Express International import shipping service bringing packages into the US via DHL Express with single-account management, USD invoicing, and customs brokerage included.
- International Ecommerce Shipping Ecommerce shipping solution with integrations to Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento 2, BigCommerce, ShipStation, and other shopping cart platforms, enabling international rate calculation at checkout, customs documentation, and global delivery for online retailers.
- Ecommerce Fulfillment Center Fulfillment service for ecommerce businesses that handles inventory storage, order processing, and international shipping logistics on the customer's behalf.
- Heavy Air Freight Heavyweight air freight service for shipments between 110 lbs and 2,200 lbs per piece carried on the DHL Express network with door-to-door delivery, customs brokerage, and typical 3-5 day transit; also referred to as the Heavyweight Spot Rate program.
- National Trucking Services Domestic trucking services across the US, including flatbed, stepdeck, specialized/project freight, and less-than-truckload (LTL) options, delivered through partner company Preferred Logistics with 24/7 customer support.
- Domestic Shipping Domestic parcel shipping within the United States via USPS and other domestic carriers, managed through the PSCSHIP platform alongside international shipping services.
- IB and Cambridge School Shipping Specialized international shipping program designed for International Baccalaureate and Cambridge school programs, facilitating reliable cross-border shipment of educational materials.
Quantifiable outcome
- International ecommerce retailers grow 60% faster than those not offering international shipping
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Preferred Shipping
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Preferred Shipping technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
Preferred Shipping partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- DHL ExpresscorePreferred Shipping has been an authorized DHL Express reseller since 1992, making them DHL's oldest reseller in the US. This partnership provides access to DHL's global express network covering 220+ countries with 260+ dedicated aircraft, 700+ daily flights, and 22 major air hubs. Preferred Shipping leverages DHL's network to offer international shipping services to small and medium businesses with competitive rates derived from volume purchasing power.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Preferred Shipping competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FedEx: FedEx operates a global parcel and freight network and is integrated within Preferred Shipping's PSCSHIP platform. FedEx competes as both a direct carrier for SMB international shipping and as part of Preferred Shipping's multi-carrier offering.
- United Parcel Service (UPS): UPS is a global parcel and logistics carrier integrated within PSCSHIP and a direct alternative for SMB international and domestic shipping. UPS competes both as a carrier inside Preferred Shipping's platform and as a direct competitor for SMB customers.
- Stamps.com: Stamps.com (parent of ShipStation, Endicia, and ShipWorks) is a multi-carrier shipping software platform targeting SMBs and small office shippers. It is a broad incumbent in SMB shipping software with significant overlap to PSCSHIP's SMB customer base.
- DHL Express: DHL Express is the global #1 international express carrier with 38% global market share and access to 220+ countries. As Preferred Shipping's underlying carrier and a broader incumbent, DHL competes indirectly by selling directly to SMBs through its own digital channels and shipper tools.
Direct peers
- EasyPost: EasyPost offers a multi-carrier shipping API covering USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, used by SMBs and platforms to embed label printing, tracking, and rate shopping. Its API-first approach contrasts with PSCSHIP's web app, but the SMB customer overlap and carrier breadth are highly comparable.
- Pirate Ship: Pirate Ship is a low-fee, SMB-focused multi-carrier shipping platform offering deeply discounted USPS and UPS rates. It targets the same small-merchant international and domestic shipping segment as Preferred Shipping and competes on price transparency and ease of use.
- Shippo: Shippo is a multi-carrier shipping API and dashboard used by SMBs, ecommerce platforms, and marketplaces to access discounted rates across USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. It competes head-on with PSCSHIP for SMB shipping software customers.
- GlobalPost: GlobalPost is a parcel consolidator providing international shipping solutions for ecommerce merchants and SMBs, including USPS domestic and international consolidator services. It competes for the same SMB international shipping wallet as Preferred Shipping.
- APC Postal Logistics: APC Postal Logistics is a parcel consolidator and DHL partner offering international shipping services to SMBs and ecommerce merchants. It is a direct functional peer to Preferred Shipping in the international parcel reseller and consolidator space.
- ShipStation: ShipStation (owned by Stamps.com/Auctane) is a multi-carrier shipping software platform targeted at SMB and mid-market ecommerce merchants, with integrations across USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL. It directly competes with Preferred Shipping's PSCSHIP platform for the same SMB cross-border shipping customer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Preferred Shipping social profiles
Digital presencePreferred Shipping financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Preferred Shipping leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Preferred Shipping funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Preferred Shipping M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Preferred Shipping
What does Preferred Shipping do?
Preferred Shipping is a logistics and shipping services provider that operates as the oldest authorized DHL Express reseller in the United States (since 1992), delivering door-to-door international express shipping to 220+ countries for small and medium businesses. The company bundles these shipping services with PSCSHIP, its proprietary web-based multi-carrier platform that lets customers quote, ship, and track packages across DHL, FedEx, UPS, and USPS, and complements international services with heavy air freight, ecommerce fulfillment, domestic shipping, and domestic trucking via partner Preferred Logistics.
Is Preferred Shipping a public or private company?
Preferred Shipping is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Preferred Shipping founded?
Preferred Shipping was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Preferred Shipping based?
Preferred Shipping is headquartered in Sugar Land, United States, in the North America region.
How does Preferred Shipping make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. International Shipping Services are the primary driver. The others are ecommerce Integration Services.
Who are Preferred Shipping's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FedEx, United Parcel Service (UPS), Stamps.com and DHL Express. Direct peers are EasyPost, Pirate Ship, Shippo, GlobalPost, APC Postal Logistics and ShipStation.
Does Preferred Shipping have an API?
No public API is recorded for Preferred Shipping.
What industry is Preferred Shipping in?
Preferred Shipping's product category is International Logistics and Shipping Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAAANAD, Cross-Border E-commerce Parcel (DDP/Delivered Duty Paid). Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.