Sounds like you need the API stuff, spend some time on there website in the developers section, tons of stuff. I assume the other big guys (Fedex, Airborne) have something similar. I just use the Worldship linkage for what I do, or access the web for tracking without an API, so I can't give you specifics.

Bob

>>UPS Worldship is the program that is installed on your shipping computer and is available free (I think) from UPS. UPS actually as great computer support (surprised me, very rare). Most companies will have a computer near their shipping area with a scale attached and running the UPS Worldship program. This program generates the labels and manifests that UPS requires for business shipping.
>>
>>If you are trying to develope a program that accesses info off the web for tracking, rate calculations, etc; that is a different animal. USP offers a wide variety of API's on their website that allows you to integrate that type of data with your app or website. Others on this site have more experience in this approach than I do.
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>>Can you explain what you are trying to accomplish with a bit more detail??
>>
>>Bob
>>
>>>>UPS Worldship has a built in utility that your UPS rep can help you set up. It uses two tables, on so you can send shipping info to UPS, the other on what USP shipped out. This is basically field mapping, where you say thisfieldname=thisfieldbname. You can then access these files through ODBC.
>>>>
>>>>HTH Bob
>>>>
>>>>>Anyone has any excperience with developing shipping systems? Particularly UPS?
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>Thanks for help but I am not sure I understand. Is Worldship a set of APIs to access UPS servers?
>
>I want to develop a shipping system that will "talk" directly to carriers using a minimum of third party product. Like FedEx provides WSDLs to access their servers: this is an ideal situation - No middle man.