ShipStation first to bundle LTL into parcel shipping platform

ShipStation, a provider of parcel shipping software for e-commerce sellers, has become the first software-as-a-service company to offer less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping solutions within its platform. This integration was made possible by ShipStation's recent acquisition of Worldwide Express Group, a freight brokerage firm.

Chris Wofford, founder of Wofford Advisors LLC, noted that most small software companies do not have enough volume to offer full truckload services, creating a natural link between LTL freight brokerage and parcel shipping. The acquisition of WWEX Group by Thoma Bravo in June 2023, valued at $12 billion, enabled ShipStation to integrate LTL services into its existing parcel shipping platform.

WWEX Group manages customer shipments for UPS and sells rates to smaller shippers. With over 75 LTL carriers in its network, ShipStation now offers real-time LTL rates, order management, tracking, and invoicing for both parcel and LTL shipments. This consolidation aims to simplify logistics management for small and mid-sized businesses, which often manage freight separately from their parcel operations, leading to inefficiencies and challenges in understanding inventory status and shipment flow across multiple locations and carriers.

ShipStation's Chief Product Officer, Travis Rimel, emphasized that the integration is not just a new feature but a foundation for building smarter tools that enable merchants to make better logistics decisions. By bringing freight and parcel data together in a single system, ShipStation empowers small and mid-sized shippers with the same management tools available to large enterprises, streamlining outbound supply chain management and carrier flow across various channels and locations.