Fastrac Ontrac for Shopify: A 7-Step Setup to Boost Margins

What if you could reclaim 15-30% of your shipping costs and put it directly back into your profit? For Shopify store owners, shipping isn’t just a logistical task—it’s one of the largest, most controllable variables affecting your bottom line. Yet, many sellers stick with default carriers or a manual process, leaving thousands in potential savings on the table every year.

The problem isn’t a lack of desire to save money; it’s the perceived complexity of integrating a new shipping solution. The fear of disrupted operations, confused customers, and a tangled tech setup often keeps business owners from making a change that could significantly boost margins.

This is where a streamlined Fastrac Ontrac integration for Shopify comes in. As a dedicated shipping and logistics service, Fastrac Ontrac often provides more competitive commercial rates than standard retail pricing from major carriers. But its real power is unlocked through direct, automated integration with your Shopify store.

In this guide, you’ll get a clear, actionable blueprint. You will learn:

• The exact prerequisites you need before starting the setup.
• A detailed, 7-step process to install and configure Fastrac Ontrac in your Shopify admin.
• How to configure shipping rules that protect your margins on every product.
• Crucial testing steps to avoid costly mistakes.
• How to track the performance and actual margin impact post-integration.

Setting up this integration is a focused 60-90 minute process. The cost is typically the monthly subscription for the official app or service, but the ROI can be realized in your very first shipping cycle. Let’s transform your shipping from a cost center to a competitive advantage.

What is Fastrac Ontrac? A Quick Logistics Overview

Before we dive into setup, let’s clarify what Fastrac Ontrac is and why it matters for your Shopify store. Fastrac Ontrac is a logistics and freight service provider. For e-commerce businesses, they function as a carrier partner, offering shipping services that can often be more cost-effective than going directly to national carriers, especially for ground shipping within specific regions.

When integrated with Shopify via an app or API, Fastrac Ontrac becomes a selectable shipping option at checkout. The system pulls real-time rates, generates shipping labels automatically upon order fulfillment, and syncs tracking data back to the customer. This automation is the key to saving time and reducing human error, which directly translates to lower operational costs and boosted margins.

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Begin Setup

A smooth setup depends on having these three elements ready:

1. An Active Shopify Store: You need admin access to your store’s backend.
2. A Fastrac Ontrac Business Account: You must have an established commercial account with Fastrac Ontrac. Have your account number, login credentials, and any API keys (if provided) handy.
3. Clear Shipping Dimensions & Weights: Ensure your key products have accurate dimensions (Length, Width, Height) and weight entered in Shopify. Inaccurate data here will cause incorrect rate calculations, eroding your potential savings.

Pro Tip: Run a quick audit of your 10 best-selling products in Shopify to verify their shipping details are correct under Products > [Product] > Shipping.

Step 1: Installing the Fastrac Ontrac App from the Shopify App Store

The most common integration method is through the Shopify App Store.

1. From your Shopify admin, navigate to Apps > App and sales channel settings.
2. Click Visit Shopify App Store.
3. In the search bar, type “Fastrac Ontrac” or “Ontrac”.
4. Find the official app (verify the publisher is Fastrac Ontrac or a trusted, reputable logistics partner).
5. Click Add app and then Install app. You will grant necessary permissions for the app to access orders, fulfillments, and shipping settings.

⚠️ Warning: Be cautious of third-party multi-carrier apps that bundle Fastrac Ontrac. While sometimes valid, ensure they have strong reviews and clear pricing. For your first integration, the official app is often the most straightforward.

Step 2: Connecting Your Accounts & API Credentials

This step links your new app with your Fastrac Ontrac business account.

1. Inside the newly installed app’s dashboard, look for a section labeled Account, Connection, or API Settings.
2. You will be prompted to enter your Fastrac Ontrac account details. This typically includes your Account Number, a Client ID, or an API Key. You obtain these credentials by logging into your Fastrac Ontrac carrier portal or contacting their support.
3. Enter the information carefully. A “Connection Successful” or similar message will confirm the link is active.

Step 3: Configuring Your Default Shipping Settings & Zones

Now, define where you ship and how Fastrac Ontrac rates are presented.

1. Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery in your main Shopify admin.
2. Under Shipping profiles, ensure you’re editing your General profile or a specific profile.
3. In the Custom shipping rates section for a zone (e.g., “United States”), click Add rate.
4. Name the rate (e.g., “Fastrac Ontrac Ground”).
5. This is critical: Instead of setting a flat price, you’ll select Use carrier or app to calculate rates. Choose the Fastrac Ontrac integration from the dropdown.
6. This ensures customers see real-time, accurate rates at checkout, and you only pay the actual shipping cost.

Step 4: Setting Up Product-Specific Shipping Rules

Not all products cost the same to ship. Protect your margins by creating specific rules.

• Heavy/Bulky Items: For products over a certain weight, you might create a separate shipping profile that uses only Fastrac Ontrac (or a specific service level) to ensure rate accuracy.
• Free Shipping Promotions: You can set rules where Fastrac Ontrac is the carrier used when free shipping is offered, helping you control the cost of that promotion.
• Configure these in Shipping profiles by creating a new profile, assigning specific products to it, and then setting the Fastrac Ontrac calculated rates for that profile.

Step 5: Automating Label Printing & Order Status Sync

Automation is where you save massive amounts of time.

1. Within the Fastrac Ontrac app, find Automation or Fulfillment settings.
2. Enable Auto-purchase labels or Auto-fulfill. This can be set to trigger when an order is paid, allowing labels to be generated without manual intervention.
3. Enable Tracking number sync. This ensures the tracking number from Fastrac Ontrac is automatically added to the Shopify order, and an email update is sent to your customer.
4. Configure your label format (thermal 4×6 is standard for most thermal printers).

Step 6: Testing the Integration (A Crucial Dry Run)

Do not skip this step. A failed first live order damages customer trust.

1. Place a test order on your store using a real product and a discount code that covers the cost.
2. Go through the checkout, selecting a Fastrac Ontrac shipping method.
3. In your admin, fulfill this test order. The app should automatically fetch a Fastrac Ontrac rate, generate a label, and provide a tracking number.
4. Verify the label is valid and the tracking number updates on the carrier’s website.
5. Cancel the test order and issue a refund if necessary.

Step 7: Analyzing Performance & Tracking Margin Impact

Setup is complete, but optimization is ongoing. To truly boost margins, you must measure.

1. Establish a Baseline: Note your average shipping cost per order for the 30 days before integration.
2. Track New Metrics: 30 days after going live, calculate the new average shipping cost per order using Fastrac Ontrac.
3. Analyze: Factor in the app subscription cost. Your calculation is: (Old Cost per Order - New Cost per Order) x Number of Orders - App Fee = Monthly Margin Gain.
4. Use this data to negotiate better rates with Fastrac Ontrac as your volume grows.

Common Fastrac Ontrac + Shopify Setup Mistakes to Avoid

1. Mistake: Entering incorrect package dimensions in Shopify.
   • Consequence: Undercharging customers or overpaying the carrier, destroying margins.
   • Solution: Audit and correct product weights and dimensions before Step 1.
2. Mistake: Not testing with a live order before launch.
   • Consequence: First customer gets an error or incorrect label, hurting reputation.
   • Solution: Always run the test in Step 6.
3. Mistake: Using only flat rates instead of carrier-calculated rates.
   • Consequence: You absorb all cost fluctuations, leading to losses on heavy or distant orders.
   • Solution: Always select Use carrier or app to calculate rates.
4. Mistake: Forgetting to enable tracking sync.
   • Consequence: Increased customer service inquiries (“Where’s my order?”), costing you time.
   • Solution: Verify tracking sync is enabled in the app’s automation settings.

Expert Tips for Maximizing Shipping Discounts & Efficiency

1. Batch Your Fulfillment: Process all orders at once at a set time each day. This makes label printing and package handling exponentially faster.
2. Negotiate with Volume: Once you have 30-60 days of consistent shipping volume data with Fastrac Ontrac, contact their sales team. Use your data to ask for improved commercial rates.
3. Use Shipping Profiles Strategically: Create a profile for “Free Shipping Items” and assign only products with low shipping costs. This controls the expense of your promotions.
4. Integrate with Inventory: Connect your shipping data with inventory management. Faster shipping turnover can reduce storage costs and improve cash flow.
5. Audit Carrier Invoices: For the first few months, manually check a sample of Fastrac Ontrac invoices against your Shopify orders to ensure billed weights and distances match your expectations.

FAQs

How much does the Fastrac Ontrac Shopify app cost?

App pricing varies. The official integration may be free, or it may have a monthly subscription ranging from $10-$50. Third-party multi-carrier apps have different pricing tiers. Always check the Shopify App Store listing for the most current pricing.

Can I use Fastrac Ontrac alongside USPS or UPS on Shopify?

Absolutely. Shopify allows you to offer multiple carrier rates at checkout. You can configure shipping zones to show customers rates from Fastrac Ontrac, USPS, and UPS simultaneously, allowing them to choose based on price or speed.

What if Fastrac Ontrac doesn’t deliver to a customer’s zip code?

A properly configured integration will handle this automatically. If Fastrac Ontrac cannot service the address, their API will return no rate, and that service option will not appear for the customer at checkout. Your other configured carriers (like USPS) will provide the available options.

How long does it take for tracking information to update?

Tracking information is usually available within a few hours of label creation and scans at the first hub. The sync to your Shopify order and the customer email is typically instantaneous once the carrier provides the data.

Is my customer data safe when using this integration?

Yes, when using the official app or a highly-rated partner app. These integrations use secure API connections (OAuth) that do not store your Shopify login credentials. Always review an app’s privacy policy before installation.

Can I offer free shipping with Fastrac Ontrac?

Yes. You can create a shipping rule that offers “Free Shipping” but uses Fastrac Ontrac as the underlying carrier. You, the merchant, will pay the Fastrac Ontrac rate. This is a powerful promotional tool when you’ve calculated the cost into your product margin.

Conclusion

Integrating Fastrac Ontrac with your Shopify store isn’t just a technical task—it’s a direct financial strategy. By following this 7-step process, you move from treating shipping as a static cost to managing it as a dynamic, optimized component of your business.

Key Takeaways:

• Accurate product data is the non-negotiable foundation for correct rate calculation.
• Automating label purchase and tracking sync saves hours per week and improves customer experience.
• The crucial “test order” step prevents live errors and protects your store’s reputation.
• True margin improvement comes from measuring costs before and after integration.
• Ongoing optimization through shipping profiles and rate negotiation multiplies your savings.

Your next step is to block 90 minutes on your calendar, gather the prerequisites, and start with Step 1. The marginal gains you capture from a streamlined shipping operation compound over time, giving you more profit to reinvest in growing your business.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. The specific steps, app interfaces, pricing, and features of Fastrac Ontrac and Shopify are subject to change at any time by their respective providers. The author and publisher are not affiliated with Fastrac Ontrac or Shopify, and this content does not constitute professional business, financial, or legal advice. It is your responsibility to verify current information, rates, and platform functionality directly with the service providers before making any business decisions or changes to your operations. Results and savings are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual business circumstances, location, volume, and product types.