# US retail parcel and freight shipping management > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-retail-parcel-and-freight-shipping-management > Updated: 2026-10-02T16:30:05.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. A ShipStation report on merchant insights identifies a structural divide in retail shipping management, noting that while 78% of surveyed U.S. merchants ship freight, most manage parcel and freight shipping through disconnected platforms. The report highlights that parcel shipping is typically automated, whereas freight often remains a manual process. Additionally, 75% of merchants reported rising shipping costs over the previous 12 months. Further analysis compares the operational differences between parcel and less-than-truckload (LTL) freight. While parcel carriers like UPS, FedEx, and USPS use highly automated networks for individual packages, LTL carriers are designed for larger, palletized shipments by combining freight from multiple businesses into shared trailer space. Effective optimization requires evaluating shipments based on weight, size, and specific handling requirements to choose the appropriate network. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-02: ShipStation framework compares parcel and LTL shipping A decision framework helps businesses choose between parcel shipping and LTL freight based on package size, weight, and destination to optimize logistics and avoid extra fees. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shipstation-framework-compares-parcel-and-ltl-shipping ### 2026-09-23: ShipStation report identifies gap between parcel and freight shipping management A ShipStation report reveals that 78% of U.S. merchants ship freight, but most manage it through separate, unoptimized systems disconnected from their parcel shipping operations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/shipstation-report-identifies-gap-between-parcel-and-freight-shipping-management --- Cite as: US retail parcel and freight shipping management. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-retail-parcel-and-freight-shipping-management