A FedEx blind shipment is a shipment in which the recipient can’t see who actually shipped the goods, or the shipper can’t see the final consignee, so a supplier or distributor stays hidden. FedEx Freight offers it as a formal LTL service under Item 822 of its rules tariff, while for FedEx parcels you create a blind shipment yourself by controlling the sender name, return address and billing on an ordinary label.
Dropshippers, distributors and private-label brands use blind shipping to keep supplier relationships private and to make every box look like it came from the seller. This guide explains how the FedEx Freight service works, how to set up a blind parcel shipment, and what can still reveal the real shipper.
What Is a FedEx Blind Shipment?
In a blind shipment, the paperwork that travels with the goods names someone other than the real origin or destination. A single-blind shipment hides the supplier from the end customer: the box shows the seller’s name and return address even though it ships from the supplier’s warehouse. A double-blind shipment also hides the end customer from the supplier, so only the middle party knows both sides.
FedEx handles the two main use cases differently:
| Shipment type | How blind shipping works | What the paperwork shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Freight LTL (palletized) | Formal “Blind Shipments” service, Item 822 of the FedEx Freight 100 Series Rules Tariff | A corrected bill of lading for the party being shielded; the carrier’s bill still shows actual origin and destination | Distributors moving pallets from a supplier to a customer |
| FedEx parcels (Ground, Home Delivery, Express) | No named service; set up through the label’s sender, return address and billing fields | Whatever name and return address the shipper enters | Dropshipped e-commerce orders |
How Does a FedEx Freight Blind Shipment Work?
FedEx Freight, which became an independent LTL company on June 1, 2026, still publishes its blind shipment rules in the FedEx Freight 100 Series Rules Tariff, effective January 5, 2026. Item 822 sets out the process:
- Request it before pickup. FedEx Freight considers blind shipment requests only before the shipment is picked up.
- Send the paperwork. The requester completes FedEx Freight’s “Letter of Authority for Blind Shipments” and sends it with a corrected bill of lading or letter of authority showing the change. The carrier confirms receipt.
- Prove authority. FedEx Freight must be satisfied that the requester has the legal authority to divert the shipment.
- Pay for it. Blind service carries an additional charge on top of the normal freight charges, and the service charge and linehaul must be billed prepaid to the party requesting it.
- Keep the same service level. The shipment moves at the FedEx Freight Priority or FedEx Freight Economy level shown on the original bill of lading.
Two limits are worth knowing. The carrier’s own freight bill still shows the actual origin and final destination city, state and ZIP Code. And if the letter of authority doesn’t arrive before pickup, FedEx Freight handles the request as a reconsignment under Item 820, a different and later process. The tariff also says the carrier will make “a diligent effort” but isn’t responsible if the blind service isn’t carried out, so check the paperwork at delivery on important shipments.
How Do You Set Up a Blind Parcel Shipment With FedEx?
FedEx’s 2026 Service Guide doesn’t list a separate blind shipment service for small packages, so parcel shippers build one from standard label fields. The steps are the same in FedEx Ship Manager at fedex.com or any FedEx-integrated shipping system:
- Enter your business as the shipper. Put the seller’s company name, not the supplier’s, in the sender fields that print on the label.
- Use your own return address. Choose an address where you can actually receive returns, so an undeliverable package comes back to you rather than revealing the supplier.
- Bill your own account. Use the third-party billing option so the supplier ships on your FedEx account and the charges land on your invoice. FedEx lists a Third Party Billing Surcharge in its Service Guide, so check whether it applies to your account.
- Use neutral references. Keep supplier names and their order numbers out of the reference fields that print on the label.
- Control the box contents. Ask the supplier to leave out its invoices, packing slips and branded inserts, and to use plain or your branded boxes.
Before you pick a service, compare transit times: our guide to FedEx Ground vs Express speed and cost explains the trade-off, and our walkthrough of the FedEx shipping calculator shows how to quote each option. Labels and invoices often show services as short codes, which our list of FedEx abbreviations decodes.
What Can Still Reveal the Real Shipper?
Blind shipping hides the name on the box, not every trace of where it came from. These are the usual giveaways:
- Tracking details. FedEx tracking shows scan locations, and the first scans can point to the city where the package actually started. Our guide to FedEx tracking and delivery explains what each scan means.
- Transit time. A package that arrives in one day from a “seller” across the country hints at a nearby warehouse. The FedEx shipping map and transit times show how origin affects delivery days.
- Packing materials. Supplier-branded tape, boxes or inserts undo everything on the label.
- Returns. A return label that points to the supplier’s dock exposes the relationship.
- Customs paperwork. International shipments need accurate exporter and shipper details on commercial invoices, so blind shipping across borders is limited.
Delivery also works the same as any other package. Recipients who don’t recognize the sender name may hesitate to accept a box, so tell customers what name will appear. Our explainer on whether FedEx leaves packages at the door covers how drivers handle signature and no-signature deliveries.
Which FedEx Services Work Best for Blind Shipping?
Any FedEx parcel service can carry a blind label, because the blind part lives in the label data, not the service. FedEx Home Delivery suits dropshipped orders to residences, while FedEx Ground serves business addresses; our comparison of FedEx Home Delivery and FedEx Ground explains the differences. Express services make sense only when the customer paid for speed.
Palletized orders are where the formal FedEx Freight service matters, because LTL shipments travel with a bill of lading that names both parties. For those, request blind service on the bill of lading before pickup and plan for the added charge.
Can You Blind Ship With UPS or USPS Instead?
Yes. UPS doesn’t sell a named blind service for small packages either; you set one up the same way, with your business name, your return address and billing to your account. Our guide to blind shipments with UPS covers that setup, including double-blind shipping. USPS labels also show only the sender name and return address the shipper enters.
If you’re open to UPS or USPS for your blind parcels, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS with no subscription, per-label fee or minimums. You can compare live UPS and USPS rates for a package in the ParcelPath rate calculator, and PalletPath handles LTL freight through the PalletPath freight quote tool.
Is Blind Shipping Legal?
Yes. Hiding a supplier from an end customer is a normal business arrangement, and FedEx Freight publishes rules for it. What blind shipping can’t do is hide the seller from the buyer: the customer still needs to know who sold the product and how to return it. Federal rules also require accurate shipper details for exports and for regulated goods such as hazardous materials, so keep full records of the actual origin for every blind order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FedEx offer a blind shipment service?
Yes, for LTL freight. FedEx Freight’s 100 Series Rules Tariff, Item 822, offers blind shipments for an added charge when the requester sends a Letter of Authority for Blind Shipments and a corrected bill of lading before pickup. For FedEx parcels there’s no named service, so shippers create blind shipments with their own sender name, return address and third-party billing.
When do you have to request a FedEx Freight blind shipment?
Before pickup. Item 822 of the FedEx Freight rules tariff says only requests made prior to pickup are considered. If the Letter of Authority for Blind Shipments doesn’t reach FedEx Freight before pickup, the request is handled as a reconsignment under Item 820, which follows different rules and is processed after the freight is already moving.
What is the difference between blind and double-blind shipping?
A single-blind shipment hides the supplier from the end customer, so the box shows the seller’s name and return address. A double-blind shipment also hides the end customer from the supplier, so only the middle party, such as a distributor or broker, knows both. With FedEx Freight, the carrier’s own bill still shows the actual origin and destination.
Can the recipient track a FedEx blind shipment?
Yes. A blind parcel uses a normal FedEx tracking number, so the recipient can follow it like any package. The tracking history shows scan locations, though, and early scans can reveal the city where the package started. Sellers who need full discretion should consider that before sharing tracking links with customers.
Can you blind ship internationally with FedEx?
Only in a limited way. International shipments need accurate exporter and shipper information on the commercial invoice and customs documents, so the real origin is disclosed to customs authorities. You can still use your company name on the label where the rules allow, but you can’t hide the true shipper from customs the way you can from a domestic customer.
Sources
- FedEx Freight: 100 Series Rules Tariff, effective January 5, 2026, Item 822 Blind Shipments and Item 820 Reconsignment (fedexfreight.com/content/dam/web/us/documents/fxf-100-series-rules-tariff.pdf)
- FedEx Freight: notice of independent LTL company as of June 1, 2026 (fedexfreight.com)
- FedEx Service Guide 2026 (U.S.): third-party billing and package services terms
This article is part of our FedEx frequently asked questions series and our FedEx shipping hub. For carrier comparisons, see our roundup of the best shipping services and solutions.
Part of our FedEx Frequently Asked Questions guide. Related: FedEx Shipping Hub, FedEx Abbreviations.
