{"section":"tutorials","requestedLocale":"en","requestedSlug":"shipping-policy","locale":"en","slug":"shipping-policy","path":"docs/en/tutorials/shipping/shipping-strategy/shipping-policy.md","branch":"main","content":"[Shipping strategy](/en/docs/tutorials/shipping-strategy) is a set of essential [logistics](/en/docs/tutorials/fulfillment-logistics-vtex) settings in a VTEX store, which refers to the combination of the following aspects:\n\n* Shipping policy\n* [Loading dock](/en/docs/tutorials/loading-dock)\n* [Warehouse](/en/docs/tutorials/warehouse)\n\nThe image below shows how these concepts relate to each other:\n\n![shipping_strategy_EN](https://cdn.statically.io/gh/vtexdocs/help-center-content/refs/heads/main/docs/en/tutorials/shipping/shipping-strategy/shipping-policy_1.png)\n\n**Shipping policy** is a set of rules and settings that specify the shipping options that will be displayed to customers at checkout. When calculating the [shipping time for an order](/en/docs/tutorials/how-shipping-calculation-works), the VTEX platform takes into account several settings from the shipping policy, including:\n\n* [Carrier](/en/docs/tutorials/carriers-on-vtex)\n* [Carrier business hours](/en/docs/tutorials/carrier-working-hours)\n* [Holidays](/en/docs/tutorials/registering-holidays)\n* [Additional shipping costs](/en/docs/tutorials/additional-shipping-costs)\n* [Scheduled delivery](/en/docs/tutorials/scheduled-delivery)\n* [Pickup points](/en/docs/tutorials/pickup-points)\n\nTo learn how to create a shipping policy, check the [Creating a shipping policy](/en/docs/tutorials/creating-a-shipping-policy) article. For information on management, read the [Managing shipping policies](/en/docs/tutorials/managing-shipping-policies) article.\n\n## Shipping policy and shipping rate template\n\nEvery shipping policy is associated with a [shipping rate template](/en/docs/tutorials/shipping-rate-template), where you enter information such as:\n\n* Carrier identification\n* Carrier shipping cost\n* Postal code ranges or [polygons](/en/docs/tutorials/registering-geolocation) valid for shipping\n\nOnce the shipping rate template is associated with the shipping policy, this information becomes part of your VTEX logistics operation.\n\n## Initial logistics settings\n\nYou can configure initial settings through the VTEX Admin or via API. If you are starting to configure your [shipping strategy](/en/docs/tutorials/shipping-strategy), we recommend the following order:\n\n| **Topic** | **Configuration via VTEX Admin** | **Configuration via API** |\n| :--- | :--- | :--- |\n| 1. Shipping policy | [Creating a shipping policy](/en/docs/tutorials/creating-a-shipping-policy) | [Create shipping policy](https://developers.vtex.com/docs/api-reference/logistics-api#post-/api/logistics/pvt/shipping-policies) |\n| 2. [Loading dock](/en/docs/tutorials/loading-dock) | [Managing loading docks](/en/docs/tutorials/managing-loading-docks) | [Create/update dock](https://developers.vtex.com/docs/api-reference/logistics-api#post-/api/logistics/pvt/configuration/docks) |\n| 3. [Warehouse](/en/docs/tutorials/warehouse) | [Managing warehouses](/en/docs/tutorials/managing-warehouses) | [Create/update warehouse](https://developers.vtex.com/docs/api-reference/logistics-api#post-/api/logistics/pvt/configuration/warehouses) |"}