# How to connect Shipengine to Hermes Agent (paste one key, 66 tools)

> Connect Shipengine to Hermes with ClawLink: paste your Shipengine key once and 66 tools work from chat. No MCP server to run, nothing stored on your machine.

Web version: https://claw-link.dev/hermes/shipengine

Most guides for giving Hermes Agent Shipengine access start with registering your own OAuth app or pasting API keys into env files, then leave the token refresh and tool wiring to you. ClawLink gives Hermes a more practical Shipengine setup: pair once in the browser and your always-on Hermes agent can act on Shipengine for you, reading and doing real work on your behalf with no auth, token refresh, or tool wiring to build yourself.

## Setup

It takes three steps to connect Hermes to Shipengine.

1. **Install ClawLink** — add the plugin to Hermes Agent once.
2. **Connect Shipengine** — one-click OAuth in the ClawLink dashboard.
3. **Use it from chat** — ask Hermes Agent in plain English.

**Paste this into Hermes to set up ClawLink:**

> Set up ClawLink for Hermes and tell me when it's ready.
> 1. Install the plugin: `hermes plugins install ClawLink-HQ/hermes-plugin --enable`
> 2. Start pairing with `hermes clawlink begin`. It prints an approval link, so show me the link and stop, don't wait.
> 3. I'll approve it in my browser, then reply "approved".
> 4. When I say approved, finish setup: `hermes clawlink finish`
> 5. Then run `hermes clawlink test` and tell me whether ClawLink is ready.

**Alternative for any agent (no plugin needed):** if the Hermes Agent plugin route isn't available or doesn't work, any AI agent with shell access can use the ClawLink CLI instead:

```bash
npx -y @useclawlink/cli login          # sign in via browser — no API key to paste
npx -y @useclawlink/cli connect shipengine  # connect Shipengine (browser OAuth)
npx -y @useclawlink/cli actions shipengine  # list available actions
npx -y @useclawlink/cli run shipengine <action> --input '<json>'  # execute (add --confirm for writes)
```

### Install by command

The prompt above walks Hermes through this. By hand, it is four commands and a browser approval:

```bash
hermes plugins install ClawLink-HQ/hermes-plugin --enable
hermes clawlink begin    # prints an approval link — open it and approve
hermes clawlink finish   # after approving in the browser
hermes clawlink test
```

Then connect Shipengine in the [ClawLink dashboard](https://claw-link.dev/dashboard) — paste your Shipengine API key once.

Verify the connection by asking Hermes:

> Use Shipengine to download file and walk me through the result in plain English.

### Using a different agent?

The Hermes plugin is one client of ClawLink's MCP server. Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or any agent that can run a shell command pairs with the same ClawLink account through the CLI:

```bash
npx -y @useclawlink/cli login
```

`login` opens the same browser approval and stores a credential locally. Once Shipengine is connected in the dashboard, that agent calls the same 66 Shipengine tools over MCP. Full setup for MCP clients and shell agents: [connect apps to any AI agent](https://claw-link.dev/learn/connect-apps-to-any-ai-agent).

## Shipengine MCP for Hermes

Looking for a Shipengine MCP server for Hermes Agent? ClawLink connects Shipengine to Hermes Agent and exposes 66 Shipengine tools your agent can call over [MCP](https://claw-link.dev/learn/what-is-an-mcp-server), with [hosted auth](https://claw-link.dev/learn/oauth-for-ai-agents) and nothing to run or maintain yourself. Using OpenClaw instead? The [OpenClaw Shipengine integration](https://claw-link.dev/openclaw/shipengine) works the same way.

## What the Hermes Agent Shipengine integration can do

66 Shipengine tools are ready for Hermes Agent once the account is connected. The 30 below are the ones people reach for most; your agent can call all 66.

### 30 of 66 Shipengine tools for Hermes

| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Download file** `shipengine_download_file` | Download a file from ShipEngine |
| **Get account image by ID** `shipengine_get_account_image_by_id` | Retrieve account image settings by label image ID |
| **Get batch by external ID** `shipengine_get_batch_by_external_id` | Retrieve batch details using an external batch ID |
| **Get batch by ID** `shipengine_get_batch_by_id` | Retrieve detailed information about a specific batch by its ID |
| **Get batch errors** `shipengine_get_batch_errors` | Retrieve errors that occurred during batch processing |
| **Get bulk rates** `shipengine_get_bulk_rates` | Get shipping rates for multiple shipments in a single request |
| **Get insurance balance** `shipengine_get_insurance_balance` | Retrieve the current Shipsurance insurance funds balance |
| **Get ltl carrier credential requirements** `shipengine_get_ltl_carrier_credential_requirements` | Retrieve credential requirements for connecting an LTL carrier |
| **Get ltl carrier features** `shipengine_get_ltl_carrier_features` | Retrieve features supported by an LTL carrier |
| **Get ltl carrier options** `shipengine_get_ltl_carrier_options` | List available options/accessorials for an LTL carrier |
| **Get ltl carrier packages** `shipengine_get_ltl_carrier_packages` | List available package/handling unit types for an LTL (Less Than Truckload) carrier |
| **Get ltl carrier services** `shipengine_get_ltl_carrier_services` | List available services for an LTL carrier |
| **Get package by ID** `shipengine_get_package_by_id` | Get details of a specific custom package type by ID |
| **Get shipment by external ID** `shipengine_get_shipment_by_external_id` | Retrieve shipment details using an external shipment ID |
| **Get shipment by ID** `shipengine_get_shipment_by_id` | Retrieve a shipment by ID |
| **Get shipment rates** `shipengine_get_shipment_rates` | Retrieve shipping rates for an existing shipment |
| **Get tracking info** `shipengine_get_tracking_info` | Retrieve tracking information for a shipment |
| **Get warehouse by ID** `shipengine_get_warehouse_by_id` | Retrieve details of a specific warehouse by ID |
| **Get webhook by ID** `shipengine_get_webhook_by_id` | Retrieve details of a specific webhook by ID |
| **List account images** `shipengine_list_account_images` | List all account images |
| **List account settings** `shipengine_list_account_settings` | List all account settings for the ShipEngine account |
| **List batches2** `shipengine_list_batches2` | List all batches with comprehensive filtering options |
| **List carrier package types** `shipengine_list_carrier_package_types` | List all available package types for a specific carrier |
| **List labels2** `shipengine_list_labels2` | List all shipping labels with comprehensive filtering options |
| **List ltl carriers** `shipengine_list_ltl_carriers` | List all LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) carrier accounts connected to your ShipEngine account |
| **List manifests2** `shipengine_list_manifests2` | List all manifests with optional filtering by warehouse and carrier |
| **List packages** `shipengine_list_packages` | List all package types |
| **List pickups** `shipengine_list_pickups` | List all scheduled pickups with optional filters |
| **List shipments2** `shipengine_list_shipments2` | List all shipments with optional filtering parameters |
| **List tags2** `shipengine_list_tags2` | List all tags in your account |

## Example prompts

**Download File**

> Use Shipengine to download file and walk me through the result in plain English.

**Get Account Image By Id**

> Pull the relevant data from Shipengine, summarize it in plain English, and point out anything that needs attention.

**Get Batch By External Id**

> Pull the relevant data from Shipengine, summarize it in plain English, and point out anything that needs attention.

**Get Batch By Id**

> Pull the relevant data from Shipengine, summarize it in plain English, and point out anything that needs attention.

## ClawLink vs. building it yourself

The alternative to ClawLink is usually manual API key setup plus your own token handling, permission troubleshooting, and tool plumbing for Hermes Agent. That is fine if you want to build and maintain the integration yourself. Most teams just want Shipengine working from chat.

| | Manual | ClawLink |
|---|---|---|
| **Credential handling** | Collect, validate, store, and rotate the Shipengine API key yourself, then make sure every tool call uses the right account. | Users complete the hosted ClawLink setup once and the connected Shipengine account becomes available to the agent without you building credential management. |
| **Ongoing maintenance** | You own refresh logic, permission debugging, environment config, and every provider-specific edge case for Shipengine. | ClawLink handles the repetitive integration plumbing so your team can focus on the workflow instead of the infrastructure. |
| **Agent usability** | You still need to expose the right Shipengine actions to the runtime in a format your agent can reliably use. | 66 tools for Shipengine are already exposed through ClawLink, so the agent can read and act from chat immediately. |

## ClawLink vs. Composio

Composio also exposes Shipengine to AI agents. It is developer infrastructure: Python and TypeScript SDKs, an MCP server, and a catalog past 1,000 apps, aimed at teams shipping agent products. ClawLink is built for Hermes Agent users instead. You install the plugin once, connect Shipengine in the browser, and the 66 tools above work from chat. There is no SDK and no config file, and the Shipengine key you paste at setup is stored server-side rather than kept in your environment. Choosing between them? Read the full [Composio alternatives](https://claw-link.dev/hub/composio-alternatives) comparison.

### Hermes paired but still can't use Shipengine
Pairing is a two-step handshake: run `hermes clawlink begin`, approve the link in your browser, then run `hermes clawlink finish`. If you ran finish before approving, or the approval link expired, run `hermes clawlink begin` again to get a fresh link. Confirm the plugin was installed with `--enable`, then verify with `hermes clawlink test`.

### Connection succeeds but no tools appear
Reconnect Shipengine from the dashboard, then start a fresh chat if the runtime still has the old tool catalog loaded.

### "Tool schema not loaded yet" error when calling Shipengine tools
Shipengine tool schemas load on demand the first time a tool runs and are cached after that, so this error usually clears on its own: wait a few seconds and retry the same request. If every Shipengine call keeps failing with it in a fresh chat, reconnect from the dashboard, and contact support if it still persists — that pattern points to a configuration problem on our side, not something you can fix by reconnecting again.

### Shipengine returns 403 or "permission denied" on one action while others work
Two usual causes. The connected account may not have access to the specific workspace, inbox, store, or project in the request — check that first. If access looks right, the agent may have sent a placeholder value (like "YOUR_ID" or an example id from documentation) instead of a real one: ask it to run a list or search tool first, then retry the action with a real id from those results. Most failures at this stage are one of these two, not ClawLink bugs.

### API key setup works but results look incomplete
Double-check that the API key for Shipengine has the right scopes or account access. A valid key can still be too limited for some reads or writes.

### Is there a Hermes Agent Shipengine integration?
Yes. ClawLink is the fastest way to connect Hermes to Shipengine: link your Shipengine account once in the browser and Hermes Agent can call the Shipengine API through 66 ready-made tools — no custom code or token handling.

### How do I connect Shipengine to Hermes with ClawLink?
Install the plugin with `hermes plugins install ClawLink-HQ/hermes-plugin --enable`, then pair once: run `hermes clawlink begin`, approve the link in your browser, and run `hermes clawlink finish`. Connect Shipengine in the dashboard and Hermes can use it from the next message — no config files, and the Shipengine key you paste is stored server-side instead of in your environment.

### How long does it take to connect Shipengine to Hermes Agent?
About two minutes. Sign in, click Connect next to Shipengine in the dashboard, authenticate, and Hermes Agent can use it from the next chat message.

### Why use ClawLink instead of wiring Shipengine up myself?
The alternative to ClawLink is usually manual API key setup plus your own token handling, permission troubleshooting, and tool plumbing for Hermes Agent. That is fine if you want to build and maintain the integration yourself. Most teams just want Shipengine working from chat.

### Hermes paired but still can't use Shipengine
Pairing is a two-step handshake: run `hermes clawlink begin`, approve the link in your browser, then run `hermes clawlink finish`. If you ran finish before approving, or the approval link expired, run `hermes clawlink begin` again to get a fresh link. Confirm the plugin was installed with `--enable`, then verify with `hermes clawlink test`.

## Related

- [Hermes GitHub integration](https://claw-link.dev/hermes/github) — Manage repositories, issues, pull requests, and workflows
- [Connect PagerDuty](https://claw-link.dev/hermes/pagerduty) — Manage incidents, on-call schedules, and services
- [Hermes SafetyCulture integration](https://claw-link.dev/hermes/safetyculture) — SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor) is a workplace operations platform that enables teams to conduct digital inspections, manage audits, track issues, schedule tasks, and maintain compliance through mobile and web applications.
