LTL API Integration: Steps to Automate

Want to streamline your LTL shipping? Here's what you need to know about API integration:

• It's ideal if you ship 25+ times or spend $10,000+ monthly with one carrier
• Automates rate quotes, shipment booking, tracking, and documentation
• Faster and cheaper than old EDI systems
• U.S. EDI software market to hit $4.52 billion by 2030
• 2/3 of businesses now going digital, up from 40% pre-COVID

Key steps to integrate LTL APIs:

1. Check your business needs and carrier API compatibility
2. Choose between direct carrier APIs or API platforms
3. Set up authentication and test in a sandbox environment
4. Monitor performance metrics like response time and error rates
5. Keep APIs updated and test thoroughly before changes

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LTL API Basics

LTL APIs connect your business systems to carrier networks, automating freight booking. The API market is booming - it's set to grow from $5.42 billion in 2024 to $34.17 billion by 2032. Transportation APIs are leading the charge.

Main Parts of LTL APIs

LTL APIs have several key components:

1. Rate Requests

These get you carrier quotes. You'll see real-time pricing and multiple carrier options.

2. Shipment Booking

This is where you create shipments. It generates eBOLs and assigns PRO numbers.

3. Tracking

Want to know where your shipment is? This gives you real-time status updates and lets you grab documents.

4. Documentation

Need labels or customs forms? This part's got you covered.

SMC³'s system shows how these parts work together. Their solution lets shippers handle everything - from getting quotes to final delivery docs - all in one place.

What You Need Before Starting

Ready to jump in? Here's what you'll need:

• API Credentials: You'll get a Client ID and Client Secret when you sign up with carrier platforms.
• Authentication Setup: Most carriers use OAuth 2.0. It's secure.
• Data Requirements: You'll need to know your shipment details - things like size, weight, and commodity codes.

"SMC³'s LTL API solutions instill confidence in our ability to optimize performance and service to our customers. Because of our partnership, we are now able to rate 100% of our LTL carriers via API", notes Dianna Giltner, Director of Operations at Express Logistics, Inc.

API Security Setup

Security matters. A lot. Modern LTL APIs use OAuth 2.0 authentication. It's tough stuff, but it keeps your shipping data safe.

Here's what you need to know:

• You'll need to update your access token regularly. FedEx, for example, makes you do it every hour.
• Keep your API credentials under lock and key.
• Set up proper authorization levels.
• Keep an eye on who's accessing your API and how.

Big TMS providers like MercuryGate, Oracle, and BlueYonder team up with established API providers. Why? To make sure their connections are rock-solid and secure.

Planning Your Integration

Before jumping into LTL API integration, you need a solid plan. Companies shipping about 25 times a month or spending $10,000 on freight with one carrier are usually ready for API adoption.

Check Your Business Needs

First, figure out what you really need from your API integration. Focus on the main tasks that'll benefit most from automation. If you're dealing with multiple carriers, you might want to prioritize things like comparing rates in real-time and booking automatically.

"When data is shared openly and instantly, your savings of both time and money can be significant", says a report from Banyan Technology.

Check Carrier API Match

Make sure everything works together. Look at your current tech and check if your chosen carrier APIs fit with your systems. Here's what to consider:

API Integration Options

You've got two main choices: go straight to carrier APIs or use a platform that brings them all together. Each has its pros and cons:

ShipPeek TMS is an example of a platform approach. It lets you connect to multiple carriers through one point and make as many rate requests as you want. This can be much faster than setting up each carrier separately.

For big operations, platforms like Jitterbit handle large-scale integrations. Smaller businesses might prefer Zapier, which doesn't require coding. The key is picking the option that fits your size and tech skills.

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Setup Steps

Let's jump into the setup process for your integration. As Dianna Giltner, SMC³'s Director of Operations, puts it: "When APIs work and the data can be trusted, it's a game-changer."

Read API Guides

First things first: dive into your vendor's API docs. Pay close attention to:

1. Authentication: How to set up OAuth 2.0 and manage access tokens (they're good for 12 hours).
2. Request Limits: Know your thresholds (Bronze: 5/min, Silver: 20/min, Gold: 50/min).
3. Data Requirements: What you need to include (like addresses, contact info, and pickup dates).

Set Up and Test Endpoints

Start in a sandbox environment. It's your safe space to test things out. ShipEngine's sandbox, for example, gives you three test carriers: TEST, WARN, and FAIL. Each one throws different scenarios at you.

Here's what a real test shipment might look like:

"We set up test shipments for our Dallas client with specific details: starting at 123 Unnamed Road, North Las Vegas, pickup between 11:00-16:00, heading to 1500 Marilla St., Dallas. We threw in reference numbers like Sales Order 123456 to keep tabs on our test runs."

API Setup Checklist

Make sure you've got these basics covered:

• SSL Security: Every API request needs a secure connection.
• Bearer Token: Get this by sending a POST request to the authentication endpoint.
• Health Checks: Keep an eye on your API's performance.
• Error Handling: Be ready for TEST, WARN, and FAIL scenarios.

Pro tip: Set up some monitoring tools to watch your API's response times and error rates. Regular health checks can catch problems before they blow up into bigger issues.

Testing Your Setup

Test Your Integration

Let's kick things off by testing your API integration in a safe environment. ShipEngine's sandbox is perfect for this. It comes with three test carriers: TEST, WARN, and FAIL. Each one mimics different real-world scenarios you'll face in production.

Here's how to get started:

1. Create a sandbox API key in your ShipEngine dashboard.
2. Send empty request bodies to the connection endpoint.
3. Use different carrier codes to see how your setup handles various responses.

"When APIs work and the data can be trusted, it's a game-changer. That's why we recommend testing all three carrier scenarios thoroughly before moving to production", says Dianna Giltner, SMC³'s Director of Operations.

Want to do a quick health check? It's easy. Just make a GET request to specific endpoints. For instance, to check the Pickup Request API's status, call:

https://api.ltl.xpo.com/pickuprequest/1.0/health-check

You'll get a response like this:

{
  "code": 200,
  "transactionTimestamp": 1472754590484,
  "data": "Service LTL-PickupRequest-API is running"
}

Check API Speed

Now, let's talk about performance testing. It's key to making sure your integration can handle real-world traffic. Here's a quick look at some popular testing tools:

When you're running these tests, keep an eye on:

• How fast the API responds under different loads
• How many requests it can handle per second
• How well it deals with errors
• How much of your system resources it's using

Ready to test in production? Set the testMode parameter to N in your API calls. Like this:

https://api.ltl.xpo.com/billoflading/1.0/billsoflading?testMode=N

Keep Your API Running Well

Watch API Performance

To keep your LTL API integration healthy, you need to keep an eye on key performance metrics. Focus on:

• Response times
• Request rates
• Error frequencies

Set clear performance goals. For example, aim to keep endpoint latency under 500ms for 99.95% of requests.

If you're using ShipPeek TMS, you're in luck. It comes with built-in monitoring dashboards that track over 40 metrics. These include inbound requests, outbound calls, and how well your infrastructure is performing. This gives you a full picture of what's going on, helping you spot potential problems before they cause trouble.

"We live in a world where data volumes double every 18 months and so the magnitude at which APIs will need to be served continue to rapidly increase", notes Paola Moretto, Co-founder and CEO of Nouvola.

Here are the key metrics you should track:

Update APIs When Needed

Keeping your LTL API integration up-to-date isn't just about fixing bugs. It's about staying ahead of the game. Recent data shows that good versioning practices help you add new features while keeping things working for older versions.

Here's how to handle updates like a pro:

1. Know Which Versions You're Using

Keep track of which API versions your system is using. This helps you plan when to switch to newer versions. For example, if you're still using SOAP endpoints, heads up: many carriers are ditching these for JSON/XML over HTTP by October 2024.

2. Plan Your Updates

Do your updates when things are quiet. It's less likely to cause problems. And here's a tip: recent stats show that if you use automated testing in your CI/CD pipeline, you can catch a lot of issues before they become real problems.

3. Test, Test, Test

Before you roll out any changes, test them thoroughly in a staging environment. A recent case study showed that good testing caught 94% of potential issues before they hit production. That's a lot of headaches avoided!

"Understanding and continually enhancing the user experience is foundational to achieving success", emphasizes APItoolkit's latest documentation on API maintenance.

Conclusion

LTL API integration can change how you handle shipping. If you're moving about 25 shipments or $10,000 in freight each month with one carrier, API integration could be a game-changer. While EDI software is big business (the U.S. market hit $1.98 billion in 2023), APIs are growing faster. They're more flexible and often cheaper.

"When data is shared openly and instantly, your savings of both time and money can be significant."

But remember, it's not just about plugging in an API and forgetting about it. You need to set it up right and keep an eye on it. Take Windward, for example. They track 99% of containers through their API. That's impressive.

API use in business is set to boom - experts think it'll grow by 115% in the next two years. So, stay on top of updates and watch your performance stats.

Some companies are still on the fence about APIs. But listen to what Dwain Key, Senior VP of Operations at Ward Trucking, says:

"In the Navy, I learned a lot about how to fight a modern-day war with 1980s technology... And that's pretty much what trucking is today."

It's clear: the logistics industry needs to catch up with the times.

Getting LTL API integration right isn't just about the tech. It's about always looking for ways to make shipping smoother. If you set it up well and keep tabs on it, your API can:

• Make things run faster
• Cut down on mistakes
• Keep customers happier
• Free up your team from boring manual tasks

In short, API integration isn't just a tech upgrade - it's a smarter way to do business.

Related posts

• 7 Ways to Reduce LTL Shipping Costs with API Integration
• How to Choose the Right TMS API for Your Business
• Logistics API Implementation: Step-by-Step Guide
• Carrier Integration Checklist: 10 Essential Requirements