Developer Reference
Freight Developer Glossary
43 freight, logistics, and API terms defined. From accessorials to zone skipping, EDI to webhooks. Clear, citation-ready definitions with Warp-specific implementation details where relevant.
43 terms · Alphabetically organized · Direct-linkable anchors · DefinedTermSet schema markup
A
Accessorial
An additional service beyond standard pickup and delivery. Common accessorials include liftgate, inside delivery, residential delivery, and appointment scheduling. Warp's pricing is all inclusive with no accessorial fees.
Agentic AI
AI that takes autonomous action rather than just generating text or alerts. In freight, agentic AI can quote rates, book shipments, track loads, and handle exceptions without human intervention. Warp's API is built for agentic AI workflows with structured JSON responses and explicit field names.
API Key
An authentication credential for accessing the Warp freight API. Passed in the apikey header on every request. Keys are self-serve, scoped to your organization, and can be rotated or revoked from the Warp dashboard.
B
Bill of Lading (BOL)
The legal document between shipper and carrier detailing freight type, quantity, weight, and destination. The BOL serves as a receipt of goods and a contract of carriage. Available via GET /freights/documents/{orderId} on Warp's API.
Booking
The act of converting a freight quote into a confirmed shipment. A booking locks in the rate, assigns a carrier, and generates a tracking number. POST /freights/booking on Warp's API.
Box Truck
A 26 foot truck with an enclosed cargo area and hydraulic liftgate. Ideal for mid-size freight, room of choice delivery, and white glove service. Warp's box trucks carry 1 to 12 pallets and are all liftgate equipped.
C
Cargo Van
A vehicle for cartons, cases, parcels, or up to 3 pallets. Best for urgent, small shipments with same day dispatch available. Up to 3,500 lbs and 400 cubic feet of capacity.
Carrier
The company that physically moves freight from origin to destination. Warp dispatches 20,000+ local 3rd-party carriers via the Warp driver app, providing consistent service quality and real time visibility on every load.
CLI (Command Line Interface)
A terminal tool for executing freight operations from the command line. The Warp CLI supports warp quote, warp book, and warp track for developers who prefer terminal workflows over REST calls.
Cross-Dock
A facility where freight is unloaded from inbound trucks, sorted, and reloaded onto outbound trucks without long term storage. Cross-docking reduces transit time and handling costs. Warp operates 50+ cross-dock facilities across its network.
D
Deadhead
When a truck drives empty between loads. Deadhead miles generate no revenue and waste fuel. Warp's dispatch engine minimizes deadhead through load optimization and network density.
Drayage
Short distance transport of freight, typically between a port, rail yard, or airport and a warehouse or distribution center. Drayage is the first or last mile of intermodal shipping.
Dry Van
An enclosed, non-temperature-controlled trailer, typically 53 feet long. The standard trailer type for full truckload freight. Capacity up to 44,000 lbs and 3,400 cubic feet.
E
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
A 1970s era standard for exchanging freight documents electronically between trading partners. Common EDI transaction sets include 204 (load tender), 214 (shipment status), and 210 (freight invoice). EDI is being replaced by REST APIs that return structured JSON.
ELD (Electronic Logging Device)
A device installed in commercial trucks that records driving hours to ensure compliance with hours of service regulations. Warp has ELD integrations on all line haul trucks, providing continuous GPS visibility throughout transit.
F
Freight Class
An NMFC (National Motor Freight Classification) code ranging from 50 to 500, based on density, handling, stowability, and liability. Higher class means higher cost per pound. Warp does not require freight class for most shipments; provide dimensions and weight instead.
FTL (Full Truckload)
A shipping mode where freight fills an entire trailer. FTL is typically the most cost effective option for large shipments. Available in dry van, reefer, or flatbed configurations.
Fuel Surcharge
A variable charge that carriers add to base rates to cover fluctuating fuel costs. Fuel surcharges change weekly or monthly based on the DOE diesel index. Warp charges no fuel surcharges. All inclusive pricing means the quoted rate is the final rate.
H
Headless Freight
Freight infrastructure accessed entirely through APIs, CLI, or AI agents with no portal or web UI required. Headless freight lets developers embed quoting, booking, and tracking directly into their own systems.
Hot Swap
Automatic carrier replacement when the assigned carrier fails due to a no show, mechanical issue, or late departure. Hot swap coverage is included on every Warp shipment, ensuring loads keep moving without manual rebrokering.
I
IndexNow
A protocol for notifying search engines of new or updated URLs for instant indexing. Supported by Bing and Yandex. Submitting a URL via IndexNow triggers immediate crawling rather than waiting for the next scheduled crawl.
J
JSON
JavaScript Object Notation. A lightweight, human readable data format used for API requests and responses. All Warp API endpoints accept and return JSON. Every field is explicitly named for easy parsing by code or AI agents.
L
Liftgate
A hydraulic platform mounted on the rear of a truck for loading and unloading freight at locations without a dock. Essential for residential delivery, retail stores, and construction sites. All Warp box trucks are liftgate equipped.
Line Haul
The long distance portion of a freight movement between an origin facility and a destination facility. In Warp's network, line haul connects cross-dock facilities, with local carriers handling pickup and delivery on each end.
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
A shipping mode for 1 to 12 pallets that shares trailer space with other shippers' freight. LTL is the most cost effective option for mid-size shipments. Warp routes LTL through cross-dock facilities, not terminals, for faster transit and fewer touchpoints.
O
Orbit
Warp's AI backbone. Orbit monitors every shipment for exceptions in real time: late pickups, missed scans, route deviations, temperature deviations, and dwell anomalies. When Orbit detects an issue, it triggers automatic corrective actions before the shipper needs to intervene.
P
Pallet
The standard unit of freight measurement. A standard pallet is 48 by 40 inches. Warp prices LTL, box truck, and cargo van shipments per pallet, making cost estimation straightforward.
POD (Proof of Delivery)
Photo and signature confirmation that freight was delivered to the correct location. POD documentation protects against claims and disputes. Captured via the Warp driver app and available through GET /freights/documents/{orderId}.
Pool Distribution
A shipping method that consolidates multiple shippers' freight on shared line haul trucks, then sorts it at a cross-dock facility for final mile delivery by local carriers. Pool distribution reduces per-shipment cost while maintaining delivery speed.
Programmable Freight
The concept of treating freight as software infrastructure, accessible through APIs, CLI tools, and AI agents. Programmable freight lets developers build logistics into any application the same way they use Stripe for payments or Twilio for communications.
Q
Quote
A freight rate for a specific shipment based on origin, destination, dimensions, and weight. POST /freights/quote on Warp's API returns the rate, transit days, and a quote ID that can be used to book the shipment.
R
Reefer
A refrigerated trailer with active temperature control for shipping perishable freight such as food, pharmaceuticals, and biologics. Reefer trailers maintain a set temperature range throughout transit.
REST API
Representational State Transfer. An architectural style for building web APIs using standard HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE). Warp's freight API is RESTful, returning structured JSON from every endpoint.
S
Scan Event
A record generated when freight is physically scanned at a location such as pickup, cross-dock, or delivery. Scan events create an auditable chain of custody. Every pallet on Warp is scanned in and scanned out at each facility.
Shipment
A booked freight movement from origin to destination. Created via POST /freights/booking on Warp's API. Returns a shipment ID and tracking number for real time status updates.
T
TMS (Transportation Management System)
Software for planning, executing, and optimizing freight movements. A TMS typically handles carrier selection, rate comparison, booking, tracking, and settlement. Warp's API can power a TMS or integrate with existing ones like Oracle TMS, Blue Yonder, or MercuryGate.
Tracking
Real time location and status monitoring of a shipment from pickup to delivery. POST /freights/tracking on Warp's API returns current status, GPS coordinates, and full event history.
Truckload
See FTL (Full Truckload). A shipping mode where freight occupies an entire trailer, typically a 53 foot dry van with capacity up to 44,000 lbs.
V
VAN (Value Added Network)
An intermediary service that routes EDI documents between trading partners. VANs charge $500 to $5,000 per month for document translation and delivery. Not needed with modern API integration, which provides direct, real time data exchange.
Vibe Coding
Using AI coding tools like Claude Code or Cursor to build software by describing what you want in natural language. Vibe coding makes freight integration accessible to operations teams, not just software engineers.
W
Webhook
An HTTP callback that a server sends to your endpoint when an event occurs. Warp sends webhooks for shipment events including pickup, scan, delivery, and exception. Webhooks eliminate the need to poll the tracking endpoint.
Work Queue
A Warp system that assigns consistent drivers to recurring routes and dedicated lane programs. Work queues ensure the same driver handles the same route repeatedly, improving reliability and reducing onboarding friction at pickup and delivery locations.
Z
Zone Skipping
A parcel shipping method that bypasses carrier hub-and-spoke sort facilities by injecting packages directly into FedEx or UPS local delivery networks. Zone skipping reduces transit time and cost by eliminating intermediate sorting steps.
Build with Warp
These terms come to life in Warp's freight API. Quote, book, track, and settle freight programmatically across cargo van, box truck, LTL, and FTL.