Definition
What Is a Freight API?
A freight API is a programmatic interface that lets software systems quote freight rates, book shipments, and track deliveries through standard HTTP requests. Instead of calling a broker or logging into a carrier portal, your code sends a JSON request and receives a JSON response with rates, shipment IDs, and tracking events. Freight APIs replace phone calls, emails, and EDI with structured, real time data exchange.
What a freight API does
A freight API exposes core logistics operations as HTTP endpoints. Your system calls the API the same way it calls any other web service. The API handles the complexity of carrier networks, rate negotiation, shipment booking, and tracking aggregation behind a clean interface. This is what makes freight programmable.
The core operations are quoting (get freight rates for a given origin, destination, and shipment profile), booking (convert a quote into a confirmed shipment with a tracking number), tracking (pull real time status, location, and event history for active shipments), and settlement (retrieve invoices and proof of delivery documents).
How a freight API works
Modern freight APIs follow REST conventions. You send HTTP requests to specific endpoints with JSON payloads. The API authenticates your request using an API key passed as a header, processes the request against the carrier network, and returns a structured JSON response.
Request
Send JSON over HTTPS.
Your system sends a POST request with shipment details: origin zip, destination zip, item dimensions, weight, and pickup date. The API key authenticates the request.
Processing
Carrier network does the work.
The API queries available carriers, calculates rates based on your shipment profile, checks capacity, and returns the best options. This happens in seconds, not hours.
Response
Receive structured JSON.
You get back a JSON object with rate, transit time, carrier name, service level, and a quote ID. Use that quote ID to book. Use the tracking number to track.
Webhooks for real time events
Instead of polling the tracking endpoint repeatedly, freight APIs support webhooks. You register a URL in your account, and the API pushes status events to your system as they happen. When a driver arrives at pickup, when freight is scanned in, when the shipment departs, when it arrives at delivery, your system receives each event with timestamps and GPS coordinates in real time.
What a freight API replaces
Before freight APIs, moving goods required phone calls to brokers, email chains for rate quotes, manual entry into carrier portals, and EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) through Value Added Networks for system to system communication. Each of these methods is slow, error prone, and difficult to scale. See the full comparison in freight API vs EDI.
Phone and email
Manual rate shopping.
Call three brokers, wait for email quotes, compare in a spreadsheet, call back to book. A freight API does this in one request that returns in seconds.
Carrier portals
Login per carrier.
Each carrier has its own portal with its own login, its own format, its own tracking page. A freight API normalizes all of this behind one interface.
EDI and VAN
Batch file exchange.
EDI uses fixed format flat files exchanged through expensive VAN networks. Integration takes weeks. A freight API uses standard HTTP and JSON. Integration takes hours.
Who uses freight APIs
Freight APIs are used by developers building logistics into their applications, operations teams connecting their TMS (Transportation Management System) to carrier networks, AI agents that autonomously procure and manage freight, and platforms that need to embed shipping into their product without building carrier relationships from scratch.
Developers
Build freight into your product.
If you are building a TMS, marketplace, ERP module, or supply chain tool, a freight API gives you instant access to carrier capacity without negotiating contracts.
TMS builders
Add carriers programmatically.
Instead of integrating with each carrier individually through EDI, connect to one freight API and access the full network. Rates, booking, tracking, and documents through one integration.
AI agents
Autonomous freight procurement.
AI agents need structured, machine readable responses. A freight API that returns JSON with explicit field names and enum values lets agents quote, book, and track freight without human involvement.
How Warp's freight API works
Warp's freight API gives you programmatic access to 20,000+ local 3rd party carriers, 9,000+ box trucks and cargo vans, and 50+ cross dock facilities. One API key connects your system to cargo van, 26 ft box truck, LTL, and FTL capacity across the United States.
The workflow is five calls from quote to proof of delivery. POST to /freights/quote with origin, destination, and item details to get a rate and quote ID. POST to /freights/booking with the quote ID to book and receive a tracking number. POST to /freights/tracking to get real time status. GET /freights/invoices/{orderId} for settlement data. GET /freights/documents/{orderId} for BOL and proof of delivery. Walk through the full flow in our freight API tutorial.
Every endpoint returns structured JSON. Omit the vehicle type and Warp auto selects the right asset for your freight. Our AI backbone, Orbit, monitors every shipment for exceptions (late pickups, missed scans, route deviations, dwell anomalies) and flags issues before your team has to chase them.
Modes available through the API
Cargo Van
CARGO_VAN
Cartons, cases, parcels, or up to 3 pallets. Same day dispatch available. Best for urgent, small shipments and tight access locations.
26 ft Box Truck
STRAIGHT_TRUCK_26
1 to 12 pallets. All liftgate equipped. Temperature controlled units available. Best for mid size freight, retail stores, and locations that cannot receive a 53 ft trailer.
Full Truckload
DRY_VAN_53
Up to 26 pallets and 44,000 lbs. Dry van, refrigerated, and flatbed available. Best for high volume, recurring lanes, and dedicated capacity programs.
For LTL shipments, freight routes through Warp operated cross dock facilities. For local deliveries, Warp can go dockless with direct multistop pick and drop on shared vehicles. The API handles routing automatically based on your shipment profile and SLA requirements.
Authentication and base URL
https://api.wearewarp.com/api/v1apikey: YOUR_API_KEYapplication/jsonGenerate API keys from the developer section of your Warp dashboard. No sales call required. Each key is scoped to your organization and can be rotated or revoked at any time.
Frequently asked questions
What data format does a freight API use?
Most modern freight APIs use JSON over HTTPS. You send a JSON request body with shipment details (origin, destination, items, dates) and receive a JSON response with rates, shipment IDs, tracking events, and documents. Some legacy systems still use EDI or XML, but the industry is moving toward REST and JSON.
How is a freight API different from EDI?
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) uses fixed format flat files exchanged through VAN (Value Added Networks). A freight API uses standard HTTP requests with JSON payloads. APIs are faster to integrate (hours instead of weeks), easier to debug, and return responses in real time instead of batch processing.
Can AI agents use a freight API?
Yes. Freight APIs that return structured JSON with explicit field names and enum values are designed for machine consumption. An AI agent can call the quote endpoint, compare rates, apply business rules, book the optimal option, and monitor tracking events without human intervention. Warp's API is built specifically for this workflow.
What modes of freight can I access through an API?
Through Warp's freight API, you can access cargo van, 26 ft box truck, LTL (less than truckload), and FTL (full truckload) capacity. You can specify the vehicle type explicitly or omit it and let Warp auto select the right asset based on your shipment dimensions and weight.
How do I get a freight API key?
With Warp, you can generate API keys directly from the developer section of your dashboard. No sales call required. Each key is scoped to your organization and can be rotated or revoked at any time. For enterprise accounts, you can create separate keys per integration.
Ship freight with code, not phone calls.
Warp's freight API gives you programmatic access to 20,000+ carriers, 9,000+ box trucks and cargo vans, and 50+ cross dock facilities. One API key. Structured JSON. Every mode.