The National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s Digital LTL Council has launched the Preliminary Freight Charges API Standard, which will give carriers, shippers, and 3PLs visibility into freight charges before invoices are issued.

It’s the latest application programming interface (API) from the Digital LTL Council, a division of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s Digital Standards Development Council.

According to a news release, this initiative marks a significant step in the Council's roadmap to digitize the less-than-truckload shipment lifecycle.

The PFC API is designed to provide proactive notifications and real-time visibility into freight bill charges throughout the shipment process. 

Freight Visibility and Less-than-Truckload

Freight visibility is now the backbone of modern logistics. According to Gartner, by 2023, 50% of global product-centric enterprises had invested in real-time transportation visibility platforms.

With updated National Motor Freight Classification rules now in effect, reclassifications, reweighs, and accessorial fees can impact invoices more than ever. 

By alerting stakeholders to potential billing discrepancies, such as reweighs, reclassifications, or accessorial fees, before final invoicing, the API aims to reduce disputes, enhance payment accuracy, and streamline billing operations.

“Our newest API Standard empowers shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers to address billing issues proactively," said Keith Peterson, staff liaison for the DSDC and vice president of operations for NMFTA, in a news release.

"By providing early visibility into potential charge adjustments, we can minimize surprises and foster trust among all parties involved."

A Digital LTL Roadmap

The PFC API is part of the Council's broader initiative to establish standardized digital communication protocols across the LTL industry. The roadmap includes seven operational APIs, covering functions from rate quotes to cargo claims, and two administrative APIs for document retrieval and carrier route guides. 

"API standards allow industry participants to build integrations once and use them across all partners, reducing redundancy and accelerating digital adoption,” said Kelly Koller, team lead for the PFC API Standard Development Workshop and product owner for Estes Express Lines.

The PFC API specifically addresses the need for timely communication of billing changes. By integrating this API, stakeholders can receive immediate alerts about new or updated freight bills, track changes to charges, and maintain accurate records for accounting purposes. 

"Real-time APIs enable carriers to communicate shipment and invoice exceptions as they happen, reducing costs and improving service for all parties,” said Brian Thompson, chairman of the Digital LTL Council and chief commercial officer for SMC³.

This collaborative approach mirrors the successful rollout of the electronic bill of lading (eBOL) API Standard in 2022, which is now seeing rapid, industry-wide adoption and building significant momentum across the LTL industry, according to the release.