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A freight quote API is a connection that lets your ERP, TMS or e-commerce system send shipment details to a forwarder or carrier and receive rate options with transit times.
The value is simple: your order data already lives in a system, so rekeying it into a web form to get a price is wasted time and a source of errors. A quote API removes that step. This guide covers what a quote request must contain, what comes back, why the number can move after pickup, and how quoting fits into the wider ExFreight freight API for rating, booking and tracking.
Key takeaways
- A usable quote needs accurate origin and destination, handling units, weight, dimensions per piece and accessorials. Missing one of these is a frequent cause of a changed invoice.
- The response is a set of options (mode, service, carrier, price, transit time), each with a quote reference you carry into booking.
- Quotes are informational and subject to change; shipments can be re-invoiced if actual details differ from what was quoted.
What comes back from a quote request
A quote response is not a single number. It is a list of priced options for the same shipment, and the structure of that list decides how useful the integration is to your team. Expect the response to carry, at minimum, the following for each option:
- Mode and service level. LTL, volume LTL or FTL for domestic trucking; LCL or FCL for ocean; standard or expedited for air.
- Carrier or routing. Who moves the freight, and for international moves, the origin and destination ports or airports.
- Total price and its components. Linehaul, fuel and any accessorials you declared, shown as separate lines so finance can reconcile them later.
- Estimated transit time. In business days for trucking, in days port-to-port or door-to-door for international. Treat it as an estimate, not a commitment.
- Quote reference and validity. The identifier you pass to the booking call, plus how long the price holds.
On the ExFreight platform, a rate search also shows on-time percentage, estimated carbon emissions, multiple ports and carrier options, so a planner can choose between the cheapest and the most reliable option rather than defaulting to price alone. Domestic LTL, volume LTL and FTL rates appear side by side, which matters for loads that sit near the break point between modes.
Required request fields
Most quote errors come from the request, not the rating engine. The table below lists the fields a freight quote request needs, using conceptual names. The exact field names and formats for the ExFreight API are provided with test environment access.
| Field | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| origin postal code + country | 60607, US | Drives pickup zone, linehaul and whether the address is commercial or residential. |
| destination postal code + country | 75247, US | Same logic at delivery; for international, determines the destination port or airport. |
| pickup date | 2026-10-14 | Ocean and air pricing depends on sailing and flight schedules; trucking capacity changes by day. |
| handling units + type | 2 pallets | Carriers price and load by unit; pallets, crates and loose cartons are handled differently. |
| dimensions per unit | 48 x 40 x 48 in | Feeds density for LTL, cubic volume for LCL and chargeable weight for air. |
| weight per unit | 500 lb | Total weight alone hides a heavy unit that needs different equipment. |
| freight class or commodity | NMFC item / description | Required for class-based LTL tariffs; a wrong class is the classic reclass charge. |
| accessorials | liftgate delivery, residential | Services outside dock-to-dock handling; omitted ones are billed after the fact. |
| stackable flag | false | Non-stackable freight consumes the space above it, which changes LCL and LTL pricing. |
| declared value + currency | 18,500 USD | Used for optional cargo insurance and, on international moves, duty and tax estimates. |
Worked example: 2 pallets, Chicago to Dallas LTL
A distributor ships 2 pallets of packaged hardware from Chicago (60607) to a commercial customer in Dallas (75247). Each pallet measures 48 x 40 x 48 inches and weighs 500 lb. ExFreight prices domestic LTL on a density basis, so the dimensions carry as much weight in the price as the scale reading. The LTL rate API guide covers class, density and reclass risk field by field. If the receiver has no dock, the request must include liftgate delivery. If the order system sends total weight only, with no dimensions, the quote is built on assumptions and the invoice will correct them.
Worked example: 4 pallets, Chicago to Rotterdam LCL
An exporter in Chicago (60607) needs 4 pallets delivered to a consignee near Rotterdam. Each pallet is 48 x 40 x 60 inches and 650 lb. The request carries 266.7 cubic feet (7.55 cubic meters) and 2,600 lb (1,179 kg). Ocean LCL is usually rated on weight or measure, whichever is greater, at 1 cubic meter against 1,000 kg, so this shipment rates on 7.55 revenue tons of volume, not on its weight. Marking the pallets non-stackable would raise the space charged. The quote should state whether the price is door-to-door or port-to-port, because the inland pickup in Illinois and the delivery leg in the Netherlands are separate cost blocks. For how ocean and air rate bases differ, see the freight rate API guide.
Accessorials and why quotes change after pickup
An accessorial is any service beyond standard pickup and delivery at a dock: liftgate, residential delivery, inside pickup, limited access sites, appointment delivery, hazardous materials handling. They are priced per shipment, and the carrier bills them whether or not they were on the quote. Our explainer on what an accessorial is covers the full list.
Three request gaps cause most post-pickup changes:
- Undeclared delivery conditions. A “commercial” address that is a home-based business, or a jobsite with no dock, triggers residential or limited access charges.
- Dimension drift. Carriers measure freight at the terminal. A pallet quoted at 48 inches tall that arrives at 60 inches changes density and, on class-based tariffs, class.
- Weight rounding. Order systems often store net product weight. Freight is billed on gross weight, pallet and packaging included.
Quotes returned by the ExFreight platform and API are informational and subject to change. Shipments can be re-invoiced if actual details (weight, dimensions, class, accessorials, addresses) differ from those quoted. On U.S. imports, a basic customs entry is included in door-to-door rates; duties, taxes, bonds, MPF and HMF are billed separately.
The practical fix is upstream: store gross weight and packed dimensions per SKU or per pallet configuration, map delivery-site attributes into your address book, and send them on each request. Our guide on how to get an accurate freight quote lists the checks ops teams run before they request a price.
Own carrier rates vs ExFreight rates
Many shippers already hold negotiated LTL contracts and rate them inside a TMS. A forwarder quote API does not have to replace that. The question is which lanes and modes each source covers best.
| Your negotiated carrier rates | ExFreight quote via API | |
|---|---|---|
| Modes | Usually domestic trucking only, carrier by carrier | Domestic and international air, ocean and trucking in one connection |
| International coverage | Requires separate forwarder relationships | Door-to-door rates between North America and over 150 countries |
| Integration effort | One connection per carrier, or a rating aggregator | One connection; existing TMS connectors include Project 44, Banyan and Pacejet |
| Data returned | Price and transit, varies by carrier | Rates and transit times; platform also shows on-time %, emissions and carrier options |
| Who handles exceptions | Your team, with each carrier | ExFreight, with U.S.-based chat support 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET |
A common setup: keep contract LTL for high-volume domestic lanes, and route international freight, spot domestic loads and lanes without a contract through the forwarder quote. ExFreight’s own write-up on simplifying LTL freight quotes shows how the domestic side is presented to users. On trucking-only shipments ExFreight acts as a broker (FMCSA MC-677423-B); on ocean and air, ExFreight is the licensed carrier.
From quote to booking
A quote has no operational value until it is booked. Design the integration so the quote reference flows into the booking call without retyping, and so the booking carries the same shipment data that was priced. If a planner edits pallet count or weight between quote and booking, re-quote; do not book against stale data. The freight booking API guide covers the booking lifecycle, confirmations and changes.
- Trigger. An order hits “ready to ship” in the ERP or OMS and sends a quote request.
- Select. A rule (lowest price, fastest transit, preferred carrier) or a planner picks an option.
- Store. Save the quote reference, price breakdown and transit estimate against the order for later invoice matching.
- Book. Pass the reference and full shipper, consignee and pickup details to the booking endpoint.
- Reconcile. Compare the final invoice to the stored quote and flag variances above a set threshold.
Teams that rate LTL against industry standards should also follow the NMFTA Digital Standards Development Council API standards, which define common LTL data structures that more carriers and platforms are adopting.
What ExFreight’s API covers today
APIs are available upon request, with a test environment and assistance. Connectivity gives access to ExFreight’s online rating, booking and tracking system. See how the ExFreight freight API works
Freight API series
Frequently asked questions
What is a quote API?
A quote API is a connection that returns a price for a defined service when your system sends the required inputs. In freight, your ERP, TMS or store sends origin, destination, handling units, weight, dimensions and accessorials, and receives rate options with transit times and a quote reference you can book against.
How does freight quoting work?
A freight quote prices a specific shipment on a specific lane. The forwarder or carrier applies its tariff or contract to the origin, destination, weight, dimensions, class or volume, and requested services, then adds fuel and accessorials. The quote is an estimate; carriers bill what they measure, so accurate input data decides how close the invoice lands.
What is the best freight quote software?
The best freight quote software covers the modes you ship, returns transit times alongside price, and connects to the system where your orders already live. Shippers moving international freight need air and ocean rates as well as trucking. Check how quotes flow into booking and how invoice variances against the quote are reported.
How long is a freight quote valid?
Validity depends on mode and market. Domestic trucking quotes are usually tied to a pickup date, while ocean and air prices follow sailing and flight schedules and change with surcharges. Store the quote reference and validity with the order, and re-quote if the pickup date or the freight itself changes before booking.
