NMFTA’s Digital LTL Council Launches Industry Standard API to Enhance Shipment Process

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA) and its Digital LTL Council rolled out its latest application programming interface (API) technology: Pickup Request and Visibility Standard.

“The overall goal is to make the logistics process smoother for supply chain professionals,” says Keith Peterson, director of operations for NMFTA. “This launch directly addresses feedback from the industry and aligns with our mission to fully digitize the less-than-truckload (LTL) shipment lifecycle over the next few years. To make this vision a reality, NMFTA is collaborating with carriers, shippers, and 3PLs to develop APIs that will streamline the entire shipment process. This is just the beginning, with more initiatives planned to drive innovation and benefit our industry in the new year.”

Key takeaways:

• This groundbreaking standard minimizes phone calls and streamlines coordination for all parties involved in shipment order pickups.
• The technology was designed to make it easy for carriers, shippers, and third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to apply a single standard on which to make a request and monitor the status of the driver to pick up the shipment. This latest development will help businesses streamline operations, future-proof IT infrastructure, and enhance code accuracy.
• In leveraging the Pickup Request and Visibility Standard, users can request and receive an acknowledgment as well as gain visibility into the status of the pickup and get notice of delays or other updates from the carrier.