API Quick-Start Guide for Freight Forwarders: Connect in Minutes with Code Examples
If you’re searching for freight forwarding API docs that are developer-friendly and easy to launch, this quick-start guide will help you hit the ground running. We’ll show you how to authenticate, make your first call, and use cURL and JavaScript to interact with shipment data—step by step.
Why APIs Matter in Freight Forwarding 📦🔗
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) allow freight platforms to “talk” to other systems—like your CRM, accounting software, eCommerce store, or a client’s internal TMS. With the right freight forwarding API, you can:
- 🧾 Generate quotes automatically
- 🧭 Track shipments in real time
- 📤 Send documents like AWBs or invoices
- 📊 Pull performance reports into your BI tool
- 🔄 Sync customer data without retyping anything
The result? Less manual work, faster workflows, and a much better client experience.
Step 1: Get Your API Credentials 🔐
Before making any API call, you need authentication.
Steps:
- Log into your Linbis account
- Go to Settings > API Access
- Click “Generate API Key”
- Copy your API key and store it securely
🔑 Your API key gives you access to the endpoints tied to your account’s permissions.
Step 2: Make Your First API Call with cURL 💻
Want to test quickly from your terminal or Postman?
bash
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curl -X GET https://api.linbis.com/v1/shipments \
-H “Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY”
✅ This will return a JSON list of your recent shipments, including origin, destination, status, and timestamps.
Need to create a new quote?
bash
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curl -X POST https://api.linbis.com/v1/quotes \
-H “Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY” \
-H “Content-Type: application/json” \
-d ‘{
“origin”: “LAX”,
“destination”: “JFK”,
“mode”: “air”,
“weight”: 500
}’
Step 3: Use the Freight API in JavaScript (Fetch Example) 🧠
Here’s how to fetch your shipment data using JavaScript in a Node.js or browser-based app:
javascript
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fetch(“https://api.linbis.com/v1/shipments”, {
method: “GET”,
headers: {
“Authorization”: “Bearer YOUR_API_KEY”
}
})
.then(response => response.json())
.then(data => {
console.log(“Shipments:”, data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error(“Error:”, error);
});
You can also POST to create quotes, track containers, or upload documents with the same structure.
What You Can Build with the Linbis Freight API ⚒️
- 📲 Client-facing shipment tracker
- 💼 Custom quote calculator
- 🧾 Auto-invoice generator linked to accounting
- 🌐 Partner portal for document exchange
- 📈 Reporting dashboard with delivery KPIs
The API is modular, RESTful, and constantly expanding with new endpoints.
API Features at a Glance ✅
Feature | Available via API |
Shipment creation | ✅ |
Live tracking | ✅ |
Document upload | ✅ |
Quote calculation | ✅ |
Webhooks for updates | ✅ |
Multi-language responses | ✅ |
Rate lookup by carrier | ✅ |
Built for developers, tested by forwarders.
Ready to Start Coding?
The days of emailing spreadsheets are over. With modern freight forwarding API docs and instant key generation, you can automate, integrate, and scale your operations faster than ever.
👉 Generate your API key now and start building your freight workflows in minutes.