Carrier’s official API

Flock Freight API: integration guide

Flock Freight sells shared truckload (FlockDirect) and standard service, where loads move by shared truckload when possible and otherwise by LTL, volume LTL or full truckload. Its public REST APIs cover four jobs: request rates, order one of the returned fulfillment options, track orders, and cancel them. They are meant for shippers and for TMS platforms ordering on a customer's behalf.

This guide covers Flock Freight’s own API (api.flockfreight.com). Credentials come from Flock Freight, not from FreightAPIs, and we are not affiliated with them.

Want one API key for carrier terminals, NMFC and ports instead? FreightAPIs API docs →

Interface REST/JSONEndpoints 5Reviewed 2026-10-09Open in ChatGPT↗Open in Claude↗

At a glance

CarrierFlock Freight
TypeShared truckload provider & freight broker
InterfaceREST/JSON
AuthenticationAPI key sent as a Bearer token
CapabilitiesRate quote and transit time, Order (book) a quote, Shipment tracking, Cancel an order

Getting access

  • API access has to be enabled on your Flock Freight customer account. The rating documentation says keys are requested from a member of the Flock Freight Engineering team.
  • The newer ordering, tracking and cancel documentation says that once API access is enabled, you generate the API key yourself from the Manage User Profile link in the Flock Freight web app.
  • Ordering also depends on account setup: the API can reject orders until Flock Freight approves your credit (creditApprovalRequired) or fixes a user configuration problem (userConfigurationError).
  • Flock Freight runs separate test and production environments. The documentation does not mention fees or published rate limits, though every endpoint can return 429 when your request quota is exceeded.

Authentication

API key sent as a Bearer token.

  • Send Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY on every request, along with Content-Type: application/json.
  • There is no token exchange or expiry flow. The same key is used until it is revoked.
  • If a key is compromised, notify Flock Freight; they revoke it and issue a new one.

Environments

Productionhttps://api.flockfreight.com

Endpoints

Rate quote and transit time

Post a rate request with pickup date, pickup and delivery stop details and shipment items. The response adds a quote reference number, an expiration time and a list of fulfillment options, each with a price, service level, pickup and delivery date ranges and transit days.

POST/rate-requestsCreate a rate request and return the available fulfillment options (201 Created).
Key inputsshipment.pickupDate (ISO 8601 date, today or later, in the pickup stop's time zone)shipment.pickUpStopDetails / deliveryStopDetails (postalCode, locationType, liftgateRequired, insideStop, hasPalletJackAndForklift, schedulingService)shipment.shipmentItems[] (quantity, packagingType, dimensions lengthIn/widthIn/heightIn, stackable, turnable, totalWeightLbs, freightClass, description), 1 to 50 itemsshipment.additionalServices (exclusiveUseRequired, loadToRideRequired, dryVanProhibited, reeferProhibited, straightTruckProhibited, insuredAmountUsd, loadBarCount, strapCount…)filters.pickupFlexibilityIncludes (INFLEXIBLE, FLEXIBLE_1, FLEXIBLE_2)
Key outputsguid, referenceNumber, expirationInstant (UTC)fulfillmentOptions[] (referenceNumber, guid, totalRateUsd, fuelSurchargeRateUsd, lineHaulRateUsd)serviceLevel (FLOCK_DIRECT | STANDARD), pickupFlexibilitypickupRange / deliveryRange (startDate, endDate), transitTime (minDays, maxDays)shipment.linearFootage

Order (book) a quote

Book a shipment by sending the reference number of the fulfillment option you picked, plus full pickup and delivery addresses and contacts. A successful order returns 204 with no body.

POST/public/orderOrder a fulfillment option from a rate response.
Key inputsfulfillmentOptionReferenceNumberrole (SHIPPER, RECEIVER or OTHER)requestedByTms (when a TMS orders on a customer's behalf)pickupLocation / deliveryLocation (name, address street1/street2/city/stateProvinceCode/postalCode, contactName, contactPhoneNumber, contactEmailAddress)pickupStartTime / pickupEndTime, deliveryStartTime / deliveryEndTime (HH:MM local), weekendDeliveryAllowedpurchaseOrderNumber (max 45), bolRemarks (max 1000), notesForFlockFreight (max 500), pickupDocumentationRequired
Key outputsHTTP 204 on successError type: validationFailure, quoteExpired, creditApprovalRequired, userConfigurationError

Shipment tracking

The batch tracking endpoint takes a set of quote or fulfillment option reference numbers and returns current status, last known location, the most recent scheduling updates and the tracking event history for each.

POST/public/trackingBatch tracking by a set of QUOTE or FULFILLMENT_OPTION reference numbers.
GET/public/tracking/{fulfillmentOptionReferenceNumber}Single-order tracking. Deprecated; use the batch endpoint.
Key inputsreferenceNumberType (QUOTE | FULFILLMENT_OPTION)referenceNumbers (set of strings)
Key outputsquoteReferenceNumber, fulfillmentOptionReferenceNumbercurrentStatus (REQUESTED, ON_HOLD, ORDERED, DISPATCHED, IN_TRANSIT, DELIVERED)currentLocation (timestamp, timezone, city, stateProvinceCode, postalCode, latitude, longitude), only while IN_TRANSITschedulingUpdates[] (PICKUP_ESTIMATED, PICKUP_APPOINTMENT, DELIVERY_ESTIMATED, DELIVERY_APPOINTMENT)trackingUpdates[] (DISPATCHED, AT_PICKUP, PICKED_UP, IN_TRANSIT, AT_DELIVERY, DELIVERED, CANCELLED, plus LTL-only types)

Cancel an order

Cancel a booked shipment by quote or fulfillment option reference number. Success is a 204 with no body.

POST/public/order/cancelCancel an order identified by a quote or fulfillment option reference number.
Key inputsreferenceNumberType (QUOTE | FULFILLMENT_OPTION)referenceNumberrequestedByTms (when cancelling for a customer)
Key outputsHTTP 204 on successError type notCancelable when the order is past a cancelable state

Example request

Request rates for a two-line shipmentbash
curl -X POST "https://api.flockfreight.com/rate-requests" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "shipment": { "pickupDate": "2026-10-15", "pickUpStopDetails": { "postalCode": "90001", "locationType": "BUSINESS_DOCK" }, "deliveryStopDetails": { "postalCode": "60610", "locationType": "BUSINESS_NO_DOCK", "liftgateRequired": true }, "shipmentItems": [ { "quantity": 6, "packagingType": "PALLET", "dimensions": { "lengthIn": 48, "widthIn": 40, "heightIn": 48 }, "stackable": false, "turnable": true, "totalWeightLbs": 4200, "freightClass": "CLASS_70", "description": "Packaged auto parts" } ] } }'

Do not send guid, referenceNumber or fulfillmentOptions in the request; they come back in the 201 response. Pass a fulfillmentOptions[].referenceNumber to POST /public/order to book.

Integration notes

  • Quotes expire. Check expirationInstant on the rate response; ordering an expired option fails with error type quoteExpired.
  • Order and cancel return 204 No Content on success, so there is no confirmation body to parse. Use batch tracking afterwards to confirm the order status.
  • There are two reference numbers: the quote reference (e.g. SLC-MB4D) and the fulfillment option reference, which adds a suffix (e.g. SLC-MB4D-XY). Tracking and cancel need referenceNumberType to say which one you sent, and one batch tracking request cannot mix the two types.
  • Units are fixed: dimensions in inches, weight in pounds (totalWeightLbs is the total for the item line, not per piece), and freightClass uses enum values like CLASS_77_5. If you omit freightClass, Flock Freight may apply your account default or derive a class from density.
  • Scheduling services (APPOINTMENT, WINDOW, CALL_FOR_APPOINTMENT and so on) are only accepted when loadToRideRequired or exclusiveUseRequired is true, or the shipment is large volume (over 5,000 lb, more than 5 pallets, or over 10 palletized linear feet). Delivery windows must be at least 2 hours long.
  • liftgateRequired and insideStop are invalid when the stop is BUSINESS_DOCK. dryVanProhibited, reeferProhibited and straightTruckProhibited cannot all be true at once.
  • The fulfillment option description string can change without notice. Read serviceLevel, pickupRange and transitTime instead of parsing it.
  • The documented API set has no POD, BOL document or invoice endpoint; its scope is rating, ordering, tracking and cancellation.

FAQ

Does Flock Freight have an API?

Yes. Flock Freight has public REST APIs for rating, ordering, tracking and cancelling shipments, all using JSON and a Bearer API key.

How do I get a Flock Freight API key?

API access must first be enabled on your Flock Freight account. After that you can generate a key from Manage User Profile in the web app, or request one from Flock Freight's engineering team.

How do I book a shipment through the Flock Freight API?

Call POST /rate-requests, choose one of the returned fulfillment options, and send its referenceNumber with pickup and delivery addresses to POST /public/order. A 204 response means the order was placed.

How do I track a Flock Freight shipment by API?

Use POST /public/tracking with referenceNumberType set to QUOTE or FULFILLMENT_OPTION and a set of reference numbers. The older single-order GET endpoint is deprecated.

Can I get a POD or invoice from the Flock Freight API?

Not through the documented public APIs. They cover rating, ordering, tracking and cancellation only.

On FreightAPIs

Freight class calculator →Density and estimated class before you request a quote.Accessorial codes by carrier →Liftgate, residential, limited access — each carrier’s code.

Official resources

Written from Flock Freight’s published API documentation and last checked 2026-10-09. FreightAPIs is not affiliated with Flock Freight; endpoints and access rules can change, so confirm details in the carrier’s own documentation before going live.

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