ABF Freight System, Inc. - Transparent Links, Rate Quotation

This type of server to server connection enables you to get rate quotation information by making a direct call to the ABF server from your server. The ABF server will return an XML document that you can parse to extract the exact information you need. This information can be used to return a dynamic page to your customer, or it can be used to update your own database. The following is the XML data-type definition for the document returned by this type of rate quotation:


`<ABF>`						ABF Rate Quotation Data Type Definition.
	`<SHIP>`					Shipper Information. This section will only be returned when there has been an error in the shipper's address/location information.
		`<CITYCODEINFO>`				City Code Information.
			`<SIMILARCITIES>`			Similar Cities. This section contains listings of <CITYRECORD> locations comparable to the shipper information originally entered.
				`<CITYRECORD>`		City Record.
					`<CITY>`	Possible city intended for the shipper.
					`<STATE>`	Possible state code intended for the shipper.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible zip code intended for the location of the shipper.
				`</CITYRECORD>`
				`<NUMRECORDS>`		Number of City Records in <SIMILARCITIES>.
				`<NUMUNIQUECITIES>`		Number of Unique Cities in <SIMILARCITIES>.
				`<NUMUNIQUESTATIONS>`		Number of Unique Stations in <SIMILARCITIES>.
			`</SIMILARCITIES>`
			`<SIMILARZIPS>`			Similar Zips. This section contains listings of <ZIPRECORD> locations comparable to the shipper information originally entered.
				`<ZIPRECORD>`		Zip Record.
					`<CITY>`	Possible city intended for the shipper.
					`<STATE>`	Possible state code intended for the shipper.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible zip code intended for the location of the shipper.
				`</ZIPRECORD>`
				`<NUMRECORDS>`		Number of Zip Records in <SIMILARZIPS>.
				`<NUMUNIQUEZIPS>`		Number of Unique Zips in <SIMILARZIPS>.
				`<NUMUNIQUESTATIONS>`		Number of Unique Stations in <SIMILARZIPS>.
			`</SIMILARZIPS>`
			`<ZIPINFO>`			Zip Code Information. This section shows the shipper address/location information that was originally entered.
				`<CITY>`		Originally entered city of the shipper.
				`<STATE>`		Originally entered state of the shipper.
				`<ZIP>`		Originally entered zip of the shipper.
			`</ZIPINFO>`
			`<NUMERRORS>`			Number of errors associated with shipper city code information.
		`</CITYCODEINFO>`
		`<DROPDOWN>`				Dropdown for city coding information. This section contains HTML code needed to populate a drop down list box of <CITYRECORD> and <ZIPRECORD> entries.
		`<ADDRESSINFO>`				Address Information. This section contains listings of <ADDRESSRECORD> locations. This section will only be returned when the shipper's location address is needed.
				`<ADDRESSRECORD>`		Address Record.
					`<LOC>`	Possible account location for the shipper.
					`<ADDRESS>`	Possible location address for the shipper.
				`</ADDRESSRECORD>`
				`<NUMADDRESSRECORDS>`		Number of Address Records in <ADDRESSINFO>.
		`</ADDRESSINFO>`
		`<ADDRESSDROPDOWN>`				Dropdown for address information. This section contains HTML code needed to populate a drop down list box of <ADDRESSRECORD> entries.
		`<LOCATIONINFO>`				Location Information. This section contains listings of <LOCRECORD> locations. This section will only be returned when the shipper's account location is needed.
				`<LOCRECORD>`		Location Record.
					`<LOC>`	Possible account location for the shipper.
					`<ADDRESS>`	Possible location address for the shipper.
					`<CITY>`	Possible location city for the shipper.
					`<STATE>`	Possible location state for the shipper.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible location zip for the shipper.
				`</LOCRECORD>`
				`<NUMLOCATIONRECORDS>`		Number of Location Records in <LOCATIONINFO>.
		`</LOCATIONINFO>`
		`<LOCATIONDROPDOWN>`				Dropdown for location information. This section contains HTML code needed to populate a drop down list box of <LOCATIONRECORD> entries.
	`</SHIP>`
	`<CONS>`					Consignee Information. The information contained within <CONS> follows the same format as that contained within <SHIP>. This section will only be returned when there has been an error in the consignee's address/location information.
	`</CONS>`
	`<TPB>`					Third Party Information. The information contained within <TPB> follows the same format as that contained within <SHIP>. This section will only be returned when there has been an error in the third party's address/location information.
	`</TPB>`
	`<NUMERRORS>`					Number of errors associated with quote request. NUMERRORS must be "0" to return a rate quotation.
	`<ERROR>`					Group of errors. Click here for a list of possible error codes and messages. This section will only be returned when errors were found in originally entered information.
		`<ERRORCODE>`				Code assigned to error.
		`<ERRORMESSAGE>`				Message associated with error.
	`</ERROR>`
	`<QUOTEID>`					Confirmation Quote ID for the rate quotation. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<CHARGE>`					Charges for the rate quotation. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<DISCOUNTPERCENTAGE>`					Discount Percentage applied to the rate quotation. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<ADVERTISEDTRANSIT>`					Advertised Transit Time. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<ADVERTISEDDUEDATE>`					Advertised Due Date. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<SHIPDATE>`					Ship Date. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<CODFEE>`					COD Collection Fee. This charge is not included in the rate quotation returned in <CHARGE> and will need to be added to <CHARGE> if applicable. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<TPDELIVERYCHARGE>`					TruckPack Delivery Charge. This charge is not included in the rate quotation returned in <CHARGE> and will need to be added to <CHARGE> if applicable. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<TPCHARGEPERBOX>`					TruckPack Charge Per Box. This charge is not included in the rate quotation returned in <CHARGE> and will need to be added to <CHARGE> if applicable. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
	`<ORIGTERMINFO>`					ABF Origin Serving Terminal Information. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
		`<ORIGTERMADDRESS>`				Origin Terminal Address.
		`<ORIGTERMCITY>`				Origin Terminal City.
		`<ORIGTERMSTATE>`				Origin Terminal State.
		`<ORIGTERMZIP>`				Origin Terminal Zip.
		`<ORIGTERMPHONE>`				Origin Terminal Phone.
		`<TYPE>`				Origin service type: DIRECT, CONNECT, or MIA if served DIRECT (via marketing Partner).
	`</ORIGTERMINFO>`
	`<DESTTERMINFO>`					ABF Destination Serving Terminal Information. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
		`<DESTTERMADDRESS>`				Destination Terminal Address.
		`<DESTTERMCITY>`				Destination Terminal City.
		`<DESTTERMSTATE>`				Destination Terminal State.
		`<DESTTERMZIP>`				Destination Terminal Zip.
		`<DESTTERMPHONE>`				Destination Terminal Phone.
		`<TYPE>`				Destination service type: DIRECT, CONNECT, or MIA if served DIRECT (via marketing Partner).
	`</DESTTERMINFO>`
	`<INCLUDEDCHARGES>`					Included Charges. These charges are included in the rate quotation returned in <CHARGE>. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information.
		`<FUELSURCHARGE>`				Fuel Surcharge.
		`<LIFTGATEGROUNDPICKUP>`				Liftgate-Ground Pickup charge.
		`<INSIDEPICKUP>`				Inside Pickup charge.
		`<LIMITEDACCESSPICKUP>`				Limited Access Pickup charge.
		`<RESIDENTIALPICKUP>`				Residential Pickup charge.
		`<CONSTRUCTIONDELIVERY>`				Construction Site Pickup charge.
		`<LIFTGATEGROUNDDELIVERY>`				Liftgate-Ground Deliver charge.
		`<INSIDEDELIVERY>`				Inside Delivery charge.
		`<LIMITEDACCESSDELIVERY>`				Limited Access Delivery charge.
		`<RESIDENTIALDELIVERY>`				Residential Delivery charge.
		`<FLATBEDDELIVERY>`				Flatbed Delivery charge.
		`<ARRIVALNOTIFICATION>`				Arrival Notification charge.
		`<CAPACITYLOAD>`				Capacity Load charge.
		`<CUSTOMSINBONDFREIGHT>`				Customs or In-Bond Freight charge.
		`<EXCESSLIABILITY>`				Excess Liability Coverage charge.
		`<OVERDIMENSION>`				Over-Dimension charge.
		`<SINGLESHIPMENT>`				Single Shipment charge.
		`<SORTSEGREGATE>`				Sort and Segregate charge.
		`<SHIPPERLOAD>`				Shipper Load charge.
		`<CONSIGNEEUNLOAD>`				Consignee Unload charge.
		`<PALLETIZEDSHIPMENT>`				Palletized Shipment charge.
		`<HAZARDOUSSHIPMENT>`				Hazardous Shipment charge.
		`<BULKHEAD>`				Secure Shipment Divider (bulkhead) charge.
		`<DELIVERON>`				Delivery On charge.
		`<DELIVERBY>`				Delivery By charge.
	`</INCLUDEDCHARGES>`
	`<GUARANTEEDOPTIONS>`					Guaranteed Transit Options. This section contains listings of guaranteed transit <OPTION> available for this shipment.
		`<NUMOPTIONS>`				Number of Guaranteed Transit Options in <GUARANTEEDOPTIONS>.
		`<OPTION>`				Guaranteed Transit Option.
			`<GUARANTEEDCHARGE>`			Guaranteed Charge.
			`<GUARANTEEDDELDATE>`			Guaranteed Delivery Date.
			`<GUARANTEEDBYTIME>`			Guaranteed Delivery By Time.
		`</OPTION>`
	`</GUARANTEEDOPTIONS>`
`</ABF>`

To call the XML Rate Quotation from your server, you must be using an XML parser. Initialize the parser and set the URL to the following:

Note: Required variables are in Red. All other variables are optional.

Start with this URL: http://www.abfs.com/xml/aquotexml.asp?DL=2

Add the following variables:

Account
Information AcctNum Your abf.com User ID.

Password Your abf.com Password.

Shipper
Information ShipAff "Y" if you are the Shipper.

ShipPay "Y" if the Shipper is responsible for payment.

ShipName Shipper full name.

ShipNamePlus Shipper name plus.

ShipAddr Shipper address.

ShipCity Shipper city.

ShipState Shipper state.

ShipZip Shipper zip or postal code.

ShipCountry Shipper country.

Consignee
Information ConsAff "Y" if you are the Consignee.

ConsPay "Y" if the Consignee is responsible for payment.

ConsName Consignee full name.

ConsNamePlus Consignee name plus.

ConsAddr Consignee address.

ConsCity Consignee city.

ConsState Consignee state.

ConsZip Consignee zip or postal code.

ConsCountry Consignee country.

Third Party
Information TPBAff "Y" if you are the Third Party.

TPBPay "Y" if a Third Party is responsible for payment.

TPBName Third Party full name.

TPBNamePlus Third Party name plus.

TPBAddr Third Party address.

TPBCity Third Party city.

TPBState Third Party state.

TPBZip Third Party zip or postal code.

TPBCountry Third Party country.

Commodity Lines
(Enter up to 15) UnitNo1 (to UnitNo15) Number of Handling Units of commodity.

UnitType1 (to UnitType15) Type of Handling Units of commodity.

PackNo1 (to PackNo15) Number of Packages of commodity.

PackType1 (to PackType15) Type of Packages of commodity.

Wgt1 (to Wgt15) Total Weight of commodity.

Class1 (to Class15) Class of commodity.

NMFCItem1 (to NMFCItem15) NMFC Item Number of commodity.

NMFCSub1 (to NMFCSub15) NMFC Sub Number of commodity.

Desc1 (to Desc15) Description of commodity.

Shipment
Specifics ShipMonth Month of shipping date.

ShipDay Day of shipping date.

ShipYear Year of shipping date.

Cube Cubic feet of freight to be shipped.

FrtLng Length of freight to be shipped.

FrtWdth Width of freight to be shipped.

FrtHght Height of freight to be shipped.

Additional Service
Options Pickup Options:

Acc_GRD_PU "Y" for Liftgate-Ground Pickup option.

Acc_IPU "Y" for Inside Pickup option.

Acc_LAP "Y" for Limited Access Pickup option.

LAPType Type of Limited Access Pickup. Required for Acc_LAP:

"C" for Church pickup.

"M" for Military Site pickup.

"S" for School pickup.

"U" for Mini-Storage pickup.

"O" for Other type of limited access pickup.

Acc_RPU "Y" for Residential Pickup option.

Delivery Options:

Acc_CSD "Y" for Construction Site Delivery option.

Acc_GRD_DEL "Y" for Liftgate-Ground Delivery option.

Acc_IDEL "Y" for Inside Delivery option.

Acc_LAD "Y" for Limited Access Delivery option.

LADType Type of Limited Access Delivery. Required for Acc_LAD:

"C" for Church delivery.

"M" for Military Site delivery.

"S" for School delivery.

"U" for Mini-Storage delivery.

"O" for Other type of limited access delivery.

Acc_RDEL "Y" for Residential Delivery option.

Acc_FLATBD "Y" for Flatbed Delivery option.

Other Options:

Acc_ARR "Y" for Arrival Notification option.

Acc_CAP "Y" for Capacity Load option.

Acc_COD "Y" for COD (collect for goods) option.

CODAmount Amount to collect for goods (in U.S. dollars). Required for Acc_COD.

Acc_BOND "Y" for Customs Or In-Bond Freight option.

Acc_ELC "Y" for Excess Liability Coverage option.

DeclaredValue Declared value of excess liability coverage (in U.S. dollars). Required for Acc_ELC.

DeclaredType Declared commodity type for excess liability coverage. Required for Acc_ELC:

"N" for New.

"O" for Other than new.

Acc_OD "Y" for Over-Dimension option.

Acc_SS "Y" for Single Shipment.

Acc_SEG "Y" for Sort and Segregate / Special Handling option.

SegPieces Number of Pieces to Sort and Seg. Required for Acc_SEG.

Acc_TRPACK "Y" for TruckPack Shipment.

TPBoxes Number of TruckPack boxes. Required for Acc_TRPACK.

Acc_SL "Y" for Shipper Load option.

Acc_CUL "Y" for Consignee Unload option.

Acc_HAZ "Y" for Hazardous Shipment.

Acc_PALLET "Y" for Palletized Shipment.

Acc_DOCKDEL "Y" for ABF Origin Serving Terminal Delivery option.

Acc_DOCKPU "Y" for ABF Destination Serving Terminal Pickup option.

Acc_BLKH "Y" for Secure Shipment Divider (bulkhead) option.

Example: http://www.abfs.com/xml/aquotexml.asp?DL=2
&AcctNum=999999&Password=TEST01&ShipCity=FORT+SMITH
&ShipState=AR&ShipZip=72906&ShipCountry=US&ShipPay=Y&ShipAff=Y
&ConsCity=DENVER&ConsState=CO&ConsZip=80202&ConsCountry=US
&Wgt1=800&Class1=50.0&Desc1=books&ShipMonth=3&ShipDay=13
&ShipYear=2010&FrtLng=4&FrtWdth=4&FrtHght=4&Acc_RDEL=Y

Click here for more information on this server to server method.

For more information on XML authoring, parsers, specifications, and additional resources, check out the XML section of the Web Developer's Virtual Library.