ABF Freight System, Inc. - Transparent Links, Transit Time

This type of server to server connection enables you to get transit time 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 transit time:


`<ABF>`						ABF Transit Time Data Type Definition.
	`<TRANSITINFO>`					Transit time information. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information (NUMERRORS = 0).
		`<TRDAYS>`				Days in transit from origin to destination.
		`<TRANSITTIME>`				Transit time from origin to destination.
		`<DUEDATE>`				Date to expect shipment to be delivered.
		`<PICKUPDATE>`				Date shipment is to be picked up.
		`<ORIGIN>`				Origin information.
			`<CITY>`			Origin city.
			`<STATE>`			Origin state.
			`<ZIP>`			Origin zip/postal code.
			`<COUNTRY>`			Origin country.
			`<TYPE>`			Origin service type: DIRECT, CONNECT, or MIA if served DIRECT (via marketing Partner).
			`<DELIVERY>`			Pickup at the origin terminal only on the day(s) returned.
			`<STATION>`			Origin serving terminal code.
			`<STATIONADDRESS>`			Origin serving terminal address.
			`<STATIONCITY>`			Origin serving terminal city.
			`<STATIONSTATE>`			Origin serving terminal state.
			`<STATIONPHONE>`			Origin serving terminal phone number.
		`</ORIGIN>`
		`<DESTINATION>`				Destination information.
			`<CITY>`			Destination city.
			`<STATE>`			Destination state.
			`<ZIP>`			Destination zip/postal code.
			`<COUNTRY>`			Destination country.
			`<TYPE>`			Destination service type: DIRECT, CONNECT, or MIA if served DIRECT (via marketing Partner).
			`<DELIVERY>`			Delivery at the destination terminal only on the day(s) returned.
			`<STATION>`			Destination serving terminal code.
			`<STATIONADDRESS>`			Destination serving terminal address.
			`<STATIONCITY>`			Destination serving terminal city.
			`<STATIONSTATE>`			Destination serving terminal state.
			`<STATIONPHONE>`			Destination serving terminal phone number.
		`</DESTINATION>`
	`</TRANSITINFO>`
	`<CITYCODEINFO>`					City Code Information. This section will be returned if there has been an error in the origin or destination city/state/zip location.
		`<ORIGIN>`				Origin Information. This section will be returned if there has been an error in the origin's city/state/zip.
			`<SIMILARCITIES>`			Similar Cities. This section contains listings of locations comparable to the origin city/state originally entered.
				`<CITYRECORD>`		City Record.
					`<CITY>`	Possible city intended for the origin.
					`<STATE>`	Possible state code intended for the origin.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible zip/postal code intended for the origin.
				`</CITYRECORD>`
				`<NUMRECORDS>`		Number of City Record listings for the origin.
				`<NUMUNIQUECITIES>`		Number of Unique Cities for the origin.
			`</SIMILARCITIES>`
			`<SIMILARZIPS>`			Similar Zips. This section contains listings of locations comparable to the origin zip/postal code originally entered.
				`<ZIPRECORD>`		Zip Record.
					`<CITY>`	Possible city intended for the origin.
					`<STATE>`	Possible state code intended for the origin.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible zip/postal code intended for the origin.
				`</ZIPRECORD>`
				`<NUMRECORDS>`		Number of Zip Record listings for the origin.
				`<NUMUNIQUEZIPS>`		Number of Unique Zips for the origin.
			`</SIMILARZIPS>`
			`<ZIPINFO>`			Zip Code Information. This section shows the origin city/state/zip that was originally entered.
				`<CITY>`		Originally entered origin city.
				`<STATE>`		Originally entered origin state.
				`<ZIP>`		Originally entered origin zip/postal code.
			`</ZIPINFO>`
			`<DROPDOWN>`			The HTML dropdown with origin city/state/zip information that can be posted directly on the calling page.
		`</ORIGIN>`
		`<DESTINATION>`				Destination Information. This section will be returned if there has been an error in the destination's city/state/zip.
			`<SIMILARCITIES>`			Similar Cities. This section contains listings of locations comparable to the destination city/state originally entered.
				`<CITYRECORD>`		City Record.
					`<CITY>`	Possible city intended for the destination.
					`<STATE>`	Possible state code intended for the destination.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible zip/postal code intended for the destination.
				`</CITYRECORD>`
				`<NUMRECORDS>`		Number of City Record listings for the destination.
				`<NUMUNIQUECITIES>`		Number of Unique Cities for the destination.
			`</SIMILARCITIES>`
			`<SIMILARZIPS>`			Similar Zips. This section contains listings of locations comparable to the destination zip/postal code originally entered.
				`<ZIPRECORD>`		Zip Record.
					`<CITY>`	Possible city intended for the destination.
					`<STATE>`	Possible state code intended for the destination.
					`<ZIP>`	Possible zip/postal code intended for the destination.
				`</ZIPRECORD>`
				`<NUMRECORDS>`		Number of Zip Record listings for the destination.
				`<NUMUNIQUEZIPS>`		Number of Unique Zips for the destination.
			`</SIMILARZIPS>`
			`<ZIPINFO>`			Zip Code Information. This section shows the destination city/state/zip that was originally entered.
				`<CITY>`		Originally entered destination city.
				`<STATE>`		Originally entered destination state.
				`<ZIP>`		Originally entered destination zip/postal code.
			`</ZIPINFO>`
			`<DROPDOWN>`			The HTML dropdown with destination city/state/zip information that can be posted directly on the calling page.
		`</DESTINATION>`
	`</CITYCODEINFO>`
	`<ADDRESSINFO>`					Address Information. This section will be returned if the origin or destination address is required.
		`<ORIGIN>`				Origin Information. This section will be returned if the origin address is needed.
			`<DROPDOWN>`			The HTML dropdown with origin address information that can be posted directly on the calling page.
		`</ORIGIN>`
		`<DESTINATION>`				Destination Information. This section will be returned if the destination address is needed.
			`<DROPDOWN>`			The HTML dropdown with destination address information that can be posted directly on the calling page.
		`</DESTINATION>`
	`</ADDRESSINFO>`
	`<LOCATIONINFO>`					Location Information. This section will be returned if the origin or destination location is required.
		`<ORIGIN>`				Origin Information. This section will be returned if the origin location address is needed.
			`<DROPDOWN>`			The HTML dropdown with origin location address information that can be posted directly on the calling page.
		`</ORIGIN>`
		`<DESTINATION>`				Destination Information. This section will be returned if the destination location address is needed.
			`<DROPDOWN>`			The HTML dropdown with destination location address information that can be posted directly on the calling page.
		`</DESTINATION>`
	`</LOCATIONINFO>`
	`<NUMERRORS>`					Number of errors associated with request. Must be "0" to return confirmation number.
	`<ERRORS>`					Group of errors. This section will only be returned if NUMERRORS > 0. Click here for a list of possible error codes and messages.
		`<ERRORCODE>`				Code associated with error.
		`<ERRORMESSAGE>`				Message assigned to error code.
	`</ERRORS>`
`<ABF>`

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

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

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

Add the following variables:

Account
Information AcctNum Your 6-digit ABF account number.

Password Your 6-character ABF password.

Requester
Affiliation Shipper "Y" if you are the Shipper.

Consignee "Y" if you are the Consignee.

Origin
Information OriginLocation Origin location number.

OriginAddress Origin address.

OriginCity Origin city.

OriginState Origin state.

OriginZip Origin zip.

OriginCountry Origin country.

Destination
Information DestLocation Destination location number.

DestAddress Destination address.

DestCity Destination city.

DestState Destination state.

DestZip Destination zip.

DestCountry Destination country.

Pickup Date
Information PickupMonth Month of pickup date.

PickupDay Day of pickup date.

PickupYear Year of pickup date.

Pickup date will default to today's date if all pickup date information is not provided.

Example: http://www.abfs.com/xml/transitxml.asp?DL=2
&AcctNum=999999&Password=test01&Shipper=Y
&OriginCity=FORT+SMITH&OriginState=AR
&OriginZip=72906&OriginCountry=US
&DestCity=LAWRENCE&DestState=KS
&DestZip=66044&DestCountry=US
&PickupMonth=01&PickupDay=02&PickupYear=2001

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.