API Update: New Tracing Type, New Accessorials and More

| 01 January 2026 | Category: Release Notes

R+L Carriers API Release Notes

Release Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Affected APIs:

  • Shipment Tracing API

  • Rate Quote API

  • Bill of Lading (eBOL) API

Summary of Changes

This release includes enhancements and validation updates across multiple R+L Carriers APIs to improve usability, data consistency, and overall customer experience.

Shipment Tracing API Updates

🔹 Added Support for Tracing by Pickup Number

Customers can now trace shipments using Pickup Numbers in addition to existing trace options.

How to Use

  • Endpoint:

    https://api.rlc.com/swagger/ui/index#!/ShipmentTracing/ShipmentTracing_Get

  • Parameters:

    • Set TraceType to PickupID

    • Provide the pickup number as the trace number

Example Full API Call

https://api.rlc.com/ShipmentTracing?request.traceNumbers=123213213&request.traceType=PickupID

Note: This trace type is currently in beta testing, and results may not always be fully accurate.

🔹 Updated HTTP Status Code for “Not Found” Results

  • Shipment tracing requests that return no matching results will now respond with HTTP 200 (Success) instead of HTTP 400 (Bad Request).

  • This change provides a more consistent and predictable response for valid queries that return no matching shipments.

Rate Quote API Updates

🔹 Removed 20-Foot Length Validation

  • The Rate Quote API no longer enforces the 20-foot length validation.

  • This change allows greater flexibility when submitting shipment dimensions.

🔹 New Validation: Future Pickup Date Limit

  • Rate Quote requests can no longer be submitted with pickup dates more than 30 days in the future.

  • Requests exceeding this limit will be rejected by the API.

Rate Quote & Bill of Lading API Updates

🔹 Limited Access and Residential Accessorial Split

The R+L Carriers APIs have been updated to improve how residential and limited access shipments are identified and rated. This update introduces new accessorials that clearly distinguish between Residential and Limited Access pickup and delivery services.

These changes apply consistently across the Rate Quote API and the Bill of Lading (eBOL) API.

What’s New

The existing residential/limited access logic has been split into four distinct accessorials:

  • ResidentialPickup

  • ResidentialDelivery

  • LimitedAccessPickup

  • LimitedAccessDelivery

This enhancement allows for more accurate rate quoting and shipment processing based on the specific characteristics of pickup and delivery locations.

Accessorial Selection Guidance

  • Residential Pickup / Residential Delivery
    Select these accessorials when shipping to or from non-commercial, residential, and/or private locations.

  • Limited Access Pickup / Limited Access Delivery
    Select these accessorials when shipping to or from a location with limited access, such as locations requiring special handling or restricted entry.

For a complete and authoritative list of locations considered Residential or Limited Access, please refer to Rules Tariff #753.

API Impact

  • This accessorial update has been applied to:

    • Rate Quote API

    • Bill of Lading (eBOL) API

    The Bill of Lading API must be treated the same as the Rate Quote API when selecting and submitting accessorials.

  • Charge codes associated with the new accessorials:

    • ResidentialPickup – RPU

    • ResidentialDelivery – RC

    • LimitedAccessPickup – LPU

    • LimitedAccessDelivery – LD

  • These changes have also been applied to SOAP API versions 1.0.1 through 1.0.3.

Important Notes

  • Residential and Limited Access accessorial fees may apply. All accessorials are currently priced uniformly; however, rates may change in the future.

  • Customers are responsible for selecting the correct accessorials to ensure accurate rating and to avoid billing discrepancies or adjustments.

  • Customers cannot submit two accessorials of the same type (e.g., LimitedAccessPickup and ResidentialPickup) on the same shipment. Only one accessorial per type will be accepted.

Action Required

  • Customers wishing to trace shipments by pickup number must update their integration to use TraceType=PickupID.

  • Customers submitting rate quotes must ensure pickup dates do not exceed 30 days in the future.

  • Review eBOL integrations to confirm compatibility with updated accessorial handling.

Additional Resources

Contact R+L Carriers for your shipping needs:
📞 800.543.5589