This is Part 2 of the DSDC “Connected Freight Blog Series.”
If you’ve ever waited days to understand why a freight bill changed—or wondered why a carrier, shipper, third-party logistics provider (3PL), broker, or tech provider can’t see the same data at the same time—you already know the pain that application programming interfaces (APIs) are designed to solve.
The Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC)™, a council of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc. (NMFTA)™, is helping the industry move beyond manual or electronic data interchange (EDI)-based processes to real-time, standardized API connections.
From the Preliminary Freight Charges (PFC) API, which gives visibility to changes in the rate, to the Electronic Bill of Lading (eBOL), and Scheduling APIs, DSDC standards are designed to make data flow seamlessly across those in the logistics space.
But before your company downloads its first DSDC API Standard and starts building, it’s worth asking a few key questions.
Here are the top five questions to ask before your first DSDC API integration, and what the answers can mean for your business.
1. What business problem are we solving with this API Standard?
Every successful integration starts with a clear purpose. APIs are not a tech upgrade for the sake of modernization—they’re a tool to eliminate specific friction points that cost time, money, and trust.
For example:
- The Preliminary Freight Charges (PFC) API helps shippers and carriers reduce billing disputes by sharing charge updates (reweighs, reclassifications, accessorials) in real time.
- The Scheduling API helps eliminate endless email threads by standardizing pickup and delivery appointments across systems.
- The eBOL API replaces paper-heavy, error-prone processes with digital bills of lading that all parties can access simultaneously.
Ask yourself:
- What part of our workflow causes the most delays or errors?
- What visibility gaps frustrate customers or partners?
- What data do we need sooner to make better decisions?
When your integration goal is linked to a measurable outcome—faster payments, fewer disputes, reduced manual entry—you can align internal stakeholders around tangible ROI from day one.
2. How will this API fit into our existing systems?
One of the biggest misconceptions about DSDC standards is that they require a full technology overhaul. In reality, they’re designed for interoperability, not replacement.
Most companies will run EDI and API side by side for a while, and that’s perfectly fine.
The key is to identify how the API can enhance existing systems like your transportation management system (TMS), billing platform, or customer portal, not replace them overnight.
For example:
- A carrier may use the API to push proactive charge updates into its accounting system while continuing to send final invoices via EDI.
- A 3PL might embed DSDC APIs into its customer dashboard, giving clients live visibility without touching legacy backend systems.
Ask yourself:
- Which platforms need to receive or display this data?
- Do our partners have systems capable of consuming DSDC API data?
- What triggers or workflows should the API automate or simplify?
Mapping your data flow and integration points up front helps avoid surprises later and ensures your API adds value across departments—from IT to finance to operations.
3. Who needs to be involved internally and externally?
APIs are a team sport. Technical implementation is only one part of the equation—collaboration across IT, operations, finance, and partner organizations is what brings it to life.
For most companies, the ideal approach is to form a small “API Implementation Working Group” that brings together:
- IT/Developers – to handle setup, authentication, and data mapping;
- Operations/Finance – to confirm that data aligns with billing and accounting processes;
- Customer or Partner Teams – to coordinate data exchange and security; and
- Leadership – to measure ROI and allocate resources.
Externally, communication is just as critical. All parties involved will need to understand the integration timeline, expected data fields, and testing process.
Ask yourself:
- Who owns this process internally?
- Who do we need to align with externally to make the data flow?
- Have we identified key decision-makers and users for pilot testing?
The DSDC provides clear YAML documentation, event codes, and reference workflows that make cross-team alignment easier. You don’t need to start from scratch; you just need to get the right people in the (virtual) room.
4. How will we test, monitor, and secure the data?
Freight data is sensitive, so it’s vital to treat API implementation like any other critical business system.
The DSDC APIs are built with authentication, encryption, and event-code governance, but your company still needs to define how you’ll manage and monitor the data.
Here’s a best-practice sequence used by early adopters:
- Sandbox Testing: Start in a controlled environment using mock data. Confirm your system can correctly send, receive, and parse messages.
- Pilot Deployment: Roll out the API to a limited set of customers or shipments. Document results and refine triggers.
- Production Monitoring: Establish alerts for failed transmissions, malformed data, or authentication errors.
- Security Review: Limit API access to authorized users or systems, rotate credentials regularly, and log all access attempts.
Ask yourself:
- What data governance rules do we need internally?
- Who is responsible for monitoring API uptime and error handling?
- How will we secure credentials and manage role-based access?
By defining your testing and monitoring plan early, you’ll minimize downtime and demonstrate reliability to your partners—turning your first API into a proof point for more integrations ahead.
5. What ROI should we expect—and how do we measure success?
Digital standards aren’t just about efficiency—they’re about business outcomes. When implemented correctly, DSDC APIs deliver measurable gains in accuracy, cash flow, and customer satisfaction.
But every company’s ROI story looks different. The key is to define your success metrics before you go live.
Ask yourself:
- What KPIs will we use to measure impact (e.g., disputes resolved, payment speed, staff hours saved)?
- How will we collect baseline data to show improvement?
- What qualitative benefits (like transparency or customer confidence) can we highlight?
Start small, measure thoroughly, and share your wins. Real-world results are what drive industry-wide adoption—and what makes your investment in DSDC standards pay off faster.
Bringing It All Together
Implementing your first DSDC API Standard doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In fact, many companies find that once they integrate one API, the next one becomes exponentially easier. That’s because they’ve already built the muscle memory for collaboration, testing, and data management.
By asking the right questions up front—about purpose, systems, people, security, and ROI—you’re setting your organization up for a smooth implementation and lasting value.
“You don’t need to be an engineer to start integrating—you just need to ask the right questions.” xxx quote from NMFTA or an early adopter?
About the Connected Freight Series
This blog is part of the Connected Freight Series, a three-part educational guide developed by the Digital Standards Development Council (DSDC) of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA).
The series is designed for shippers, 3PLs, carriers, and technology providers who want to modernize their operations through API connectivity and digital freight standards.
- Part 1: What Does “Implementing an API Standard” Actually Mean?
Explains how APIs connect systems, standardize data, and unlock efficiency across the supply chain. Access here.
- Part 2: Top 5 Questions to Ask Before Your First DSDC API Integration
Helps you prepare by identifying key business, technical, and partnership questions to answer before coding begins.
- Part 3: API Implementation Checklist for Shippers and 3PLs
Provides the actionable roadmap to put it all into motion.
Together, these three blogs empower industry stakeholders to move from awareness to adoption—building a smarter, more connected freight ecosystem for all.
Ready to take the next step?
The DSDC APIs are free to download and designed for industry-wide compatibility across carriers, shippers, 3PLs, and technology partners.
Download the DSDC API Standards and get started today.
https://dsdc.nmfta.org/apis
