Introduction
In the fast-paced world of supply chain management, market analysts face the daunting challenge of making informed decisions based on a myriad of data sources. The logistics landscape is complex, with fluctuating fuel prices, varying freight rates, port congestion, and potential natural disruptions all impacting operational efficiency. As a result, analysts often find themselves overwhelmed by the need to stitch together disparate data feeds, leading to inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
This is where FreightPulse comes into play. By consolidating real-time logistics intelligence into a single REST API, FreightPulse empowers market analysts and logistics operators to access critical data seamlessly. With features that include EIA fuel prices, live full-truckload (FTL) freight rate quotes, port congestion data, carrier lookups, and natural-disruption alerts, FreightPulse simplifies the data integration process, allowing teams to focus on analysis rather than data collection.
Why FreightPulse
FreightPulse stands out in the logistics data landscape for several compelling reasons:
- Unified Data Access: Instead of relying on multiple integrations for EIA fuel data, freight quotes, port congestion, and carrier verification, FreightPulse provides a single API endpoint. This eliminates the need for costly subscriptions to various data providers, streamlining the data retrieval process and reducing operational costs.
- Real-Time and Historical Insights: With FreightPulse, analysts can access live FTL freight rate quotes alongside historical diesel and gasoline price series in the same JSON schema. This integration allows for comprehensive trend analysis, enabling teams to make data-driven decisions based on both current and historical data.
- Natural Disruption Monitoring: The API includes a natural-disruption feed that consolidates alerts from multiple sources, allowing analysts to filter disruptions by port radius. This feature is crucial for proactive risk management, enabling teams to anticipate and mitigate potential shipment delays caused by natural events.
- Guest Access for Exploration: FreightPulse offers guest access without the need for an API key, allowing users to make up to 100 requests per day. This low-friction access encourages exploration and experimentation, making it easier for teams to evaluate the API's capabilities before committing to a subscription.
Quick Start
Getting started with FreightPulse is straightforward. The base URL for the API is:
https://freightpulsehq.com/api/v1
To make your first request, you will need to include the X-API-Key header in your cURL command. Here’s an example of how to retrieve national diesel and gasoline prices:
curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" "https://freightpulsehq.com/api/v1/fuel-prices"
The expected JSON response will look like this:
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"timestamp": "2026-07-30T12:00:00Z",
"source": "EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration)",
"currency": "USD",
"unit": "gallon",
"data": {
"diesel": {
"national_average": 3.847,
"change_week": -0.023,
"change_percent": -0.6,
"regions": {
"east_coast": 3.912,
"midwest": 3.756,
"gulf_coast": 3.623,
"rocky_mountain": 3.891,
"west_coast": 4.456,
"california": 4.892
},
"historical": {
"30d_avg": 3.82,
"90d_avg": 3.75,
"yoy_change_percent": -8.2
}
},
"gasoline": {
"national_average": 3.156,
"historical": {
"30d_avg": 3.1,
"90d_avg": 3.05,
"yoy_change_percent": 1.1
}
}
}
}
}
In this response, key fields include:
- timestamp: The date and time when the data was retrieved.
- source: The source of the data, in this case, the EIA.
- currency: The currency in which the prices are quoted.
- national_average: The average price of diesel or gasoline across the nation.
- regions: A breakdown of prices by region, allowing for localized analysis.
- historical: Historical averages that provide context for current prices.
Core Endpoints
1. GET /fuel-prices
This endpoint retrieves national diesel and gasoline prices along with a breakdown by PADD region.
Key Parameters: None required.
curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" "https://freightpulsehq.com/api/v1/fuel-prices"
Sample JSON Response:
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"timestamp": "2026-07-30T12:00:00Z",
"source": "EIA (U.S. Energy Information Administration)",
"currency": "USD",
"unit": "gallon",
"data": {
"diesel": {
"national_average": 3.847,
"change_week": -0.023,
"change_percent": -0.6,
"regions": {
"east_coast": 3.912,
"midwest": 3.756,
"gulf_coast": 3.623,
"rocky_mountain": 3.891,
"west_coast": 4.456,
"california": 4.892
},
"historical": {
"30d_avg": 3.82,
"90d_avg": 3.75,
"yoy_change_percent": -8.2
}
},
"gasoline": {
"national_average": 3.156,
"historical": {
"30d_avg": 3.1,
"90d_avg": 3.05,
"yoy_change_percent": 1.1
}
}
}
}
}
This endpoint is essential for analysts looking to understand fuel cost trends, which directly impact freight rates and overall supply chain expenses.
2. GET /freight-rates
This endpoint provides live FTL truckload quotes for US lanes, allowing users to compare costs across different shipping options.
Key Parameters: mode (trucking, ocean, air), origin_zip, destination_zip (required for trucking).
curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" "https://freightpulsehq.com/api/v1/freight-rates?mode=trucking&origin_zip=10001&destination_zip=90210"
Sample JSON Response:
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"mode": "trucking",
"service": "FTL (53' dry van)",
"source": "Warp",
"price_usd": 7207.92,
"transit_days": 4,
"pickup_date": "2026-08-24",
"delivery_date": "2026-08-28"
}
}
Key fields in this response include:
- mode: The mode of transportation (e.g., trucking).
- service: The type of service provided (e.g., FTL).
- price_usd: The quoted price for the shipment.
- transit_days: The estimated number of days for transit.
- pickup_date: The scheduled pickup date.
- delivery_date: The expected delivery date.
3. GET /port-congestion
This endpoint provides insights into port activity, allowing analysts to assess congestion levels at major ports.
Key Parameters: port (name or LOCODE), country (name or ISO3), region (continent).
curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" "https://freightpulsehq.com/api/v1/port-congestion?port=USLAX"
Sample JSON Response:
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"results": [
{
"port": "Los Angeles-Long Beach",
"locode": "US LAX",
"country": "United States",
"congestion": "moderate",
"as_of": "2026-08-14",
"metrics": {
"recent_avg_portcalls_per_day": 8.7,
"baseline_avg_portcalls_per_day": 10.2,
"ratio_vs_baseline": 0.85
}
}
]
}
}
Key fields include:
- port: The name of the port.
- congestion: The current congestion level (low, moderate, high).
- metrics: Detailed metrics including recent and baseline port calls.
Real-World Use Cases
FreightPulse's API capabilities enable teams to build a variety of applications that enhance operational efficiency and decision-making:
- Fuel-Surcharge Calculator: By integrating the /fuel-prices endpoint, logistics companies can create a tool that calculates fuel surcharges based on real-time fuel prices and historical trends, ensuring accurate pricing for customers.
- Port-Congestion Dashboard: Freight forwarders can utilize the /port-congestion endpoint to develop a dashboard that visualizes congestion levels at key ports, allowing them to make informed routing decisions and avoid delays.
- Carrier Vetting Tool: 3PL providers can leverage the /carriers endpoint to build a vetting tool that assesses the safety ratings and operational status of trucking carriers, ensuring compliance and reliability in their supply chain.
- Disruption Alert System: By using the /disruptions endpoint, shipment tracking systems can notify users of natural hazards that may impact their shipments, allowing for proactive rerouting and risk management.
FAQ
How often do FreightPulse fuel prices update?
Fuel prices are updated weekly based on data from the EIA, providing analysts with timely insights into fuel cost trends that can impact freight rates.
Can I look up ocean carriers as well as trucking carriers?
Yes, the FreightPulse API allows users to look up both ocean carriers and trucking carriers through the /carriers endpoint, providing comprehensive data for logistics operations.
Does the port congestion data reflect real-time vessel wait times?
No, the port congestion data is based on a 7-day average and is a lagged approximation, not real-time AIS tracking. It provides valuable insights into congestion trends over time.
Conclusion
In an era where data-driven decision-making is paramount, FreightPulse offers a powerful solution for market analysts and logistics operators. By consolidating critical logistics intelligence into a single API, FreightPulse eliminates the complexities of managing multiple data sources, enabling teams to focus on analysis and strategy.
With features like real-time freight rates, fuel prices, port congestion data, and natural disruption alerts, FreightPulse empowers organizations to optimize their supply chain operations effectively. Whether you're building a fuel-surcharge calculator, a port-congestion dashboard, or a carrier vetting tool, FreightPulse provides the data you need to succeed.
Ready to transform your logistics data strategy? Try FreightPulse for free today and unlock the potential of real-time logistics intelligence.