# Shipper API Overview

## Introduction

The EchoSync Shipper API V2 enables you to create and manage freight shipments, retrieve rates, track loads, and access shipment documents. The API supports Truckload (TL), Less-than-Truckload (LTL), and Partial Load (PL) shipment modes.

## Base URL

**Production:** `https://restapi.echo.com/v2`

**Operations (Use this for Update and Cancel requests):** `https://prod_int.echo.com`

## Authentication

All API calls require your **UserName** (ENumber) and **APIKey** sent as a Basic Authentication header.

1. Build a string of the form `UserName:APIKey`
2. Base64-encode the string
3. Add an `Authorization` header: `Basic {base64encodedString}`


**Example:**

```
Authorization: Basic RTg0Mzc0OjY4M0YzRTU4LThBRUUtNEQ5MC1CRTRBLURDNTRGQkEyMzJEMA==
```

Note
This API does not use the **EchoSync Auth API** (OAuth/token-based authentication)

Contact your Echo account team to obtain your UserName and APIKey.

## Core Concepts

### Shipment ID

The `ShipmentId` (Echo Load ID) is an 8-digit integer returned by the Create Shipment endpoints. It is required by all downstream get, status, tracking, and document endpoints.

### Shipment Modes

- **TL (Truckload):** Shipments that occupy a full trailer. Requires equipment type selection in the request payload.
- **PL (Partial Load):** A truckload-style shipment that shares trailer space. Requires the same fields as TL plus handling unit information.
- **LTL (Less-than-Truckload):** Shipments routed through a carrier network. Requires handling unit, freight class and NMFC information in the request payload.


### Address Validation

Shipper and consignee addresses are validated via Experian and PCMiler. Physical street addresses are required — no P.O. boxes.