Track carload, intermodal, automotive VIN, or train shipments in real time via the BNSF Tracing API
domain: bnsf.com · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
Visit the BNSF API Center (bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api) and follow the Getting Started guide to begin registration.
Complete registration through the BNSF API Center Registration page.
Set up certificate-based mutual TLS (mTLS) so BNSF can validate your client and you can validate BNSF's identity.
Use the Tracing API to submit bulk queries (up to 300 vehicles/units per request) for automotive VINs, carload railcars, intermodal units, or trains, and read back trip-plan and event data.
Configure Push Notifications (webhooks) if you want BNSF to notify your system on events instead of polling.
Known gotchas
BNSF requires mTLS certificate exchange rather than a simple API key/bearer token - plan for certificate provisioning and rotation.
Bulk tracing queries are capped at 300 vehicles/units per request; larger fleets require pagination or batching.
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