> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://terminal49.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Infer Tracking Number (Beta)
> Predict the carrier SCAC and tracking number type from a bill of lading, booking, or container number using the Terminal49 Infer endpoint.
**Beta Feature** - This endpoint is currently in beta. The API is stable, but
the schema and behavior may evolve based on feedback.
## What this endpoint does
Provide a tracking number (container, bill of lading, or booking). The endpoint returns:
* The **predicted VOCC carrier SCAC** to use for tracking
* The **predicted number type**
* A confidence-driven **decision** (`auto_select`, `needs_confirmation`, `no_prediction`)
Terminal49 uses machine learning prediction across container, bill of lading,
and booking numbers. For container numbers, Terminal49 leverages tens of
millions of historical container movements to predict which carrier is moving
the container (about 9 out of 10 times).
## How to use the result
This endpoint has its own rate-limit bucket: 200 requests per minute per API key.
Learn how to use Infer Tracking Number to reliably create tracking requests
## OpenAPI
````yaml post /tracking_requests/infer_number
openapi: 3.0.0
info:
title: Terminal49 API Reference
version: 0.2.0
contact:
name: Terminal49 API support
url: https://www.terminal49.com
email: support@terminal49.com
description: >-
The Terminal 49 API offers a convenient way to programmatically track your
shipments from origin to destination.
Please enter your API key into the "Variables" tab before using these
endpoints within Postman.
x-label: Beta
termsOfService: https://www.terminal49.com/terms
servers:
- url: https://api.terminal49.com/v2
description: Production
security:
- authorization: []
tags:
- name: Containers
- name: Custom Field Definitions
- name: Custom Field Options
- name: Custom Fields
- name: Shipments
- name: Locations
- name: Events
- name: Tracking Requests
- name: Webhooks
- name: Webhook Notifications
- name: Ports
- name: Metro Areas
- name: Terminals
- name: Routing (Paid)
- name: Documents
- name: Email Submissions
- name: Document Schemas
- name: Search
paths:
/tracking_requests/infer_number:
post:
tags:
- Tracking Requests
summary: Infer Tracking Number
description: >-
Predict the carrier SCAC (VOCC) and number type from a tracking number.
Provide a container number, bill of lading number, or booking number and
receive the predicted carrier with confidence and a decision value. Use
this to auto-populate carrier fields before creating a tracking request.
operationId: post-infer-number
requestBody:
required: true
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
number:
type: string
description: >-
The tracking number to analyze (container number, bill of
lading, or booking number)
example: WHLU1234560
required:
- number
examples:
Container Number:
value:
number: WHLU1234560
Bill of Lading:
value:
number: EGLV084900042045
responses:
'200':
description: Successfully inferred number type and shipping line
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
data:
type: object
properties:
id:
type: string
example: req_123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000
type:
type: string
example: infer_number_results
attributes:
type: object
properties:
number_type:
type: string
enum:
- container
- bill_of_lading
- booking
validation:
type: object
properties:
is_valid:
type: boolean
nullable: true
type:
type: string
enum:
- container
- shipment
check_digit_passed:
type: boolean
nullable: true
parsed_number:
type: string
nullable: true
reason:
type: string
nullable: true
shipping_line:
type: object
properties:
decision:
type: string
enum:
- auto_select
- needs_confirmation
- no_prediction
selected:
type: object
nullable: true
properties:
scac:
type: string
name:
type: string
confidence:
type: number
candidates:
type: array
items:
type: object
properties:
scac:
type: string
name:
type: string
confidence:
type: number
examples:
Container - Auto Select:
value:
data:
id: req_123e4567-e89b-12d3-a456-426614174000
type: infer_number_results
attributes:
number_type: container
validation:
is_valid: true
type: container
check_digit_passed: true
parsed_number: null
reason: null
shipping_line:
decision: auto_select
selected:
scac: WHLC
name: Wan Hai Lines
confidence: 1
candidates:
- scac: WHLC
name: Wan Hai Lines
confidence: 1
'422':
description: Unprocessable Entity - Invalid tracking number format
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
errors:
type: array
items:
type: object
properties:
status:
type: string
detail:
type: string
examples:
Invalid Number:
value:
errors:
- status: '422'
detail: This reference number is not valid.
'429':
description: Too Many Requests - Rate limit exceeded
content:
application/json:
schema:
type: object
properties:
errors:
type: array
items:
type: object
properties:
status:
type: string
detail:
type: string
examples:
Rate Limit Exceeded:
value:
errors:
- status: '429'
detail: Rate limit exceeded
headers:
Retry-After:
description: Number of seconds to wait before making another request
schema:
type: integer
example: 60
security:
- authorization: []
components:
securitySchemes:
authorization:
name: Authorization
type: apiKey
in: header
description: >-
Use a Terminal49 API key in the `Authorization` header with the `Token`
prefix.
`Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY`
````