Union Pacific releases new APIs to increase visibility for shippers

Union Pacific (UP) has launched a developer portal that will allow shippers to access data on inbound and outbound rail shipments, the railroad announced this week. Three Application Program Interfaces (APIs) provide functions for increased automation, including the ability to release rail equipment without logging into the UP website and alerts when shipments are off course. APIs are becoming the preferred communication channel for system integration "because they lay the foundation for systems to more freely and quickly transfer data in real time," UP Director of Information Technologies Lee Sorrick said in a statement.