BNSF Railway, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., operates one of the largest freight rail networks in North America — more than 32,000 route miles across 28 states and three Canadian provinces, connecting to Mexico through rail lines in Texas. BNSF publishes a genuine customer-facing API programme: eight OpenAPI 3.0 documents totalling 59 operations covering shipment tracing, intermodal and automotive hub gate operations, freight pricing and invoices, intermodal schedules, waybill management, rail reference data and diagnostics, plus a six-event webhook push surface. Every call is authenticated with certificate-based mutual TLS on port 6443; there is no API key and no OAuth, and 27 of the 59 operations are Restricted Services requiring separate authorisation.
BNSF publishes 8 APIs on the APIs.io network, including Tracing API, Intermodal Hub Operations API, Automotive Hub Operations API, and 5 more. Tagged areas include Freight, Railroad, Shipping, Trains, and Intermodal.
The BNSF catalog on APIs.io includes 1 event-driven AsyncAPI specification.
BNSF’s developer surface includes authentication, sandbox, developer portal, documentation, API reference, developer console, getting-started guide, and 25 more developer resources.
Create-or-Update Ergonomics applies to this provider. This API accepts writes, so it
carries 10 points of the composite. It is scored from the published contracts
themselves: whether a caller can create-or-update in one call, whether the write accepts a key the caller already
holds, and whether the response says which branch ran. Without that, every write needs a search-and-branch in
front of it, and the first time that check is skipped a duplicate record is created.
Scored against the observed mean rather than raw — a provider at the catalog average is unchanged by this facet,
not penalised by it.
Improve this rating by publishing the missing artifacts — every area above can be raised, and the full rubric is at apis.io/rating/. Every facet and dimension name above is a link: it opens that measurement's own page — what it means, the exact checks that feed it, how the whole catalog distributes on it, and the providers at the top of it. This rating is computed from github.com/api-evangelist/bnsf: open an issue to ask a question, or submit a pull request to add artifacts.
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The BNSF Tracing API provides real-time shipment tracing from origin to destination for automotive VINs, carload railcars, intermodal units and unit trains. Fifteen operations c...
The BNSF Intermodal Hub Operations API covers facility operations across the BNSF intermodal hub network: dray bookings and dray plans, driver vehicle inspection reports, author...
The BNSF Automotive Hub Operations API covers haul-away gate operations at BNSF automotive ramps: gate entry requests submitted before an ingate, gate exit and pre-exit requests...
The BNSF Prices and Rates API returns freight shipping prices for carload and intermodal moves within a BNSF Price Authority, open invoices for up to five patron codes per reque...
The BNSF Schedules API returns published intermodal transit schedules for the BNSF network, so a shipper can plan departure and arrival timing before booking freight. A single o...
The BNSF Waybill Management API submits a bill of lading with the required transit information to create a waybill, and retrieves the current active waybill for a given piece of...
The BNSF Reference Files API resolves the rail industry code systems the rest of the BNSF surface is written in: event codes describing equipment activity, station details behin...
The BNSF Diagnostics API exposes an unauthenticated gateway health check that answers 200 with the body ok on both the production and trial hosts, and a Restric...
aid: bnsf
name: BNSF
description: 'BNSF Railway, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., operates one of the largest freight rail networks in
North America — more than 32,000 route miles across 28 states and three Canadian provinces, connecting to Mexico through
rail lines in Texas. BNSF publishes a genuine customer-facing API programme: eight OpenAPI 3.0 documents totalling 59 operations
covering shipment tracing, intermodal and automotive hub gate operations, freight pricing and invoices, intermodal schedules,
waybill management, rail reference data and diagnostics, plus a six-event webhook push surface. Every call is authenticated
with certificate-based mutual TLS on port 6443; there is no API key and no OAuth, and 27 of the 59 operations are Restricted
Services requiring separate authorisation.'
type: Index
deliveryModel:
model: unknown
open_source: false
commercial: false
callable_host: false
label: Delivery model not determined — needs a product licence on record
confidence: low
source:
- openapi
generated: '2026-08-28'
method: derived
accessModel:
pricing: freemium
onboarding: approval
trial: false
try_now: false
public: false
label: Freemium · Requires approval
confidence: high
source:
- plans
- authentication
generated: '2026-07-22'
method: derived
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/icons/bnsf.png
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/bnsf/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2025-02-06'
modified: '2026-09-06'
specificationVersion: '0.23'
tags:
- Freight
- Railroad
- Shipping
- Trains
- Intermodal
- Logistics
- Supply Chain
- Transportation
position: Producing
apis:
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-tracing-api
name: BNSF Tracing API
description: The BNSF Tracing API provides real-time shipment tracing from origin to destination for automotive VINs, carload
railcars, intermodal units and unit trains. Fifteen operations cover position, trip plans and significant-event history.
Bulk POST forms accept up to 300 VINs, cars or units per request and up to 25 unit trains; list endpoints page at a default
and maximum of 2,000 records. None of the fifteen is a Restricted Service, which makes this the surface a newly registered
caller can use first.
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Railroad
- Tracking
- Tracing
- Shipping
- Intermodal
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-trace-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-trace-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-trace-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/trace.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-hub-operations-api
name: BNSF Intermodal Hub Operations API
description: 'The BNSF Intermodal Hub Operations API covers facility operations across the BNSF intermodal hub network:
dray bookings and dray plans, driver vehicle inspection reports, authorized flips, hub lot locations, ingate and outgate
registration with dedicated validation operations, pre-gate creation and cancellation, J1 gate receipts, pickup numbers,
street en-route reporting, unit details, domestic empties and parking updates. Twenty-three operations, twenty-one of
them Restricted Services requiring separate BNSF authorisation and available in Production only.'
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Intermodal
- Hub
- Logistics
- Gate Operations
- Drayage
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-intermodal-hub-operations-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-intermodal-hub-operations-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-intermodal-hub-operations-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/intermodal-hub-operations.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-automotive-hub-operations-api
name: BNSF Automotive Hub Operations API
description: 'The BNSF Automotive Hub Operations API covers haul-away gate operations at BNSF automotive ramps: gate entry
requests submitted before an ingate, gate exit and pre-exit requests, holds placed on and released from a VIN at origin
or destination, and gate-pass lookups by AAR ramp code and VIN. Seven operations, keyed on NMFTA SCAC and AAR ramp code,
serving truckers, dispatchers and vehicle OEMs.'
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Automotive
- Hub
- Gate Operations
- VIN
- Logistics
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-automotive-hub-operations-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-automotive-hub-operations-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-automotive-hub-operations-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/automotive-hub-operations.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-pricing-rates-api
name: BNSF Prices and Rates API
description: The BNSF Prices and Rates API returns freight shipping prices for carload and intermodal moves within a BNSF
Price Authority, open invoices for up to five patron codes per request, and rail mileage for BNSF local and AAR Accounting
Rule 11 shipments up to 1,000 at a time. Commodity ranges are expressed as STCC bounds and geography accepts SPLC, OPSL,
FIPS county, state, ZIP3 and ZIP5 selectors. Three of the four operations are Restricted Services; the rail-mile inquiry
is not.
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Pricing
- Rates
- Invoices
- Shipping
- STCC
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-prices-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-prices-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-prices-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/prices.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-schedules-api
name: BNSF Schedules API
description: The BNSF Schedules API returns published intermodal transit schedules for the BNSF network, so a shipper can
plan departure and arrival timing before booking freight. A single operation, declared as a Restricted Service requiring
separate BNSF authorisation.
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Schedules
- Transit
- Intermodal
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-schedules-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-schedules-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-schedules-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/schedules.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-waybill-management-api
name: BNSF Waybill Management API
description: The BNSF Waybill Management API submits a bill of lading with the required transit information to create a
waybill, and retrieves the current active waybill for a given piece of equipment. Its request schema carries ninety explicit
EDI Mapping annotations binding JSON fields to ANSI X12 data elements, so a shipper already exchanging X12 404 rail shipment
information can map field to field. The submission operation is a Restricted Service and has no published void, cancel
or amend.
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Waybill
- Bill of Lading
- Carload
- EDI
- Documentation
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-waybill-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-waybill-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-waybill-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/waybill.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-reference-files-api
name: BNSF Reference Files API
description: 'The BNSF Reference Files API resolves the rail industry code systems the rest of the BNSF surface is written
in: event codes describing equipment activity, station details behind the 333 location codes, STCC commodity codes and
their hazardous-materials detail, and Umler equipment characteristics covering dimensions, capacities and weights for
freight cars, trailers and containers. Five operations, none of them restricted.'
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Freight
- Reference
- Data
- STCC
- Stations
- Umler
- Hazardous Materials
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-reference-files-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-reference-files-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-reference-files-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/reference-files.json
- aid: bnsf:bnsf-diagnostics-api
name: BNSF Diagnostics API
description: The BNSF Diagnostics API exposes an unauthenticated gateway health check that answers 200 with the body <status>ok</status>
on both the production and trial hosts, and a Restricted analytic-event operation for submitting usage telemetry. The
health check is the only operation on the whole BNSF Customer API reachable without a registered client certificate.
humanURL: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
baseURL: https://api.bnsf.com:6443
tags:
- Diagnostics
- Health Check
- Monitoring
- Telemetry
properties:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-diagnostics-openapi.yml
- type: OpenAPISource
url: openapi/_original/bnsf-diagnostics-openapi.json
- type: Overlay
url: overlays/bnsf-diagnostics-overlay.yaml
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Specification
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/diagnostics.json
common:
- type: OpenAPI
url: openapi/bnsf-trace-openapi.yml
- type: Authentication
url: authentication/bnsf-authentication.yml
- type: Conventions
url: conventions/bnsf-conventions.yml
- type: ErrorCatalog
url: errors/bnsf-problem-types.yml
- type: Lifecycle
url: lifecycle/bnsf-lifecycle.yml
- type: Conformance
url: conformance/bnsf-conformance.yml
- type: DataModel
url: data-model/bnsf-data-model.yml
- type: RateLimits
url: rate-limits/bnsf-rate-limits.yml
- type: Plans
url: plans/bnsf-plans-pricing.yml
- type: Sandbox
url: sandbox/bnsf-sandbox.yml
- type: Webhooks
url: asyncapi/bnsf-webhooks.yml
- type: AgentSkill
url: skills/_index.yml
- type: LLMsTxt
url: llms/bnsf-llms.txt
- type: X-MCPServerCandidate
url: mcp/bnsf-mcp.yml
- type: Packages
url: packages/bnsf-packages.yml
- type: DomainSecurity
url: security/bnsf-domain-security.yml
- type: AgenticAccess
url: agentic-access/bnsf-agentic-access.yml
- type: FinOps
url: finops/bnsf-finops.yml
- type: Website
url: https://www.bnsf.com
- type: Portal
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
- type: DeveloperPortal
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/
- type: Documentation
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/catalog/
- type: APIReference
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: Console
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/developers-console/
- type: GettingStarted
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/getting-started/
- type: SignUp
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/registration/
- type: Support
url: https://www.bnsf.com/ship-with-bnsf/support-services/customer-api/support/
- type: Login
url: https://customer2.bnsf.com/
- type: Blog
url: https://www.bnsf.com/news-media/railtalk/
- type: TermsOfService
url: https://www.bnsf.com/site-terms-of-use.html
- type: PrivacyPolicy
url: https://www.bnsf.com/privacy-policy.html
- type: LinkedIn
url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bnsf-railway
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
email: kinlane@gmail.com
x-enrichment:
date: '2026-09-06'
status: enriched
artifacts_added: 42
pass: local-v3
x-parent: berkshire-hathaway
x-relationship: subsidiary
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