Parcel Shipments 📦

Besides freight, you can book parcel shipments through the same API — ideal if you ship many small packages per day and don't want to enter them manually.

Activating parcel mode

Parcel booking uses the standard /v1/quotations and /v1/orders endpoints, but you must send an additional header that switches the request into parcel mode:

If this header is missing, the request is treated as a normal freight shipment.

curl --request POST \
     --url https://api.cargoboard.com/v1/orders \
     --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
     --header 'X-API-KEY: YourKeyHere' \
     --header 'x-transport-type-parcel-is-active: true' \
     --data '{ ... }'

Building the request

The body works like any other booking (see Place an Order), with these specifics for parcels:

• Use the package type KT (package / parcel) in each line.
• Send one line per package, or use unitQuantity for several identical packages.
• Dimensions in centimeters, weight in kilograms.

Example request

{
    "product": "STANDARD",
    "shipper": {
        "name": "Producer ABC GmbH & Co. KG",
        "address": {
            "street": "Examplestreet 12a",
            "postCode": "40239",
            "countryCode": "DE",
            "city": "Düsseldorf"
        },
        "pickupOn": "2026-06-16"
    },
    "consignee": {
        "name": "Consignee ABC AG",
        "address": {
            "street": "Examplestreet 5",
            "postCode": "41061",
            "countryCode": "DE",
            "city": "Mönchengladbach"
        }
    },
    "lines": [
        {
            "unitQuantity": 2,
            "unitPackageType": "KT",
            "content": "Spare parts",
            "unitLength": 40,
            "unitWidth": 30,
            "unitHeight": 20,
            "unitWeight": 5
        }
    ]
}

Sent with the header x-transport-type-parcel-is-active: true, this books 2 parcels of 40 × 30 × 20 cm at 5 kg each.

Size & weight limits

Parcels must stay within these limits. Shipments that exceed them must be booked as freight, not parcel.

Value of goods & insurance

You can insure parcel shipments up to a goods value of € 40,000. Set the value of goods via the standard fields:

{
    "wantsInsurance": true,
    "valueOfGoodsAmount": 1500,
    "valueOfGoodsCurrency": "EUR"
}

Values above € 40,000 are not insurable via parcel; book such shipments as freight instead.

Available & unavailable services

Available add-ons

Not available for parcel

• ❌ Dangerous goods (incl. LQ / EQ).
• ❌ Neutral shipment (neutralData) — not supported for parcel.

Supported routes

Special notes

• Tracking is fully available to customers. Note that regular tracking only starts once the parcel is scanned at the pickup depot; before that there is only a pickup tracking status. Use the Track & Trace webhook or your customer tracking link.
• Pickups can be scheduled up to 7 days in advance. A clear access description (and, if helpful, a note at the door for the driver) prevents most failed pickups.
• Romania (UIT): Parcel shipments under 31.5 kg do not require a UIT code — regardless of goods value. This applies to parcel shipments only.
• Address notes: For parcel, the free-text field is used for additional address information rather than break times / loading notes. Loading and unloading references do not apply to parcel.

Notes

• Labels and tracking work the same way as for freight — see Print shipment label and Track & Trace.