Question 1

What does the Shipment Request Parser extract from a message?

Accepted Answer

The parser uses AI (Google Gemini) to read an unstructured shipment request — such as an email, chat message, or sales note — and extract up to 25 structured fields: origin and destination city, province/state, and postal code; pickup date; commodity description; piece count; pallet count; weight; dimensions (length, width, height); declared value; temperature range; hazardous goods flag; liftgate, appointment, and residential delivery flags; and any special instructions. Each field also receives a confidence score from 0 to 1.

Question 2

How accurate is the AI extraction?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy depends on how clearly the original message is written. Explicit numbers and place names (e.g. 800 lbs, 2 pallets, Toronto to Chicago, pickup Monday) extract at near-perfect confidence. Vague language or implied values (e.g. a few skids, sometime next week) extract at lower confidence and are flagged amber or red in the results. You should always review and correct extracted fields before using them to book a shipment — the parser is a time-saving starting point, not a substitute for verification.

Question 3

Can I upload a document or photo instead of pasting text?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can upload one PNG, JPG, WebP, or PDF file up to 5 MB, such as a photographed rate confirmation, BOL, invoice, or shipment sheet. You can also add optional notes in the text box. The AI marks the source for extracted fields and flags any conflicting details for you to review.

Question 4

Is the extracted data sent anywhere or stored?

Accepted Answer

Pasted text and an optional uploaded image or PDF are sent to OTR Logistics Solutions' API server, which calls Google Gemini's AI to perform the extraction. The API processes them in real time and does not persistently store the source text, uploaded file, or document contents after the response is returned. Do not include personally identifiable information beyond what is needed to describe the shipment.

Question 5

What format should the input text be in?

Accepted Answer

Any plain-text format works — email body, chat export, or a quick typed summary. The parser handles informal phrasing, abbreviations, and mixed units. For best results, include the key facts explicitly: origin city and province, destination city and province or state, weight and unit, number of pallets or pieces, and a pickup date or window. The minimum input length is 10 characters and the maximum is 2,000 characters.

Shipment Request Parser

What Is the Shipment Request Parser?

How Does It Work?