> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://terminal49-sinan-dev-10929-support-initial-shipment-and-per.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add a Customer to a Tracking Request

> Associate a customer party with a Terminal49 tracking request so new shipments automatically inherit the correct party relationship and metadata.

## Why add a party to a tracking request?

Adding a party to a tracking request associates customer information with the request. The customer is assigned to the shipment when it is created, just like reference numbers and tags. This helps you organize and manage your shipments more effectively.

## How to get the party ID

You can either find an existing party or create a new one.

* To find an existing party, jump to [Listing all parties](#listing-all-parties) section.
* To create a new party, jump to [Adding party for a customer](#adding-party-for-a-customer) section.

## List all parties

You can list all parties associated with your account through the [API](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/list-parties).

Endpoint: **GET** - [https://api.terminal49.com/v2/parties](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/list-parties)

```json Response theme={null}
{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "PARTY_ID_1",
      "type": "party",
      "attributes": {
        "company_name": "COMPANY NAME 1",
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "PARTY_ID_2",
      "type": "party",
      "attributes": {
        "company_name": "COMPANY NAME 2",
      }
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "last": "<string>",
    "next": "<string>",
    "prev": "<string>",
    "first": "<string>",
    "self": "<string>"
  },
  "meta": {
    "size": 2,
    "total": 2
  }
}
```

After you get all the parties you would filter the parties by `company_name` to find the correct ID, either by looking through the list manually or using code to automate the process.

## Add a party to a tracking request

To add a customer to a tracking request, include the party as a customer relationship when creating the request. **Note:** you cannot add a party to a tracking request that has already been created.

Endpoint: **POST** - [https://api.terminal49.com/v2/tracking\_requests](/api-docs/api-reference/tracking-requests/create-a-tracking-request)

```json Request theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "type": "tracking_request",
    "attributes": {
      "request_type": "bill_of_lading",
      "request_number": "MEDUFR030802",
      "ref_numbers": [
        "PO12345",
        "HBL12345",
        "CUSREF1234"
      ],
      "shipment_tags": [
        "camembert"
      ],
      "scac": "MSCU"
    },
    "relationships": {
      "customer": {
        "data": {
          "id": "PARTY_ID",
          "type": "party"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

After you send a **POST** request to create a tracking request, you will receive a response with the Tracking Request ID and customer relationship. You can use this tracking request ID to track the shipment.

```json Response theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "id": "TRACKING_REQUEST_ID",
    "type": "tracking_request",
    "attributes": {
      "request_type": "bill_of_lading",
      "request_number": "MEDUFR030802",
      "ref_numbers": [
        "PO12345",
        "HBL12345",
        "CUSREF1234"
      ],
      "shipment_tags": [
        "camembert"
      ],
      "scac": "MSCU"
    },
    "relationships": {
      "tracked_object": {
        "data": null
      },
      "customer": {
        "data": {
          "id": "PARTY_ID",
          "type": "party"
        }
      }
    },
    "links": {
      "self": "/v2/tracking_requests/TRACKING_REQUEST_ID"
    }
  }
}
```

## Create a party for a customer

To add a customer to a tracking request, you first need to create a party. You can create a party through the [API](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/create-a-party).

Endpoint: **POST** - [https://api.terminal49.com/v2/parties](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/create-a-party)

```json Request theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "type": "party",
    "attributes": {
      "company_name": "COMPANY NAME"
    }
  }
}
```

After you send a **POST** request to create a party, you will receive a response with the Party ID. You can use this Party ID to add the customer to a tracking request.

```json Response theme={null}
{
  "data": {
    "id": "PARTY_ID",
    "type": "party",
    "attributes": {
      "company_name": "COMPANY NAME"
    }
  }
}
```

## Edit a party

You can update existing parties through the [API](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/edit-a-party).

Endpoint: **PATCH** - [https://api.terminal49.com/v2/parties/PARTY\_ID](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/edit-a-party)

## Read a party

You can retrieve the details of an existing party through the [API](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/get-a-party).

Endpoint: **GET** -  [https://api.terminal49.com/v2/parties/PARTY\_ID](/api-docs/api-reference/parties/get-a-party)