August 30th, 2021
USPS, UPS, FedEx Ground, FedEx Express, FedEx Freight—you name it. With so many carriers to choose from, it can be very hard to keep track of all your shipments and containers without a standardized identification method.
That’s where SCAC codes come in handy.
In this article, we are going to cover everything you need to know, from explaining the meaning and origins of SCAC codes to discussing the role of SCAC in EDI. And, at the end, you will also find a lookup of the most common SCAC codes in use today.
What Is the SCAC Code?
If you are shipping to or within the U.S., you have likely already run into the SCAC code, or Standard Carrier Alpha Code. It is a unique two- to four-letter code used to identify transportation companies.
SCAC codes were developed by theNational Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA)in the mid-1960s to facilitate computerization in the freight industry. SCAC codes are assigned and maintained by the NMFTA, and they are primarily used by the United States Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to monitor all shipping activities in the country.
Today, SCAC codes are required for carriers who wish to provide shipping services to and within the United States. These codes are often mandatory, especially when doing business with U.S. government agencies and commercial shippers of various industries, includingautomobile, petroleum, forest products, chemical, and others.
It’s also important to note that certain groups of codes are reserved to specific types of transportation:
- Codes ending with the letter "U" are reserved for the identification of freight containers.
- Codes ending with the letter "X" are reserved for the identification of privately owned railroad cars.
- Codes ending with the letter "Z" are reserved for the identification of truck chassis and trailers used in intermodal service.
SCAC Codes in EDI
In the EDI world, SCAC codes are commonly used in documents like purchase orders, freight bills, bills of lading, andadvanced ship notices (ASNs). In general, the codes help to streamline the entire fulfillment process and increase collaboration among those involved in tracking the shipments. This is especially true for companies that outsource their shipping services tothird-party logistics providers (3PLs), as SCAC codes become even more critical in these scenarios.
Nowadays, we all know that trying to call or email a carrier to get an update on the status of a shipment is extremely time consuming. Better yet, it is close to impossible to find the answer you are looking for. Thanks to EDI and SCAC codes, everyone—from the retailer to the 3PL to the end-consumer—will have real-time visibility on the entire shipping process.
In some cases, your trading partners may have specific requirements on which SCAC you should use in documents like ASNs, as well as how you should use it. Theright EDI solutionwill help you to remain compliant with your trading partners’ requirements and reduce your chances of incurring fees due to an invalid or incorrect SCAC. And when yourEDI system is integrated with your ERP, SCAC codes are automatically pulled from the ERP. This eliminates data-entry errors.
List of Widely Used SCAC Codes
To finish up, we have put together a list of the most common SCAC codes in use today. For the complete directory, please visitthe National Motor Freight Traffic Association website.
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