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Standards

SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code)

A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a unique two-to-four-letter code that identifies a transportation carrier. It appears on bills of lading, EDI shipment documents, and ASNs so every party references the same carrier. The NMFTA assigns and maintains SCACs.

What a SCAC identifies

Each motor, rail, ocean, or air carrier has its own SCAC. It is the carrier's shorthand in logistics paperwork and EDI, removing ambiguity between similarly named carriers and letting systems route and track shipments automatically.

SCAC in EDI and the BOL

The SCAC is carried in the 856 advance ship notice and printed on the VICS bill of lading alongside the PRO number. Retail trading-partner specs require a valid SCAC so the receiver can match the inbound shipment to a known carrier.

Related Terms

Bill of Lading (BOL)
A bill of lading (BOL) is a legal document a carrier issues to a shipper that lists what is being transported, who ships it, who receives it, and the agreed terms. It serves three roles at once: a receipt for the goods, a contract of carriage, and a document of title.
Advance Ship Notice (ASN)
An Advance Ship Notice (ASN) is an electronic notification a supplier sends before a shipment arrives, detailing its contents, packing structure, and carrier. In EDI it is the 856 transaction. It tells the buyer exactly what is coming, how it is packed, and when, so receiving can be scanned and verified at the dock.
OTIF (On Time In Full)
OTIF (On Time In Full) is a retail compliance metric that measures whether a supplier delivered the complete order, on the agreed date, with nothing short or late. Retailers like Walmart set an OTIF threshold and fine suppliers who fall below it. It rewards reliable, accurate fulfillment.

Learn More

EDI 856 Ship Notice GuideEDI Document Types Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

SCAC stands for Standard Carrier Alpha Code, a unique two-to-four-letter code that identifies a freight carrier in shipping documents and EDI.

Carriers obtain and renew their SCAC from the NMFTA, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, which assigns and maintains the codes.

Sources: NMFTA SCAC

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