The EDI 210 is how a carrier gets paid, and how a shipper catches an overcharge before paying it. Once a load is delivered, the carrier sends a 210 with the freight charges: the line-haul rate, fuel, and any accessorials. The shipper's job is to audit that invoice against the rate it agreed to. Freight bills are a notorious source of small, repeated overcharges, so the 210 is where money is saved or lost.
This guide covers what the 210 bills, the segments you will work with, where it sits in the freight flow, and how shippers audit it.
What Is an EDI 210?
An EDI 210 is the Motor Carrier Freight Details and Invoice transaction defined by the ASC X12 standards body, used by a carrier to bill a shipper for the charges on a completed shipment. It is the freight equivalent of the 810 invoice, built for transportation charges rather than goods.
Authoritative references for 210 implementation:
- The X12.org Transaction Sets reference defines the B3, L0, L1, and L3 segment structure used across 210 implementations
- The NMFTA assigns the SCAC carrier codes that identify the billing carrier on the invoice
Who sends it? The carrier that moved the freight.
When is it sent? After delivery, to bill the shipper or its 3PL for the completed move.
Why does it matter? Freight invoices carry rate, fuel, and accessorial charges that do not always match the quoted rate. Auditing the 210 against the agreed rate before paying is one of the most reliable ways to recover transportation spend.
What the 210 Bills
A freight invoice itemizes the cost of the move:
- Line-haul charge: the base rate for the lane, by weight, mileage, or flat rate.
- Fuel surcharge: the variable fuel component on top of the base rate.
- Accessorials: detention, liftgate, residential delivery, reweighs, and other add-ons.
- References: the BOL number, the load number, and the shipment details that tie the invoice back to the move.
Key Segments Explained
Here are the segments you will work with in a 210 transaction set:
| Segment | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| ST | Transaction Set Header | Identifies the start of the 210 and assigns a control number |
| B3 | Beginning Segment for Carrier's Invoice | The invoice number, shipment identification, carrier SCAC, net amount due, and delivery date |
| C3 | Currency | The currency the invoice is billed in |
| N1 | Name | Identifies the shipper, consignee, and bill-to parties |
| L0 | Line Item Quantity and Weight | The billed quantity and weight that the charges are calculated from |
| L1 | Rate and Charges | The rate, charge amount, and charge code for each line, including accessorials |
| L3 | Total Weight and Charges | The invoice totals the shipper audits against the agreed rate |
The L1 segments carry the charges line by line, which is exactly what a freight audit compares against the contracted rate to catch overcharges.
Where the 210 Sits in the Freight Flow
The 210 closes the freight transaction:
- 204 Motor Carrier Load Tender - Shipper offers the load
- 990 Response to a Load Tender - Carrier accepts
- 214 Shipment Status Message - Carrier reports status to delivery
- 210 Motor Carrier Freight Invoice - Carrier bills the completed move
On the order side, the 810 Invoice bills the buyer for the goods while the 210 bills the shipper for moving them. A 3PL often reconciles both: what it pays carriers and what it bills its clients.
How Shippers Audit Freight Invoices
Freight audit by hand, comparing each invoice line to a rate sheet, is slow and the overcharges are small enough to slip through. The savings are real but only if every invoice is actually checked.
OrderSync reads inbound 210 freight invoices (and arbitrary-format freight bills) and structures the charges line by line so they can be compared against the agreed rate, flagging discrepancies for review before payment. It is the document layer that makes freight bills auditable, not a TMS or a freight-pay system. Upload a freight invoice to the free EDI inspector to see it parsed, or book a 15-minute walkthrough to see a 210 audited against a rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an EDI 210 used for?
The 210 is used by a carrier to bill a shipper for a completed shipment, itemizing the line-haul charge, fuel, and accessorials. Shippers audit it against the agreed rate before paying.
What is the difference between an EDI 210 and an EDI 810?
Both are invoices. The 810 bills a buyer for goods; the 210 bills a shipper for transporting them. The 210 carries freight-specific detail, line-haul rate, fuel surcharge, and accessorials, that a goods invoice does not.
What is a freight bill audit?
A freight bill audit compares the charges on a carrier's 210 invoice against the rate the shipper agreed to, catching overcharges on line-haul, fuel, and accessorials before the invoice is paid.
How does a shipper receive an EDI 210?
The carrier sends the 210 after delivery, into the shipper's or 3PL's EDI mailbox. The shipper validates and audits it, then pays or disputes the charges.