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 the National 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, including automobile, 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, and advanced 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 to third-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. The right EDI solution will 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 your EDI 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 visit the National Motor Freight Traffic Association website.

SCAC

Carrier Name

AYAF

AAFES PRIVATE FLEET

ABFS

ABF FREIGHT

ALLV

ALLIED VAN LINES

ARFW

AMERICAN FREIGHTWAYS

ANRM

ALIANCA

ANTC

AMINO TRANSPORT

AVRT

Averitt Express

BAXG

BAX GLOBAL

BKFB

Bulk FR8 (Liquid Bulk)

BLOJ

Bridge Logistics

BNAF

BAX GLOBAL (air)

BTEY

BT EXPRESS FREIGHT SYSTEMS

CHRP

CHEEMA TRANSPORT INC

CBNP

CARBONITE LOGISTICS

CTII

CENTRAL TRANSPORT

CNPC

Carolina Transportation Inc

CGSQ

Carolina Logistics Inc

CDNK

Celadon

CHKA

Chermak Cartage, LLC

CJRF

CJR Trucking, Inc.

CJRQ

Cheeseman Transport

CMDU

CMA CGM

COSU

China Ocean Shipping Lines

COTO

Country Transport

CPGP

Container Port Group

CWAS

Cowan systems, LLC

CWCE

CON-WAY CENTRAL EXPRESS

CWIM

CON-WAY INTERMODAL

CWSE

CON-WAY SOUTHERN EXPRESS

CWWE

CON-WAY WESTERN EXPRESS

CSXT

CSX TRANSPORTATION

CIMC

CUSHING TRANSPORTATION,

DYLT

Daylight Transport LLC

DAFG

DAYTON FREIGHT

DBGB

DBO Bahnoperator

DMLI

Diamond Logistics

DOLR

DOT-LINE TRANSPORTATION

ELOI

Ease Logistics

EGLV

Evergreen

EWCF

EMERY WORLDWIDE

EXLA

Estes Express

EXPD

Expeditors International Ocean

FDCC

FedEx Custom Critical

FDEG

FEDEX GROUND

FDE

FedEx Express (AIR)

FLJF

FLT LOGISTICS LLC

FTNA

Fortune Transportation

FWFG

FIFTH WHEEL FREIGHT LLC

FXFE

FedEx Freight

FXFE

FedEx LTL Freight East

FXFW

FedEx LTL Freight West (formerly VIKN - Viking)

FXNL

FedEx Freight National (formerly Watkins)

GPTC

G & P Trucking, Inc.

GBEA

GILBERT EAST CORP

GBXI

GILBERT EXPRESS

GUMA

GULICK TRUCKING, INC.

HAEI

Heartland Express

A0GO

Hier Logistic Group S. de R.L. de C.V.

HJBT

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

HOYO

HOYER Deep Sea

HRCF

Hercules Forwarding Inc

HUBT

Hub Group

IEXA

Intelcom Express

IELC

Integrity Express Logistics

INML

INTERMODAL SERVICES

ITFC

ITF LLC

HJBT

J.B. HUNT

KAEJ

KANE IS ABLE

KHNN

KUEHNE + NAGEL

KNIG

Knight Transportation

LDYN

Logistic Dynamics, Inc.

LDYQ

LDI Trucking, Inc.

MAEU

Maersk Line

MCPU

MCC Transport Singapore Pte Ltd.

MGMC

MGM TRANSPORT

MEDU

Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A.

MTEN

Marten Transport LTD.

NAFT

NATIONAL FREIGHT

NAVI

North American Van Lines, Inc.

NXPL

National Xpress Logistics

NYKS

NYK

NYKU

NYK

ODFL

OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE

OOLU

Orient Overseas Container Line

PAYL

PAYSTAR LOGISTICS

PENS

Peninsula Truck Lines

PFLP

PACIFIC LOGISTICS CORP

PAMT

PAM Transport Inc

PSQL

PERFORMANCE LOGISTICS

PDME

PIEDMONT EXPRESS

PLGQ

Precision Logistics Group

PMKO

Prime Inc. (Tanker)

PNEP

Panalpina (Pantainer Express Line)

PRIJ

Prime Inc. (OTR)

PRIU

Prime Inc. (Intermodal)

PRML

Prime Inc. (Logistics)

PYLE

A. Duie Pyle

GMLS

R and L Carriers

RDWY

Roadway (YRC)

RGLN

Radiant Global Logistics

ROWL

Rowl Trucking

RXLI

Route Transportation & Logistics

RYOM

Royal Oil

RDSS

Rail Delivery Services, Inc.

RUSS

Russel Delivery Services, Inc.

SAFM

Safmarine

SAIA.

Saia LTL Freight

SCNN

Schneider National

SDYA

Same Day Air Logistics

SNCY

Schneider National

SNLU

Schneider National

SXVE

Silver Enterprises

STVV

Stevens Transport

SUDU

Hamburg Süd

SWFT

SWIFT TRANSPORTATION

TCKM

Truckers America

TEUG

TEU Global (Trade Expeditors USA, INC. DBA TEU GLOBAL)

TPNW

Triple A Logistics

TRKU

TURKON LINE INC

UDRY

USAW - USA Logistics

UPGF

UPS FREIGHT (FKA Overnite Transportation Co / OVNT)

UPSN

United Parcel Service

UPSS

United Parcel Service

UPSC

United Parcel Service

UPSZ

United Parcel Service

USAU

U.S. Government

USAX

U.S. Government

UQEP

UNIQUE EXPRESS

UYSN

UNYSON

USIT

USA Truck

USNW

U.S. Northwest Express or USNW Express

USPS

United States Postal Service

USXI

U.S. Xpress

VCTS

Vocar Transportation Services, LLC.

VLOQ

VANEDGE LOGISTICS

VSRD

Vistar Transportation Ltd.

WTAG

WTA Global Inc.

XUI

Xpress United Inc.

XPOC

XPO Logistics

FICS

First International courier sys.

YRCW

YRC Freight