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
|
|
|
|