Standard Carrier Alpha Code

The Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) is a unique code used to identify transportation companies. It is typically two to four alphabetic letters long. It was developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association in the 1960s to help the transportation industry computerize data and records.

Description

The Standard Carrier Alpha Code, a two-to-four letter identification, is used by (in the United States) transportation industry to identify freight carriers in computer systems and shipping documents such as Bill of Lading, Freight Bill, Packing List, and Purchase Order. It is also used by the American National Standards Institute, Accredited Standards Committee X12, and United Nations EDIFACT for Electronic Data Interchange computer systems.

SCACs are commonly used (in the United States) by the automobile, petroleum, forest products, and chemical industries; as well as suppliers to retail businesses, carriers engaged in railroad piggyback trailers, and ocean container drayage.

Freight Carriers who participate in the Uniform Intermodal Interchange Agreement (UIIA) are required to maintain a SCAC. Certain groups of SCACs are reserved for specific purposes. 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 is also used to identify an ocean carrier or self-filing party, such as a freight forwarder, for the Automated Manifest System used by US Customs and Border Protection for electronic import customs clearance and for manifest transmission as per the USA's "24 Hours Rule" which requires the carrier to transmit a cargo manifest to US Customs at least 24 hours prior to a vessel's departure at port of loading.

Examples of Common SCACs

  1. DWVL - Delaware Valley Shippers Inc.
  2. CXIB - CombinedExpress.com
  3. PLQG - Precision Logistics Group (Last mile (transportation))
  4. TQYL - Total Quality Logistics
  5. ZIPL - Zipline Logistics - www.ziplinelogistics.com (Multimodal)
  6. STVG - Strive Logistics (Multimodal)
  7. ELNR - Express Lane Transport aka ELT/Arco
  8. USNW - U.S. Northwest Express or USNW Express - A CDS Company
  9. YFSY - Yellow Transportation - A Less than truckload (LTL) carrier
  10. RDWY - Roadway Express - A Less than truckload (LTL) carrier
  11. PRLA - Purolator Courier - Canadian package delivery company
  12. UPSN, UPSS, UPSC, UPSZ - United Parcel Service - A package delivery company
  13. USPS - United States Postal Service
  14. DEWC - De Well Container Shipping Corp.
  15. DMAL - DHL Danzas
  16. ABFS - ABF Freight System Inc. - A Less than truckload (LTL) carrier
  17. FDEN - FedEx Express
  18. CGLP - CGL/Concert Group Logistics, Inc (Freight Forwarder)
  19. FDEG - FedEx Ground - A package delivery company
  20. FDCC - FedEx Custom Critical
  21. FEXF - FedEx Freight
  22. FXFE - FedEx LTL Freight East
  23. FXFW - FedEx LTL Freight West (formerly VIKN - Viking)
  24. FXNL - FedEx Freight National (formerly Watkins)
  25. PTWT - Panther II Expedited Services, Inc. - An expediting company
  26. SDCR - Samday WORLDWIDE
  27. PLNZ, PSKL - Penske/Quality Express
  28. JKFF - JackRabbit Fast Freight Corp - A delivery company
  29. HAEI - Heartland Express
  30. HYWK - Hyway Trucking
  31. HGTN - Hogan Transport
  32. SCNN - Schneider National
  33. WESV - Wes Pro Fleet Services
  34. AAIE - ALG Admiral
  35. SWFT - Swift Transportation
  36. FTLC - Findlay Truck Line Company
  37. ANTT - Arnold Transportation
  38. KKLU - "K" Line
  39. SNLU - Schneider National
  40. USIT - USA Truck
  41. UDRY, USAW - USA Logistics
  42. USXI - U.S. Xpress
  43. CMDU - CMA-CGM (Compagnie Générale Maritime - Compagnie Maritime d'Affrètement)
  44. YODA - D&D Sexton
  45. YMLU - Yang Ming Line
  46. DMLI - Diamond Logistics
  47. SALT - Salser and Sons
  48. OOLU - Orient Overseas Container Line
  49. MOLU - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
  50. MAEU - Maersk Line
  51. EGLV - Evergreen
  52. HJSC - Hanjin
  53. HDMU - Hyundai
  54. APLU - American President Line
  55. NYKS - NYK
  56. LGOA - Logistics One Transport
  57. USXL - USXL Worldwide
  58. CNWY - Con-way
  59. NXPL - National Xpress Logistics
  60. COSU - Coscon Container Lines
  61. MTEN - Marten Transport LTD.
  62. MVMT - The Move Management Center
  63. RYDD - Ryder Systems, Inc.
  64. AACT - AAA Cooper Transportation
  65. MCPU - MCC Transport Singapore Pte Ltd.
  66. SAFM - Safmarine
  67. WHLC - Wan Hai Lines
  68. BAIE - Bailey's Express
  69. BTTM - Bridge Terminal Transport
  70. WENP - Werner Dedicated
  71. CBHU - Cosco Bejing Hongkong Unit
  72. JTSN - Johnny Tsunami Trucking
  73. MHCU - Magshipping Container Lines
  74. DLRT - Richard Daniels Transportation
  75. CLLQ - Coyote Logistics LLC
  76. ACLU - Atlantic Container Line
  77. ANLC - ANL/US Lines
  78. ZIMU - ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd.
  79. CHHK - China Shipping North America
  80. HLCU - Hapag-Lloyd
  81. MATU - MATSON
  82. MSCU - Mediterranean Shipping Company
  83. JAFR - Jaguar Freight Services

See also