Where Is the SCAC Used? Practical Places and Systems

Where do you encounter a SCAC?

SCACs appear in many physical and digital locations within the logistics ecosystem. They bridge the gap between people, paperwork, and systems by giving carriers a consistent short code. Below are the most common places you’ll find SCACs in practice.

1. Shipping and transport documents

SCACs are routinely printed on bills of lading (BOL), shipping labels, manifests, freight invoices, and packing lists. Including the SCAC on these documents ensures everyone reading the paperwork — from dockworkers to accounts payable — knows exactly which carrier handled the movement.

2. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

EDI standards such as ANSI X12 frequently include SCAC fields. Typical EDI transactions that reference SCAC include:

• 204 (Load Tender)
• 210 (Freight Invoice)
• 990 (Response to Load Tender)
• 214 (Transportation Carrier Shipment Status)

Using SCAC in EDI enables automated tendering, status updates, and invoicing with reduced manual intervention.3.

Customs and regulatory filings

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other customs authorities accept SCACs in import/export filings, manifests, and the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE). When submitting an Importer Security Filing (ISF), for example, the ocean carrier’s SCAC helps customs determine responsibility for the shipment at arrival.

4. Port and terminal systems

Terminal appointment systems, gate check-in portals, and container terminals use SCACs to validate carriers, schedule pickups and deliveries, and route equipment. A correct SCAC helps prevent refused entries, misrouted containers, and delayed turn times.

5. Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)

TMS and WMS platforms use SCACs to map carriers to rate profiles, service levels, transit times, and contact details. When a shipment is tendered or an appointment is scheduled, the system uses the SCAC to apply the correct rules and communications templates.

6. Freight payment and audit systems

Accounts payable systems that audit freight bills against agreed rates will often match SCACs to contracted carrier agreements. A mismatch in SCAC can trigger an exception, delaying payment until the discrepancy is resolved.

7. Visibility platforms and APIs

Real-time visibility platforms and carrier APIs accept SCACs to link electronic tracking events to specific carriers. This helps shippers and consignees see which carrier is responsible for each leg of a multi-modal journey.

8. Intermodal and rail operations

Railroads and intermodal operators use SCACs to coordinate drayage, chassis moves, and rail routing. SCACs help terminals know which rail operator to interface with when scheduling lifts or interchanges.

9. International logistics

While the SCAC is a U.S.-based standard administered by NMFTA, it is broadly recognized internationally in shipping and global logistics when U.S. ports, customs, or trading partners are involved. Many global freight platforms map SCACs to other local carrier identifiers.

Where not to expect SCAC

SCACs are not commonly used in purely consumer-facing contexts (e.g., final-mile parcel tracking by major parcel carriers often uses other identifiers), and they are not a replacement for regulatory identifiers like DOT or MC numbers. Also, very small local carriers that only operate without formal contracts may not maintain a SCAC if they don’t interact with systems requiring it.

Practical guidance on where to use SCAC

• Always include SCAC in EDI messages where the carrier field is required.
• When integrating a TMS or visibility platform, map SCAC to carrier legal names and contract terms.
• At ports and terminals, verify SCAC before scheduling to avoid denied gate access.
• For customs filings, use the carrier’s official SCAC as listed with NMFTA to ensure acceptance.

Example scenario

A shipper uses a TMS to tender a load. The TMS sends an EDI 204 with the carrier’s SCAC to the broker. The broker then uses the SCAC in the EDI 214 status updates, and the terminal uses that SCAC to schedule a gate appointment. Customs sees the same SCAC on the manifest, linking the transportation responsibility consistently across systems. This single code tied across documents and systems eliminates ambiguity and speeds the flow of information.

Understanding where SCACs are used helps beginners recognize their practical value: the code shows up anywhere carrier identity needs to be precise, quick, and machine-readable across the modern supply chain.