A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a two-to-four-letter code that identifies a transportation company. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) created the system in the 1960s and still assigns most codes today. You will see SCACs on bills of lading, in carrier tracking systems, and inside EDI documents such as the 856 advance ship notice, where they tell the receiving party which carrier is bringing the freight.

If you are here for a specific carrier's code, jump to the SCAC code list. The rest of this page covers what the codes mean, who needs one, and where they show up in EDI.

What a SCAC identifies

NMFTA describes the SCAC as the recognized carrier identification code in ANSI X12 and UN/EDIFACT transaction sets, including the 856, the 850, and motor, rail, and water carrier transactions wherever a carrier has to be named. It is also required on tariffs filed with the Surface Transportation Board, and carriers that use the Uniform Intermodal Interchange and Facilities Access Agreement (UIIA) must keep a valid SCAC.

In day-to-day terms, the SCAC is how systems agree on who the carrier is. A retailer's routing system assigns a carrier by SCAC, your shipping system prints it on the bill of lading, and your ASN reports it back so the receiving DC knows which truck to expect.

What the last letter means: U, X, and Z

Most SCACs can end in any letter, but three endings are reserved for equipment:

NMFTA's help center notes that these equipment codes are stenciled on the unit along with a six-digit number, and that common carrier railroads use reporting marks that cannot end in U, X, or Z. So CSXT, the code for CSX Transportation, is a railroad reporting mark. The X at the end of CSX's name is a coincidence.

Who needs a SCAC

• Motor carriers, freight forwarders, and brokers that want to work with shippers who tender loads electronically. Most large shippers and retailers will not set up a carrier without one.

• Carriers in intermodal service under the UIIA.

• Companies filing tariffs with the Surface Transportation Board or doing freight business with the U.S. government.

• Ocean carriers and self-filing parties identified in U.S. Customs manifest systems.

Brands and suppliers do not usually need their own SCAC. You need your carriers' SCACs, because you will enter them on bills of lading, in routing requests, and in ASNs. If you run a private fleet that delivers to retailers, ask the retailer whether they require one for your trucks.

How to get a SCAC, and what it costs

NMFTA assigns SCACs to all companies except railroads, which go through Railinc. Applications and renewals run through NMFTA's official system at scaccode.com. For the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, NMFTA lists $110 for a new code online and $104 for an annual renewal, with a higher fee for container codes ending in U. Codes are renewed every year, and NMFTA releases codes that have been expired for more than three years for reassignment.

To check whether a code is active, NMFTA offers a paid lookup product called SCAC Verified, separate from the application system.

Where the SCAC appears in EDI

For suppliers, the most common place a SCAC causes trouble is inside an EDI document. A wrong or missing SCAC can get an ASN rejected or send freight to the wrong appointment.

The usual mistake is a mismatch: the 754 assigns one SCAC, the carrier that shows up has another (often a parent company or a regional division), and the ASN reports whichever one your system defaulted to. Use the SCAC the retailer assigned, and keep a lookup of the division codes your regular carriers use. Our guides to 753 routing requests, ASN accuracy, and EDI shipping workflows cover the documents in more detail, and the bill of lading guide covers the paper side.

SCAC code list

Carriers merge, rebrand, and retire codes. Before you enter a SCAC in a routing guide or ASN map, confirm it with the carrier or through NMFTA.

Frequently asked questions

What is a SCAC code?

A Standard Carrier Alpha Code is a unique two-to-four-letter code that identifies a transportation company. It is assigned by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association and used on shipping documents, in carrier systems, and in EDI transactions.

How do I find a carrier's SCAC code?

Ask the carrier, check its bill of lading or website, or look it up in the list above. For verified status, NMFTA sells a lookup service called SCAC Verified.

Who assigns SCAC codes?

The National Motor Freight Traffic Association assigns SCACs to all companies except railroads, which receive reporting marks through Railinc.

How much does a SCAC code cost?

From July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, NMFTA charges $110 to assign a code online and $104 for annual renewal. Container codes ending in U cost more.

Do SCAC codes expire?

Yes. A SCAC must be renewed every year. Codes expired for more than three years can be reassigned to another company.

What does a SCAC ending in U, X, or Z mean?

U identifies freight containers, X identifies railcars not owned by a railroad, and Z identifies chassis and trailers used in intermodal service.

Does a shipper or supplier need its own SCAC?

Usually not. Suppliers need their carriers' SCACs for bills of lading, routing requests, and ASNs. A supplier running its own delivery fleet may need one if its retail customers require it.

What is the SCAC for Estes Express?

EXLA. Other common LTL codes include ODFL for Old Dominion, DAFG for Dayton Freight, CTII for Central Transport, and FXNL for FedEx Freight National.

Get carrier data right in every ASN

Surpass maps SCACs and routing data from your 754s, 945s, and shipping system into compliant ASNs for every retail partner. Talk to our team or browse the retailers we support.