SCACAcronyms & Jargon

Standard Carrier Alpha Code

Definition: A unique two to four letter code assigned by the NMFTA to identify transportation companies in freight documentation and customs manifests.

Detailed Freight Guide & Operational Context

The Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) is an authoritative identification code developed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) in the mid-1960s to facilitate electronic data interchange (EDI) across the transportation industry.

Every major ocean carrier, barge line, railroad, and intermodal trucker has a registered SCAC code (e.g., MSCU for Mediterranean Shipping Company, MAEU for Maersk, COSU for COSCO, HLCU for Hapag-Lloyd).

SCAC codes are mandatory for filing Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) import manifests with US Customs and Border Protection and appear as the first four letters on container prefixes.

Real-World Example in Practice

When tracking container MSCU9283741, the first four letters 'MSCU' represent the carrier's registered SCAC code for Mediterranean Shipping Company.

Frequently Asked Questions about SCAC

What is a SCAC code?

A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a unique 2 to 4 letter identifier used in computer systems and shipping documents to identify freight carriers.

Where do you find a carrier's SCAC?

A carrier's SCAC appears on the Bill of Lading, shipping manifest, customs documents, and in the Panvaya ocean carriers directory.

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