SCAC Code
A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a unique two-to-four letter code assigned by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) to identify transportation companies. Every motor carrier, railroad, and freight forwarder operating in the United States is assigned a SCAC code, which is used on bills of lading, EDI transactions, and customs documentation to unambiguously identify the carrier handling a shipment.
Why it matters
SCAC codes are the universal identifier in freight operations. They appear on every BOL, every EDI 204/214/990 transaction, and every customs filing. Without a valid SCAC, a carrier cannot participate in electronic tendering, cannot file customs entries, and cannot be properly identified in TMS and ERP systems. For shippers, knowing the SCAC code on a BOL tells you exactly which carrier entity is responsible for the freight, which matters for claims, compliance, and performance tracking.
When to use it
Reference SCAC codes when setting up carrier routing guides in your TMS, filing customs documentation for cross-border shipments, tendering loads via EDI, or tracking carrier performance across your freight program. If you are evaluating a new carrier, confirming they have an active SCAC code with the NMFTA is a basic due diligence step that verifies their operating authority registration.
How Warp thinks about it
Warp operates under its own SCAC code (WTCH) for shipments moving through the Warp network. When you book through Warp, the BOL and tracking data reference the Warp SCAC regardless of which carrier partner executes the physical move. This gives shippers a single carrier identity for their entire Warp program instead of managing SCAC codes from dozens of individual carriers.
Frequently asked questions about scac code
What is scac code?
A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a unique two-to-four letter code assigned by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) to identify transportation companies. Every motor carrier, railroad, and freight forwarder operating in the United States is assigned a SCAC code, which is used on bills of lading, EDI transactions, and customs documentation to unambiguously identify the carrier handling a shipment.
Why does scac code matter in freight?
SCAC codes are the universal identifier in freight operations. They appear on every BOL, every EDI 204/214/990 transaction, and every customs filing. Without a valid SCAC, a carrier cannot participate in electronic tendering, cannot file customs entries, and cannot be properly identified in TMS and ERP systems. For shippers, knowing the SCAC code on a BOL tells you exactly which carrier entity is responsible for the freight, which matters for claims, compliance, and performance tracking.
When should you use scac code?
Reference SCAC codes when setting up carrier routing guides in your TMS, filing customs documentation for cross-border shipments, tendering loads via EDI, or tracking carrier performance across your freight program. If you are evaluating a new carrier, confirming they have an active SCAC code with the NMFTA is a basic due diligence step that verifies their operating authority registration.
How does Warp handle scac code?
Warp operates under its own SCAC code (WTCH) for shipments moving through the Warp network. When you book through Warp, the BOL and tracking data reference the Warp SCAC regardless of which carrier partner executes the physical move. This gives shippers a single carrier identity for their entire Warp program instead of managing SCAC codes from dozens of individual carriers.