About the Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC)
The Standard Carrier Alpha Code® (SCAC™) is the freight industry’s universal carrier identifier. For decades, it has been used to consistently identify transportation companies across contracts, freight systems, government programs, and logistics platforms.
SCAC is issued and managed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association, Inc.® (NMFTA)™.
A Brief History of SCAC
SCAC was created to solve a fundamental industry problem: how to consistently identify carriers across increasingly complex transportation networks. Since its introduction, SCAC has become the industry’s standard way to identify carriers across transportation systems, documentation, and regulatory programs.
Transport management systems (TMS)
SCAC is widely used in transportation management systems to identify carriers consistently across planning, execution, billing, and reporting. Using a standardized carrier code helps systems exchange data accurately across shippers, brokers, and carriers.
Load tendering and dispatch workflows
SCAC supports load tendering and dispatch by clearly identifying the carrier assigned to a shipment. This reduces confusion, speeds up operational decisions, and helps ensure freight is tendered to the correct party..
Contracts and freight documentation
SCAC appears in contracts, bills of lading, and freight documentation to identify the carrier responsible for a shipment. Consistent use of SCAC helps support accountability and reduce disputes across the freight lifecycle.
Government and regulatory programs
SCAC is used in government and regulatory programs as a standardized carrier identifier. Its adoption supports reporting, oversight, and coordination across transportation agencies.
What began as a simple identifier has evolved into a foundational industry standard.
NMFTA is the official SCAC issuing authority and steward of the SCAC system. NMFTA oversees how SCACs are issued, renewed, and referenced to ensure consistency, neutrality, and trust across the industry.
SCAC Today
Today, SCAC continues to adapt to the needs of a modern freight ecosystem—supporting transparency, standardization, and trust across modes and technologies.
Got Questions?
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SCAC stands for Standard Carrier Alpha Code. It is a unique two-to-four letter code used to identify transportation companies across the freight industry.
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SCAC was created to standardize carrier identification across transportation systems. It is issued and managed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA).
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SCAC remains widely used because it provides a consistent, industry-recognized way to identify carriers across contracts, systems, platforms, and government programs.
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No. While commonly associated with trucking, SCAC is also used in intermodal, maritime, and logistics systems where standardized carrier identification is required.
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Yes. While the core identifier remains the same, SCAC has evolved to support modern digital systems, verification signals, and industry trust needs.
