Shipping & Freight
EDI for Shipping & Freight
Connecting shippers, forwarders, ports, and customs with EDI
Business Process
End-to-End Shipping Logistics EDI
From freight booking through consolidation, customs clearance, and final delivery — the complete international shipping lifecycle.
EDI Process Flow
End-to-End Shipping Logistics Flow
From freight booking through consolidation, customs clearance, and final delivery — the complete international shipping lifecycle.
Cargo is picked up and moved to the port or terminal for consolidation.
Cleared cargo is transported to its final destination.
Physical / Business Flow
Systems Involved
Key Benefits of EDI
Want to understand this EDI flow?
Ask EDI AI →End-to-End Shipping Logistics Flow. Steps: Shipper, Load Tender / Transport Instruction, Freight Forwarder / Carrier, Pickup, Consolidation Summary, Port / Terminal, Shipment Status, Customs Declaration, Delivery, Consignee.
Common EDI Transactions
The X12 and EDIFACT transaction sets that appear in this flow.
Motor Carrier Load Tender
The X12 204 is a shipper's offer (tender) of a freight load to a carrier, specifying origin, destination, equipment, and commodity details.
Instruction Message
UN/EDIFACT IFTMIN conveys transport instructions from a shipper or forwarder to a carrier, specifying what needs to be moved, how, and by when.
Forwarding and Consolidation Summary Message
UN/EDIFACT IFCSUM summarizes consolidated shipments — multiple individual consignments grouped into a single transport unit — for freight forwarders.
Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message
The X12 214 provides in-transit status updates (pickup, in-transit, delivered, exception) for a freight shipment.
International Multimodal Status Report Message
UN/EDIFACT IFTSTA reports shipment status and milestones across a transport chain, the EDIFACT counterpart to the X12 214.
Customs Declaration Message
UN/EDIFACT CUSDEC is used to submit customs declarations for imported or exported goods to a customs authority.
Systems Involved
EDI Standards
Step-by-Step Explanation
- 1
Shipper
A trading partner in this flow.
- 2
Load Tender / Transport Instruction (204 / IFTMIN)
Offers or instructs a carrier to move a specific load, with pickup, delivery, and equipment detail.
- 3
Freight Forwarder / Carrier
A trading partner in this flow.
- 4
Pickup
Cargo is picked up and moved to the port or terminal for consolidation.
- 5
Consolidation Summary (IFCSUM)
Summarizes multiple individual consignments grouped into one container, trailer, or flight.
- 6
Port / Terminal
A trading partner in this flow.
- 7
Shipment Status (214 / IFTSTA)
Reports in-transit milestones (pickup, arrival, delivered, exception) for a freight shipment.
- 8
Customs Declaration (CUSDEC)
Declares commodity, value, and origin information for a cross-border shipment to a customs authority.
- 9
Delivery
Cleared cargo is transported to its final destination.
- 10
Consignee
A trading partner in this flow.
Common EDI Documents
Business Benefits
- Coordinates multiple shippers' cargo into consolidated container or trailer loads.
- Gives forwarders and consignees multimodal in-transit visibility.
- Speeds customs clearance by pre-screening shipment and duty information electronically.
- Reduces port and border delays caused by paper-based documentation.
Related Articles
Want to understand this EDI flow?
Ask EDI AI →