Do All Carriers Have SCAC Codes?

When a transportation company wants to do business within U.S. borders or with its agencies, it relies on a Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC). Carriers outside the country must have a code to operate legally within American borders. But do all carriers have SCAC codes, even those within the United States?

FMCA Filings makes understanding the SCAC code application process and the codes easy. Learn more about how a SCAC code applies to your fleet below. 

What Is a SCAC Code?

A SCAC code contains two to four unique letters to identify a transportation company. The National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) provides them to companies that apply, qualify, and exclusively transport goods in North America. If a company operates outside of North America, it must apply through different agencies.

If you receive or transport a shipment, you will usually find the SCAC code printed on the attached papers, such as:

• Packing lists
• Invoices
• Bills of Lading

Commercial trucks, airplanes, and boats use SCAC codes as well.

Why Are SCAC Codes Necessary?

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services use SCAC codes to oversee the goods that come into and exit the country. By it, they identify and eliminate illegal trades or other activities. Typically, the CPB operates using three initiatives to ensure security as follows:

• Pre-Arrival Processing Systems (PAPS): Custom brokers use this system to create a barcode from the SCAC code and the carrier’s identifier number.
• Automated Commercial Environment (ACE): This system keeps a record of both exported and imported products. 
• Automated Manifest System (AMS): This system detects and eradicates any incoming security threats traveling through imported shipments. 

These three important codes assist in keeping the United States secure by tracking the shipments as they come and go. SCAC codes serve an integral purpose in these global shipping efforts, which is why every carrier must have one.

Are SCAC Codes Required for All Carriers?

If any carrier undergoes a transaction with a United States government agency, it must obtain a SCAC code. Even if a carrier operates within the United States, it must still have a code to have a transactional relationship with a governmental entity. 

But do all carriers have SCAC codes regardless? Most do. 

Although the codes aren’t mandatory, most prominent American commercial shippers require them for logistics purposes. For example, they might rely on these codes to track their goods during the shipment process. Shippers could use other tracking methods, but the SCAC code is widely used, so obtaining one could make the transportation process easier.

Obtaining Your SCAC Code

Like most applications, the first step is to fill out an online application and pay the processing fee. Filing fees may vary depending on the service used, and the application will require the following information:

• Carrier contact information, such as name, points of contact, address, and phone number
• USDOT number
• MC number
• MX number
• FF number
• Mode of transportation (i.e., aircraft, watercraft, truck, or railcar)

A reputable filing service like FMCA Filings could streamline the process for you. Then, once you receive your SCAC code, you might notice a specific pattern within the letters. The first two to three abbreviate your carrier name, with the last letter indicating your transportation mode and freight: 

• “X” means railroad cars under private ownership
• “U” means freight containers
• “Z” means trucks and trailers 

For example, as a trucking company associate, you receive a “Z” at the end of your SCAC sequence.

Renewing Your SCAC Code

You must renew your SCAC code each year by June 30th. NMFTA sends automated voicemails to remind SCAC holders 30 days in advance. However, you can begin the renewal process as early as May. 

However, if you delay or fail to renew a SCAC code, you could face significant operational disruptions, such as:

• Shipping delays
• Shipping cancellations
• Border denials
• Less access to reputable shippers
• Code reassignment to other carriers

Plus, if another carrier picks up your code, this could translate into confusion later on. It will also mean having to change any information associated with the old code to reflect the new one. 

SCAC Code Index

Are you looking for your carrier’s SCAC code? You can find several sites indexing codes and the carriers to which they are linked. For example, SCAC Code Lookup offers a user-friendly tool:

• Type your carrier’s name into the input field at the bottom of the page.
• Click “Submit.”
• After the page refreshes, it provides the carrier’s service name and the code. 

Thankfully, it’s easy to keep up with your compliance and learn more about the time it takes to get a SCAC code through FMCA Filings.

Do all carriers have SCAC codes or only major carriers who want flexible shipment options throughout the United States? Stay up to date and in compliance with your permits through FMCA Filings’ convenient filing service. We simplify the application and renewal process with an all-in-one portal.