Standard Carrier Alpha Code (CBP)
| This article is part of the Customs Compliance Guide |
A SCAC (Standard Carrier Alpha Code) is a unique 4 letter code used to identify transportation companies. A SCAC is required for all carriers doing business with a U.S. Goverment agency. As such, all carriers crossing the border into the United States are required to have a SCAC in order to identify themselves to CBP.
SCACs are issued and maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Carriers can apply for a new SCAC or renew an existing SCAC directly from their website, www.nmfta.org. When a new SCAC is issued, the information must be forwarded on to CBP as per the instructions provided by NMFTA, so that it can be validated in CBP's computer systems. SCACs must be renewed on an annual basis.[1]
For carriers crossing the border into the U.S., the SCAC is required to be the beginning of the trip number of their ACE eManifest, as well as the beginning of any Shipment Control Number being used to identify freight.
References
- ↑ National Motor Freight - SCAC http://www.nmfta.org/pages/Scac.aspx