Logistics & Transportation
EDI for Logistics & Transportation
Connecting shippers, carriers, and transportation systems with EDI
Business Process
End-to-End Logistics EDI
From load tender through in-transit status to final delivery — the complete freight movement lifecycle.
EDI Process Flow
End-to-End Logistics Flow
From load tender through in-transit status to final delivery — the complete freight movement lifecycle.
The carrier picks up the freight from the shipper's dock.
Visibility
The carrier delivers the freight to the consignee's dock.
Possible EDI Documents
Explore EDI Transactions →Physical / Business Flow
Systems Involved
Key Benefits of EDI
Want to understand this EDI flow?
Ask EDI AI →End-to-End Logistics Flow. Steps: Shipper, Load Tender / Transport Instruction, Motor Carrier, Pickup, Shipment Status, Shipper TMS, 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.
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.
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
Motor Carrier
A trading partner in this flow.
- 4
Pickup
The carrier picks up the freight from the shipper's dock.
- 5
Shipment Status (214 / IFTSTA)
Reports in-transit milestones (pickup, arrival, delivered, exception) for a freight shipment.
- 6
Shipper TMS
Trading partner role: Visibility.
- 7
Delivery
The carrier delivers the freight to the consignee's dock.
- 8
Consignee
A trading partner in this flow.
Common EDI Documents
Business Benefits
- Replaces phone- and email-based load tendering with a structured, trackable transaction.
- Gives shippers real-time shipment visibility without calling the carrier.
- Reduces detention and demurrage by automating pickup and delivery confirmations.
- Speeds exception handling with proactive alerts on delay or damage status codes.
Related Articles
Want to understand this EDI flow?
Ask EDI AI →