A Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) is a unique four-letter code used to identify transportation companies. Any carrier conducting business with a U.S. government agency must have a SCAC. Therefore, all carriers entering the United States must have a SCAC to identify themselves to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

SCACs are issued and managed by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA). Carriers can apply for a new SCAC or renew an existing one directly through the NMFTA website, http://www.nmfta.org/Home/Index. Once a new SCAC is issued, the information must be sent to CBP per NMFTA’s instructions to ensure validation in CBP’s systems. SCACs must be renewed annually.

For carriers crossing the U.S., the SCAC must be used at the beginning of the trip number on their ACE eManifest and as the prefix for any Shipment Control Number used to identify freight.