972-836-7750 Request a demo Talk to an expert
Talk to an expert Request a demo Call sales 972-836-7750

X12 transaction guide · Master data

EDI 434 Railroad Mark Register Update Activity

The X12 document the rail industry reference file uses to tell subscribers about mark register updates, such as reporting mark assignments.

Sent by
Rail industry reference file central site
Received by
Subscribers such as railroads and car owners
Standard
ANSI ASC X12

What is an EDI 434?

The EDI 434 Railroad Mark Register Update Activity is the ANSI X12 transaction set that lets the Railroad Industry Reference File central site communicate mark register update activity to subscribers. This includes the assignment and expiration of railroad reporting marks and related information.

Reporting marks, the letters painted on rail cars and locomotives, identify the owner of each piece of equipment. Every system that handles rail cars needs current mark data to identify owners for car hire, repairs and tracking.

How the EDI 434 worksDiagram of the EDI 434 Railroad Mark Register Update Activity. Rail industry reference file central site sends it to subscribers such as railroads and car owners. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by 997. Inside the ISA, GS and ST envelopes, X12 release 008010 requires, in the heading: BRR (Beginning Segment for Railroad Mark Register Update Activity), DTM (Date/Time Reference) and the required N1 loop with N1 (Party Identification). 0 optional loops are listed by their first segment.How the EDI 434 worksRailroad Mark Register Update Activity: who sends it, where it fits and what the standard marks required1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeEDI 434SENDERRail industry referencefile central siteRECEIVERSubscribers such asrailroads and carowners997 or 999 acknowledgment back, if the partners agreeUSUALLY FOLLOWED BY997FunctionalAcknowledgment2 WHAT X12 RELEASE 008010 REQUIRESInterchange: sender and receiver IDsISA … IEAFunctional group, ID code RJGS … GETransaction set 434ST … SEHEADINGBRRBeginning Segment for Railroad Mark Register Update ActivityDTMDate/Time ReferenceRequired loop N1 · repeats up to 25N1Party IdentificationBlue box: required loop. Optional loops are listed by the segment that starts them; when a loop is used, that first segment is required. Optional segmentsoutside loops are not drawn.Structure: required segments and loops in the X12 008010 listing for the 434. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds its own requirements.
How the EDI 434 worksDiagram of the EDI 434 Railroad Mark Register Update Activity. Rail industry reference file central site sends it to subscribers such as railroads and car owners. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by 997. Inside the ISA, GS and ST envelopes, X12 release 008010 requires, in the heading: BRR (Beginning Segment for Railroad Mark Register Update Activity), DTM (Date/Time Reference) and the required N1 loop with N1 (Party Identification). 0 optional loops are listed by their first segment.How the EDI 434 worksRailroad Mark Register Update Activity: whosends it, where it fits and what the standardmarks required1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeEDI 434SENDERRail industryreference filecentral siteRECEIVERSubscriberssuch asrailroads andcar owners997 or 999 acknowledgment back, if the partnersagreeUSUALLY FOLLOWED BY997Functional Acknowledgment2 WHAT X12 RELEASE 008010 REQUIRESInterchange: sender and receiver IDs (ISA… IEA)Functional group, ID code RJ (GS … GE)Transaction set 434 (ST … SE)HEADINGBRRBeginning Segment forRailroad Mark RegisterUpdate ActivityDTMDate/Time ReferenceRequired loop N1 · repeats up to25N1Party IdentificationBlue box: required loop. Optional loops are listedby the segment that starts them; when a loop isused, that first segment is required. Optionalsegments outside loops are not drawn.Structure: required segments and loops in the X12008010 listing for the 434. Your trading partner'simplementation guide adds its own requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends the 434, to whom, and which documents usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what X12 release 008010 itself requires: the envelopes around the 434 and the segments and loops the standard marks as required, area by area. Optional loops are listed by the segment that starts them rather than drawn in full. This is the standard's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: each partner's implementation guide usually makes some optional loops mandatory, restricts the codes and may use a different release.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Distributing new reporting mark assignments
  • Notifying expired or transferred marks
  • Keeping equipment owner data current

Where it fits in the document flow

This document 434 Railroad Mark Register Update Activity
Usually followed by 997 Functional Acknowledgment

Structure

Mandatory segments in the 434 (X12 release 008010)

The segments X12 release 008010 marks as mandatory at their level, in order. Segments inside optional loops are needed only when the loop is used. This is the standard's requirement, not your trading partner's: each partner's implementation guide names the release it uses, adds the optional segments it requires and restricts the values. The requirement status comes from one published X12 reference listing and has not been checked against a second source.

  • ST
  • BRR
  • DTM
  • N1
  • SE

Practical example

The 434 in practice

A new private car owner is assigned a reporting mark. The central site sends subscribers a 434 with the new mark, the owner and the effective date. Railroads load the update so cars bearing the mark are recognized for car hire and tracking.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for the 434

  • Load reporting mark updates promptly into equipment systems.
  • Keep equipment owner tables synchronized.
  • Handle transfers of reporting marks between owners.
  • Follow industry reference file procedures.

How ECOM helps

Automate the 434 with ECOM

Industry

Trucking and Transportation

Load tenders, responses, status and freight invoices for carriers, brokers and shippers, integrated with the TMS.

Solution

EDI Integration

Exchange X12 and EDIFACT documents with partners and integrate them directly with your ERP.

Solution

Logistics Automation

Automate tenders, status updates, freight invoices and warehouse orders with logistics partners.

More general questions about EDI are answered in the EDI FAQ.

Related transactions

Related master data documents

All 25 master data documents

Need help with the EDI 434?

ECOM maps, tests and monitors X12 documents for your trading partners and integrates them with your ERP.

Request a Demo Contact us