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EDIFACT message guide · Transport

IFTCCA Forwarding and transport shipment charge calculation

The UN/EDIFACT message used to request a calculation of the transport charges for a specific shipment and to return the result.

Sent by
Shipper, forwarder or carrier
Received by
Carrier, forwarder or requesting party
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT IFTCCA message?

IFTCCA is the UN/EDIFACT forwarding and transport shipment charge calculation message. Its function, as defined in the directory, is to request the calculation of the transport charges for a specific shipment and to answer such a request.

Unlike a rate request, which asks for general tariffs, IFTCCA works on one shipment's details, such as its weight, volume, route and services, and returns the charges that apply. Shippers use it to know costs before booking, and forwarders to price quotes. The answer is returned as another IFTCCA.

How the EDIFACT IFTCCA message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT IFTCCA Forwarding and transport shipment charge calculation message. Shipper, forwarder or carrier sends it to carrier, forwarder or requesting party. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by IFTMBF. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message). 7 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT IFTCCA message worksForwarding and transport shipment charge calculation: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marksmandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeIFTCCASENDERShipper, forwarder orcarrierRECEIVERCarrier, forwarder orrequesting partyCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYIFTMBFFirm booking2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage IFTCCAUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 7 conditional groups, starting with:RFFLOCCPITDTNADGIDEQDBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for IFTCCA. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT IFTCCA message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT IFTCCA Forwarding and transport shipment charge calculation message. Shipper, forwarder or carrier sends it to carrier, forwarder or requesting party. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by IFTMBF. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message). 7 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT IFTCCAmessage worksForwarding and transport shipment chargecalculation: who sends it, where it fits and whatthe directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeIFTCCASENDERShipper,forwarder orcarrierRECEIVERCarrier,forwarder orrequesting partyCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYIFTMBFFirm booking2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message IFTCCA (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 7 conditional groups, starting with:RFFLOCCPITDTNADGIDEQDBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for IFTCCA.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends IFTCCA, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around IFTCCA and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Requesting the charges for a planned shipment
  • Returning a calculated price to a customer
  • Checking charges before booking

Where it fits in the message flow

This message IFTCCA Forwarding and transport shipment charge calculation
Usually followed by IFTMBF Firm booking

Structure

Mandatory segments in IFTCCA (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the IFTCCA message has 75 segment positions arranged in 23 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • BGM
  • UNT

Practical example

IFTCCA in practice

A machinery exporter wants to know the cost of shipping a crated press by sea from Genoa to New York, including terminal handling and inland delivery. Its forwarder sends the carrier an IFTCCA with the dimensions, weight, route and services. The carrier returns the freight, surcharges and handling charges, and the forwarder includes them in its quote.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for IFTCCA

  • Send complete shipment details, since charges depend on them.
  • Distinguish requests from responses with the message function code.
  • Record calculation dates; charges change with surcharges and currency.
  • Compare calculated charges with later invoices.

How ECOM helps

Automate IFTCCA with ECOM

Industry

Trucking and Transportation

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

Solution

Logistics Automation

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

Solution

Financial Document Automation

Automate invoices, remittances, payment files and bank statements from capture to posting.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

Related messages

Related transport messages

All 36 transport messages

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