FMCSA SCAC Code Requirements: Fees, Renewal, and Expiration

A Standard Carrier Alpha Code, or SCAC, is a two-to-four-letter identifier that the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) assigns to transportation companies so they can be recognized in customs filings, government freight contracts, and electronic data exchange with shippers. SCAC code requirements apply most directly to motor carriers, freight forwarders, brokers, and ocean carriers operating in the United States: you apply through NMFTA, pay $103 online for a new code in 2026, and renew every 12 months to keep it active.¹²

Who Needs a SCAC

Any transportation company can apply for a SCAC, but for certain operations it is effectively required rather than optional.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires carriers to have an active SCAC for filings through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the Automated Manifest System (AMS). If you haul freight across the border or handle import cargo, your SCAC identifies you in every manifest record and bill of lading within those systems.³ Sea carriers participating in CBP’s Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) program must also hold an active SCAC as an eligibility requirement.⁴

Carriers pursuing freight contracts with the Department of Defense need a SCAC before they can move military shipments through the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command.⁵ Outside of government work, most shippers and brokers expect a SCAC because it appears on bills of lading, freight invoices, and the EDI transactions that automate load tenders and shipment tracking. If you’re a motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker, you’ll almost certainly need one to work with shippers and federal agencies.¹

How to Apply

NMFTA is the sole issuer. You apply directly through the online portal at secure.nmfta.org, which is the fastest and cheapest route. The application asks for your legal business name (matching whatever is on file with the U.S. Department of Transportation if you have a USDOT number), your trade name, mailing address, and a contact person responsible for the code. You also identify your company type, such as motor carrier, freight forwarder, or broker.

Have your USDOT or MC number ready. Non-class 8 carriers need a DOT number associated with their SCAC, and if one isn’t on file, NMFTA’s customer service team will need to add it.⁶

Once you submit and pay, NMFTA typically assigns your code within one to two business days. Many carriers report receiving their approval letter and SCAC certificate by email within 24 hours when paying by credit card online. The first letter of your SCAC will generally correspond to the first letter of your company’s name.

If your NMFTA-issued code doesn’t work in ACE or you need it activated for the Automated Export System, CBP instructs you to email ams.scac@cbp.dhs.gov with your NMFTA letter attached.³

2026 Fees

NMFTA updated its fee schedule for 2026. Costs depend on whether you apply online or by phone and mail, and whether you need a standard carrier code or a container code ending in “U.”²

New SCAC (online): $103
New SCAC (phone/mail): $119
Container SCAC ending in “U”: $130
Annual renewal (online): $98
Annual renewal (phone/mail): $109
Reinstatement (online): (number of years expired × $98) + $10
Reinstatement (phone/mail): (number of years expired × $109) + $10

Non-class 8 carriers may also pay an additional $5 non-refundable identity verification fee during application or reinstatement.²

Renewing Your SCAC

A SCAC is valid for 12 months from the date it’s issued. NMFTA sends automated renewal reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days before the expiration date to the email address on file, so keeping your contact information current matters.⁷ Renewal is handled through the same online portal and costs $98 for 2026.²

If your company changes its legal name, address, or operational status, update that information with NMFTA so your SCAC stays linked to your current business details. Outdated information can cause problems when shippers or customs systems try to validate your code.

What Happens if You Let It Expire

There is no grace period. If NMFTA doesn’t receive your renewal payment by the expiration date, the SCAC is marked expired immediately.⁷ An expired SCAC means you can’t file customs manifests, accept government freight, or appear as a valid carrier in EDI systems that check the NMFTA directory.

You can reinstate an expired SCAC, but only within three years. During that window, only the last company that owned the code can reinstate it. The reinstatement fee includes back renewal charges plus a $10 surcharge, so the longer you wait, the more you pay. After three years, the code returns to the available pool and can be assigned to anyone, and you’d need to apply for a brand new SCAC.⁶

If you cancel a SCAC rather than let it expire, NMFTA holds it for 95 days before making it available for reassignment.⁷

Container Codes Ending in “U”

Not all SCAC codes work the same way. Standard carrier SCACs identify the transportation company itself. Codes ending in the letter “U” identify the owners of intermodal containers and equipment rather than the carrier hauling them, and they are recognized internationally in customs manifests, port terminal systems, and container tracking platforms.⁸

If your company owns, leases, or manages containers, the “U” code identifies your equipment during interchange at ports, rail yards, and terminals. The assignment fee is $130.² When containers are sold, NMFTA doesn’t require the new owner to have the code reassigned; if they receive notice that the code now belongs to a different company, they update their records.⁹

Codes used for freight containers not operating exclusively in North America, intermodal chassis and trailers, non-railroad-owned rail cars, and railroads follow different assignment rules outside NMFTA’s standard carrier process.¹

How a SCAC Differs From USDOT and MC Numbers

Carriers often need all three identifiers, and they don’t substitute for each other. The USDOT number is issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and acts as a unique identifier for collecting and monitoring a company’s safety information from audits, compliance reviews, crash investigations, and inspections. Companies operating commercial vehicles hauling cargo or transporting passengers in interstate commerce must have one.¹⁰

The MC number (or other docket numbers like FF or MX) grants operating authority. Companies that transport passengers for compensation in interstate commerce or haul federally regulated commodities for others need this authority on top of a USDOT number.¹¹

The SCAC is a proprietary industry code for logistics identification rather than a federal regulatory credential. It appears on shipping documents, powers EDI transactions, and satisfies customs filing requirements. The USDOT and MC numbers tell regulators you’re authorized to operate; the SCAC tells the supply chain who you are.

1
NMFTA – National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC)
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National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Terms of Sale
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. What Is Standard Carrier Alpha Code
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Sea Carriers
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NMFTA – National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Do I Need a SCAC Probably So Lets Look at the Details
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NMFTA Help Center. Reinstating an Expired SCAC Using Easy Renew
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NMFTA. SCAC User Manual for Carriers
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NMFTA – National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Carrier SCAC vs Container SCAC Ending in U Whats the Difference
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NMFTA Help Center. How SCAC Codes Are Assigned
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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Do I Need a USDOT Number
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Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Get Operating Authority (Docket Number)