EDI 214
Transportation Carrier
Shipment Status Message
Learn about EDI 214s by reading the guide below. If you need to send or receive EDI 214s, contact our team today.
What is an EDI 214?
The EDI 214 transaction, also known as an EDI Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message, is a critical and widely used document that indicates a shipment's status to a buyer and/or shipper throughout several key delivery events (like pickup, dropoff, delivery, etc.). Typically, the document is sent from a carrier (like a trucking or third-party logistics company) to a shipper and/or buyer.
The EDI 214 is commonly used by:
• Carriers
• Logistics providers
• Freight forwarders
• Shippers
Key Functions of the EDI 214
The primary purpose of the EDI 214 is to relay important information about shipping events to all relevant parties. When specific milestones occur during the transportation process, such as the carrier leaving the pickup location, arriving at the destination, or completing the delivery, the EDI 214 is used to notify the shipper. These timely updates help shippers track the progress of their shipments and ensure smooth coordination with their trading partners.
The EDI 214 transaction fosters transparency, collaboration, and makes for a more reliable supply chain. It includes essential data such as shipment identifiers, dates, times, location information, and status codes to provide accurate and timely visibility into the shipment's progress.
Enhancing Visibility and Collaboration
The EDI 214 enhances visibility throughout the supply chain. By receiving real-time information about shipment status, shippers can proactively manage any potential delays or disruptions. Additionally, the EDI 214 allows trading partners to collaborate effectively by sharing up-to-date information about the progress and estimated delivery time of shipments.
This promotes transparency, reduces uncertainties, and enables better decision-making.
Dealing with Delays and Exceptions
In addition to providing updates on standard shipping events, the EDI 214 is also used to communicate delays and exceptions. For example, if a shipment is affected by traffic congestion, an accident, or adverse weather conditions, the carrier can use the EDI 214 to inform the shipper and other relevant parties about the situation.
This enables proactive planning and adjustment of delivery schedules, minimizing disruptions and ensuring customer satisfaction.
What are the components
of an EDI 214?
The EDI 214 document contains essential information about the shipment, and it should include the following details:
- Purchase Order number
- Contact information for the shipper, carrier, and receiver
- Shipment specifics, such as product details, packaging information, and load details
- Pickup and destination addresses
- Route information for the shipment
- Expected delivery time or ETA
- Proof of delivery, if applicable
Shipment status updates, including reasons for any delays or changes It is crucial to ensure that the load information stated in the EDI 214 aligns with other related documents, including the EDI 850 Purchase Order, EDI 204 Motor Carrier Load Tender, EDI 211 Motor Carrier Bill of Lading, and others.
Maintaining consistency and accuracy across these documents enables businesses to effectively manage their shipments and establish seamless communication with their trading partners. The EDI 214 plays a vital role in providing comprehensive and precise information about the shipment, contributing to efficient logistics and smooth supply chain operations.
How is an EDI 214: Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message used?
Shippers typically require EDI 214 Status messages based on various events including carrier arrivals and departures from pickup locations.
The purpose of this transaction type is to allow a transportation carrier the ability to provide shippers and consignees with the status of a given shipment.
As with just about every EDI transaction, the shipper that receives an EDI 214, may choose to send an EDI 997 in response, but this is often superfluous. Some trading partners may require the extra step.
Benefits of the EDI 214 Transaction Set
There are 3 primary benefits of the EDI 214:
1. Evaluating carrier performance - The 214 EDI transaction makes it easy for shippers to determine whether a carrier is holding up its end of the bargain. By referencing the first and the last shipment statuses, the retail partners or other buyers can easily determine if the carrier met the predetermined transit schedule.
2. Management of reception facilities - Because the EDI 214 gives advanced warning of the location of a shipment and the time until arrival, this affords the retailer or other receiving entity the ability to adjust loading dock schedules and move employees around according to arrival times.
3. Verification of the entire transportation order series - Many retailers and shippers require an EDI 214 because it is straightforward to verify that the contents of the Transportation Carrier Status Message match those of the EDI 211 Bill of Lading, the EDI 850 Purchase Order, the EDI 210 Invoice, and of course, the SCAC code.
Common Issues with EDI 214
- Not returning the same values that were sent in the EDI 204 Motor Carrier Load Tender may have an impact on the accuracy and timeliness of the EDI 214.
- To make sure that Shipment Status updates are accurate, proper reason codes that adhere to the shipper's EDI criteria are required. If not, the file may be rejected due to other codes.
- Shippers anticipate a 214 edi status to be sent almost immediately as the event occurs.
- In most cases, carriers must be able to accept and reconcile EDI 997 documents on behalf of shippers as a response to the edi 214 status.
Ensuring all information matches accordingly enables the shipper to pay the carrier with the confidence of knowing the correct, agreed-upon order, was fulfilled.
Here is an EDI 214 Transaction within Cleo Integration Cloud
Example EDI 214 transaction exchange
1. First, An EDI 204 Motor Carrier Load Tender is sent by a shipper, often a retailer, to offer or tender a truckload to a carrier.
2. Second, your Cleo EDI Platform creates and sends an EDI 990 Response to a Load Tender to indicate that you will pick up the shipment offered by the shipper.
3. Third, Cleo's cloud-based EDI platform generates an EDI 214 Transporation Carrier Shipment Status to inform the shipper of the status of the goods being transported.
4. Fourth, after the successful delivery of the shipment, your Cleo EDI platform will send an EDI 210 Motor Carrier Freight Details and Invoice transaction set, providing details of freight charges to be paid by the shipper.
EDI 214 Specification
This X12 Transaction Set contains the format and establishes the data contents of the Transportation Carrier Shipment Status Message Transaction Set (214) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. This transaction set can be used by a transportation carrier to provide shippers, consignees, and their agents with the status of shipments in terms of dates, times, locations, route, identifying numbers, and conveyance.
Sources
Accredited Standards Committee X12. ASC X12 Standard [Table Data]. Data Interchange Standards Association, Inc., Falls Church, VA. https://x12.org/index.php/products/transaction-sets
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