The Standard Carrier Alpha Code — a 2-to-4-letter code that identifies a transport carrier, maintained by the NMFTA. In ocean shipping a Bill of Lading number often begins with the line’s SCAC (MAEU for Maersk, MSCU for MSC), which is how a tracker knows which carrier to query.

How is a SCAC different from a container owner code?

A SCAC identifies the carrier on documents; an ISO 6346 owner code (the first 3 letters of a container number) identifies who owns the box. The same line can have different codes for each — Maersk is SCAC MAEU and also uses container prefixes like MAEU/MSKU.

Where do I find the SCAC on my paperwork?

It is usually the leading letters of the Bill of Lading or booking number, and is printed on the carrier’s documents. Paste the full B/L number into TrackJet and it routes you by the SCAC.

Do parcel and air carriers use SCAC?

SCAC is mainly an ocean/road-freight convention. Air cargo uses the 3-digit IATA prefix instead; parcel couriers use their own number formats.

SCAC code tracking

A SCAC is the short carrier code that often begins a Bill of Lading number. Paste a B/L number below — TrackJet reads the SCAC, identifies the line and routes you to its official tracking. Where a licensed feed or authorised source exists it builds a source-labelled timeline; otherwise it links you across and never invents a status.

What a SCAC is

The Standard Carrier Alpha Code is a 2-to-4-letter code that uniquely identifies a transport carrier. It is maintained by the National Motor Freight Traffic Association (NMFTA) and is used across ocean, rail and road freight, on Bills of Lading, booking references and EDI messages. In ocean shipping a B/L number often begins with the line’s SCAC — which is exactly what lets a tracker route you to the right carrier.

SCAC vs container owner code

They look similar but mean different things. A SCAC identifies the carrier on documents. An ISO 6346 owner code (the first three letters of a container number) identifies who owns the physical box. The same line can have several of each — so a Maersk B/L may start with the SCAC MAEU while its containers carry owner codes like MAEU or MSKU.

SCAC codes of the major ocean lines

Real codes (a line can hold more than one):

Carrier	SCAC
Maersk	MAEU
MSC	MSCU
CMA CGM	CMDU
Hapag-Lloyd	HLCU
COSCO	COSU
ONE (Ocean Network Express)	ONEY
Evergreen	EGLV
ZIM	ZIMU
Yang Ming	YMLU
HMM	HDMU
OOCL	OOLU
PIL	PCIU

FAQ

What is a SCAC code?: The Standard Carrier Alpha Code — a 2-to-4-letter code that identifies a transport carrier, maintained by the NMFTA. In ocean shipping a Bill of Lading number often begins with the line’s SCAC (MAEU for Maersk, MSCU for MSC), which is how a tracker knows which carrier to query.
How is a SCAC different from a container owner code?: A SCAC identifies the carrier on documents; an ISO 6346 owner code (the first 3 letters of a container number) identifies who owns the box. The same line can have different codes for each — Maersk is SCAC MAEU and also uses container prefixes like MAEU/MSKU.
Where do I find the SCAC on my paperwork?: It is usually the leading letters of the Bill of Lading or booking number, and is printed on the carrier’s documents. Paste the full B/L number into TrackJet and it routes you by the SCAC.
Do parcel and air carriers use SCAC?: SCAC is mainly an ocean/road-freight convention. Air cargo uses the 3-digit IATA prefix instead; parcel couriers use their own number formats.