What is EDI 211 Motor Carrier Bill of Lading

EDI 211 - Motor Carrier Bill of Lading

What is the EDI 211? The EDI 211 transaction set is used in the transportation industry as a Bill of Lading for the shipment of goods. The bill of lading is a legal document between the shipper and carrier detailing the type, quantity and destination of the goods being carried. It includes details such as shipment date, origin, destination and terms of shipping.

The EDI 211 format

Below is a simplified overview of the typical structure of an EDI 211 transaction set:

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BOL: Beginning segment for bill of lading

Contains information that applies to the entire bill of lading, including the bill of lading number and terms of payment.

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B3: Beginning segment for carrier's invoice

Provides the billing details, including the billing method and carrier’s invoice number.

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N1: Name

Identifies a party by name, such as the shipper or consignee. This segment can include address information and is often repeated to list multiple parties involved in the transaction.

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G61: Contact

Specifies a contact associated with the party identified in the N1 segment.

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N7: Equipment details

Describes equipment used in the transportation of the shipment.

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S5: Stop-off details

Provides details about stop-off points in the transportation sequence.

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L5: Description, marks and numbers

Contains descriptions of the items being shipped.

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L3: Total weight and charges

Summarizes the total weight of the shipment and related charges.

How is the EDI 211 used?

Creation of bill of lading:

The primary use of the EDI 211 is to electronically create a bill of lading. This document is essential for the transportation of goods.

Documentation:

The EDI 211 documents the goods shipped and the contracted shipment terms, crucial for legal and administrative purposes.

Communication:

The EDI 211 facilitates clear and standardized communication, ensuring all parties have consistent information regarding the shipment.

Compliance:

By standardizing the format and content of the bill of lading, the EDI 211 helps ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards related to the shipment of goods.

Inventory Management:

Used in inventory management protocols typically focusing on the receipt or transfer of product from the seller or warehouse, the addition of the received products to inventory, and the reconciliation of product receipts against a purchase order and bill of lading quantities.

Benefits of using EDI 211 Motor Carrier Bill of Lading

There are benefits to both the shipper and the carrier in the trading of the Motor Carrier Bill of Lading electronically. These can be dependent on how automated and unified the transaction is for both parties. Benefits for those working in the transportation industry include:

Efficiency:

The EDI 211 speeds up the shipping process, reducing time needed for paperwork and leading to reduced lead times.

Accuracy:

Electronic transmission reduces the risk of errors associated with manual data entry, which leads to more accurate shipping documents.

Cost reduction:

By eliminating the need for manual processing, the EDI 211 helps lower administrative costs and minimizes costs associated with errors and delays in the shipping process.

Visibility and tracking:

The standardized format of the EDI 211 allows for better tracking of shipments and inventory management, providing all parties with consistent and timely information about the status of shipments.

Improved relationships:

The use of the EDI 211 can lead to improved relationships between trading partners. Efficient and accurate document exchange contributes to trust and reliability, fostering a more collaborative supply chain environment.

Compliance and risk management:

The EDI 211 supports compliance with shipping and transportation regulations. It provides a clear and accurate record of shipments and aids in risk management and dispute resolution.

Common issues regarding EDI 211

Typically, a shipper provides a paper manifest to the carrier upon pickup. However, there is an infinite number of ways a company includes data on this document which is why there is quite a few ways:

Discrepancies in manual entries:

Are you noticing an increase of incorrect or missing delivery data such as weight, number of items, P.O. number, or other related information?

Delivery address issues:

Incorrect or incomplete delivery or final destination address data. Missing carrier information.

Inaccurate billing information:

Noticing any missing billing information? This can delay payments.

Automate EDI 211 with Full-Service EDI from SPS Commerce

Managing EDI by yourself can be time consuming and complex. Full-service EDI providers like SPS Commerce deliver EDI technology and associated staffing resources responsible for customizing, optimizing and operating your EDI solution.

We manage every step from setup to testing, ensuring compliance and global 24/7 support, communicating directly with your trading partners to manage connectivity, requirements, updates and support efforts. SPS also takes ownership of understanding your trading partner requirements and making map changes.

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EDI 211 - Motor Carrier Bill of Lading