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EDIFACT message guide · Transport

IFTRIN Forwarding and transport rate information

The UN/EDIFACT message used to request transport rate information and to answer such requests.

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

What is the EDIFACT IFTRIN message?

IFTRIN is the UN/EDIFACT forwarding and transport rate information message. Its function, as defined in the directory, is to request transport rate information and to answer such a request.

Rate information covers tariffs and contract rates for routes, commodities and equipment types, with surcharges and validity periods. Shippers and forwarders use it to load rates into their systems for quoting and freight audit, rather than calculating a single shipment's charges, which is the role of IFTCCA. Answers are returned as another IFTRIN message.

How the EDIFACT IFTRIN message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT IFTRIN Forwarding and transport rate information message. Shipper, forwarder or carrier sends it to carrier or requesting party. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by IFTCCA. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message). 4 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT IFTRIN message worksForwarding and transport rate information: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeIFTRINSENDERShipper, forwarder orcarrierRECEIVERCarrier or requestingpartyCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYIFTCCAForwarding andtransport shipmentcharge calculation2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage IFTRINUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 4 conditional groups, starting with:RFFLOCNADTDTBlue 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 IFTRIN. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT IFTRIN message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT IFTRIN Forwarding and transport rate information message. Shipper, forwarder or carrier sends it to carrier or requesting party. It usually starts the exchange. It is usually followed by IFTCCA. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message). 4 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT IFTRINmessage worksForwarding and transport rate information: whosends it, where it fits and what the directorymarks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeIFTRINSENDERShipper,forwarder orcarrierRECEIVERCarrier orrequesting partyCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYIFTCCAForwarding and transport shipmentcharge calculation2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message IFTRIN (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPS+ 4 conditional groups, starting with:RFFLOCNADTDTBlue 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 IFTRIN.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends IFTRIN, 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 IFTRIN 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 rates for routes and equipment types
  • Distributing contract rates to customers
  • Updating rates when surcharges change

Where it fits in the message flow

This message IFTRIN Forwarding and transport rate information
Usually followed by IFTCCA Forwarding and transport shipment charge calculation

Structure

Mandatory segments in IFTRIN (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the IFTRIN message has 24 segment positions arranged in 6 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

IFTRIN in practice

A forwarder renews its annual ocean contract with a carrier. The carrier sends an IFTRIN with the agreed rates by port pair and container type, the bunker and currency surcharges and the validity dates. The forwarder loads the rates into its quoting tool and its freight audit system.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for IFTRIN

  • Load rates together with their validity periods.
  • Track surcharges separately from base rates.
  • Distinguish requests from responses with the message function code.
  • Reconcile rates with invoices during freight audit.

How ECOM helps

Automate IFTRIN 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

Need help with IFTRIN?

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