| Standard Carrier Alpha Code™ (SCAC®) |
Based on the rules mentioned in How SCAC Codes are Assigned, codes are assigned based on the information entered when applying for and purchasing a SCAC. Once the purchase is approved and the SCAC is assigned, codes are easily maintained within the SCAC application. See Purchasing, Renewing, & Reinstating SCACs for more information on applying for purchasing, renewing, and reinstating a SCAC.
The SCAC Life Cycle
Once a SCAC is assigned, it is valid for one (1) year from the activation date unless otherwise specified.
SCACs that are managed by partner organizations, such as BIC and Railinc, and/or have an expiration date of 12/31/9999 do not require annual renewal. SCACs that do not require renewal are generally assigned to railroads, owners of private railcars, chassis, and intermodal trailers or containers.
Renewal notifications are automatically sent out at 90, 60, and 30 days prior to a SCAC’s expiration date. Renewals are valid for one (1) year from the current expiration date. We do not support multi-year renewals. If payments are not received by the expiration date, then the SCAC is marked as expired.
Once a SCAC is expired, it can be reinstated if expired for three (3) years or less. Reinstatements are valid for one (1) year from the reinstatement date. Expired SCACs can also be cancelled at any time by customer service management.
Any SCAC can be cancelled at any time or upon request. Canceled SCACs (both immediately cancelled and future cancellations) include a 95-day hold before automatically becoming available for reassignment. This means that:
- Canceled SCACs show as canceled on the applicable Account Profile.
- Canceled SCACs are not shown in the list of available SCACs on the Application Details screen until after the 95-day hold.
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If the SCAC has been expired for more than three years, then the customer can purchase a new SCAC. However, if the customer would prefer to keep the original, expired SCAC, then we can work with them to reassign it if it is available. |
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