Overview
The IFTMIN (International Forwarding and Transport Message — Instruction) is used to convey transport instructions from a party requesting transport services (the shipper, consignor, or freight forwarder) to a party providing those services (the carrier, haulier, or logistics operator). It specifies what needs to be transported, from where, to where, when, and under what conditions — essentially serving as an electronic booking request or shipping instruction.
The IFTMIN is part of the EDIFACT International Forwarding and Transport (IFT) message family, which covers the complete lifecycle of a transport operation from instruction through execution to final status reporting. Within this family, IFTMIN initiates the transport process, and subsequent messages like IFTSTA (Transport Status) report on its progress.
This message type supports all modes of transport — road, rail, sea, air, and multimodal combinations. It can describe simple point-to-point shipments (a single truck from warehouse A to customer B) or complex multimodal journeys (container by truck to port, by vessel across the ocean, by rail to inland terminal, and by truck for final delivery). The message accommodates the diverse documentation and data requirements of each transport mode.
Message Structure
The IFTMIN header identifies the transport instruction, parties involved, and overall shipment details. Route information specifies the origin, destination, and any intermediate points. The goods detail section describes the cargo being shipped — including item descriptions, weights, dimensions, handling instructions, and dangerous goods information where applicable.
Key Segments
| Segment | Name | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
BGM | Beginning of Message | Transport instruction number and function (original, update, cancellation) |
DTM | Date/Time/Period | Requested pickup date/time, required delivery date/time, booking date |
TSR | Transport Service Requirements | Service level (express, standard, economy), priority, and special requirements |
FTX | Free Text | Special instructions, handling notes, delivery instructions |
NAD | Name and Address | Consignor (shipper), consignee (receiver), carrier, freight forwarder, notify party |
LOC | Place/Location | Place of loading, place of discharge, place of delivery, origin, destination |
TDT | Transport Information | Mode of transport (road, sea, air, rail), carrier identification, voyage/flight number |
EQD | Equipment Details | Container type and number, trailer type, vehicle requirements |
GID | Goods Item Details | Number of packages, packaging type, goods description |
FTX | Free Text (goods level) | Goods description, marks and numbers |
MEA | Measurements | Gross weight, net weight, volume, dimensions of goods |
DGS | Dangerous Goods | UN number, hazard class, proper shipping name for dangerous goods |
CNT | Control Total | Total weight, total number of packages for integrity checking |
Transport Modes and Multimodal Shipments
The TDT segment identifies the mode of transport using standard codes:
- 1 — Maritime: Ocean freight, including full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) shipments.
- 2 — Rail: Railway freight, including intermodal container transport and conventional wagon load.
- 3 — Road: Truck transport, including full truckload (FTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), and parcel deliveries.
- 4 — Air: Air freight, with specific requirements for airline cargo documentation.
- 6 — Multimodal: Combinations of the above, with multiple TDT segments describing each leg of the journey.
For multimodal shipments, the IFTMIN contains multiple TDT segment groups, one for each transport leg. Each leg specifies its own mode, carrier, and route points. The LOC segments connect the legs — the discharge point of one leg is the loading point of the next.
Common Use Cases
- Freight booking: A shipper sends IFTMIN to a carrier to book transport capacity for a specific shipment, specifying pickup and delivery requirements.
- Forwarding instruction: A manufacturer sends IFTMIN to their freight forwarder, who then arranges the transport chain across multiple carriers and modes.
- Container shipping: An exporter sends IFTMIN to the ocean carrier with container booking details, including commodity, weight, port pair, and required sailing date.
- Last-mile delivery: A distribution centre sends IFTMIN to a local delivery carrier with individual consignment details for final delivery to consumers or stores.
- Dangerous goods transport: The IFTMIN includes DGS segments with the UN number, hazard class, and emergency contact information required by dangerous goods transport regulations.
Example Snippet
UNH+1+IFTMIN:D:96A:UN'
BGM+610+TRANS-2024-01234+9'
DTM+10:20240320:102'
DTM+2:20240322:102'
TSR+27+++2'
NAD+CZ+5412345000013::9++Sender Corp+Main Street 1+Berlin++10115+DE'
NAD+CN+5412345000099::9++Receiver Ltd+Port Road 55+Hamburg++20095+DE'
NAD+CA+4000000000011::9++Fast Freight GmbH'
TDT+20++3+31:Fast Freight GmbH'
LOC+9+DEBERL'
LOC+11+DEHAM'
GID+1+25:CT'
FTX+AAA+++Electronic components'
MEA+AAE+G+KGM:1250'
MEA+AAE+AAW+MTQ:15.5'
CNT+7:25'
CNT+11:1250:KGM'
UNT+17+1'Implementation Considerations
Location coding is critical in IFTMIN. Use internationally recognized codes such as UN/LOCODE for ports and cities, IATA codes for airports, or GLN for specific facility addresses. Consistent location coding ensures that the carrier's systems can automatically identify pickup and delivery points.
Weight and dimension accuracy affects transport planning and pricing. Carriers use the declared weight and volume to plan vehicle loading and calculate freight charges. Inaccurate data leads to capacity planning problems and freight invoice disputes. Where possible, interface your IFTMIN generation with warehouse systems that capture actual weights during loading.
For dangerous goods shipments, the DGS segment data must comply with applicable regulations (ADR for road, IMDG for sea, IATA DGR for air). Incorrect or missing dangerous goods information can result in safety incidents, regulatory fines, and shipment refusal. Implement validation rules that verify UN numbers against the current dangerous goods list and ensure all required data elements are present.