EDI 204 (Load Tender)
The EDI transaction set used to electronically offer a shipment to a carrier, specifying pickup/delivery locations, equipment, and commodity details.
How it works — and why it matters
A 204 carries everything a carrier needs to evaluate and execute a load: pickup and delivery stops with appointment windows, equipment requirements, commodity, weight, and reference numbers. Shippers and brokers also use it to update or cancel a shipment already tendered, with the carrier responding via an EDI 990.
Handling 204s cleanly is table stakes for carriers working with large shippers and 3PLs — many trading partners require it as a condition of contracted freight. Automated 204 intake that creates orders directly in the TMS eliminates re-keying errors and shortens the accept/decline cycle that tender windows impose.
Related terms
See it in practice: Tranzactor — the integration engine for TMS, telematics & more →