Technology
EDI 204 (Motor Carrier Load Tender)
EDI 204 is the electronic load tender — how shippers and brokers offer a load to a carrier under contract.
EDI 204 is the X12 set used to electronically tender a motor-freight load to a carrier. The carrier responds with an EDI 990 (response to load tender) — accepting, declining, or counter-offering.
204s carry origin/destination, pickup/delivery windows, equipment requirements, commodity, weight, accessorial requirements, and the contracted rate. Carriers with strong 204 acceptance ratios get more (and better) tenders.
Most TMS platforms pair 204 ingestion with a planning queue, so dispatchers see new tenders ranked by margin and equipment fit.
Run compliance & dispatch in one place
Hayes combines a DOT-aware ATS, dispatch, EDI, and document compliance — built for carriers who don't want five logins.
Related terms
Technology
EDI 214 (Shipment Status Message)
EDI 214 is the X12 transaction set carriers use to send shipment status updates — pickup, in-transit, delivered — back to shippers.
Technology
TMS (Transportation Management System)
A TMS is the software system carriers and shippers use to plan, dispatch, track, settle, and invoice freight moves.
Finance
Factoring (Freight)
Factoring is selling your accounts receivable to a third party for immediate cash, typically at a 1-4% discount.