0.    INTRODUCTION

       This specification provides the definition of the Forwarding
       and transport schedule and availability information message
       (IFTSAI) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
       between trading partners involved in administration, commerce
       and transport.

1.    SCOPE

1.1   Functional Definition

       The function of this message is to request transport schedule
       or availability information and to answer to such a request.

1.2   Field of Application

       This message may be applied for both national and international
       trade. It is based on universal practice and is not dependent
       on the type of business or industry.

1.3   Principles

       This message may be used:
       
       a) to request operating means of transportation for a specific
       routing. Certain specific research criteria such as date/time
       of operation and type of transport desired may be precised to
       limit the volume of information requested.
       
       b) to answer to such a request furnishing a list of operating
       means of transport in accordance with the selection criteria.
       Such answer may comprise direct and/or combinations of means of
       transport.
       
       c) to request means of transport on which space is available
       for a specific routing. Certain specific research criteria like
       date/time of operation, type of transport and space desired may
       be precised to limit the volume of information requested.
       
       d) to answer to such request furnishing a list of available
       means of transport in accordance with the selection criteria.
       Such an answer may comprise direct and/or combinations of means
       of transport.

2.    REFERENCES

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
       Section 1.

3.    TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

       See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.6 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction,
       Section 2.

4.    MESSAGE DEFINITION

4.1   Data Segment Clarification

       This section should be read in conjunction with the Branching
       Diagram and the Segment Table which indicate mandatory,
       conditional and repeating requirements.

 | UNH, Message header
       A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message.
       The message type code for the Forwarding and transport schedule
       and availability information message is IFTSAI.
       
       Note: Forwarding and transport schedule and availability
       information messages conforming to this document must contain
       the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:

       Data element  0065 IFTSAI
                     0052 D
                     0054 95A
                     0051 UN

   BGM, Beginning of message
       A segment to indicate the type and function of the message and
       to transmit the identifying number.

   DTM, Date/time/period
       A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s) applying to the whole
       message.

   FTX, Free text
       A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary
       information. In computer-to-computer exchanges free form text
       will normally require the receiver to process this segment
       manually.

   RFF, Reference
       A segment to express a reference which applies to the entire
       message.


   Segment group 1: LOC-DTM
       A group of segments to identify the routing and date of the
       schedule or availability information.

      LOC, Place/location identification
          A segment to identify a location, e.g. place of
          departure/arrival.

      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s) related to the
          location.


   Segment group 2: EQD-EQN-MEA-DIM-FTX
       A group of segments to define requested or available equipment.

      EQD, Equipment details
          A segment to specify requested or available equipment and
          equipment size and type.

      EQN, Number of units
          A segment to specify the number of requested or available
          pieces of equipment.

      MEA, Measurements
          A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions,
          associated with equipment, in terms of capacity.

      DIM, Dimensions
          A segment to specify dimensions applicable to equipment.

      FTX, Free text
          A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary
          information associated with the equipment.


   Segment group 3: TDT-DTM-TSR-FTX-EQD-QTY-MEA-SG4
       A group of segments to specify the schedule or availability
       selection criteria and to detail the schedule or availability
       information being provided.

      TDT, Details of transport
          A segment to indicate information related to the mode and
          means of transport, eg. specific conveyance/carrier.

      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s), e.g. earliest
          departure date/time, latest arrival date/time.

      TSR, Transport service requirements
          A segment to identify contract, conditions of carriage,
          services and priority requirements.

      FTX, Free text
          A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary
          information related to the means of transport.

      EQD, Equipment details
          A segment to identify the equipment requested/available.

      QTY, Quantity
          A segment to indicate a quantity, e.g. number of
          intermediate stops.

      MEA, Measurements
          A segment to indicate weight and/or volume selection
          criteria, e.g. minimum weight.


      Segment group 4: LOC-DTM
          A group of segments to identify the routing(s) and indicate
          corresponding date(s) and time(s).

         LOC, Place/location identification
             A segment to identify a location, e.g. place of
             departure/arrival.

         DTM, Date/time/period
             A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s) related to the
             location, e.g. date/time of scheduled departure/arrival.


   Segment group 5: NAD-LOC-SG6
       A group of segments to indicate all parties involved in the
       transaction and relevant locations, contacts and communication
       channels.

      NAD, Name and address
          A segment to identify the party's name, address and
          function.

      LOC, Place/location identification
          A segment to identify a place/location/sub-location and
          where relevant the function. The present location must be
          associated with the relevant party.


      Segment group 6: CTA-COM
          A group of segments to identify a contact and its
          communication channels, related to the party.

         CTA, Contact information
             A segment to identify a person or department within a
             party.

         COM, Communication contact
             A segment to identify the communication numbers of person
             or department to whom communication should be directed.


   Segment group 7: GID-HAN-FTX-SG8-SG9-SG10-SG11
       A group of segments to describe the goods items for which
       schedule or availability is requested/provided.

      GID, Goods item details
          A segment to identify the goods item. A goods item can be
          identified by up to three levels of packaging within this
          segment.

      HAN, Handling instructions
          A segment to specify handling instructions relating to the
          goods item.

      FTX, Free text
          A segment to specify free form or processable information
          relating to the goods item.


      Segment group 8: GDS-FTX
          A group of segments to identify and describe the goods.

         GDS, Nature of cargo
             A segment to describe the nature of cargo.

         FTX, Free text
             A segment to describe the goods in free form.


      Segment group 9: MEA-EQN
          A group of segments to specify measurements applicable to
          the goods item.

         MEA, Measurements
             A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions,
             applicable to the goods item.

         EQN, Number of units
             A segment to specify the number of equipment units to
             which the measurement applies.


      Segment group 10:DIM-EQN
          A group of segments to specify dimensions applicable to the
          goods item.

         DIM, Dimensions
             A segment to specify dimensions applicable to the goods
             item.

         EQN, Number of units
             A segment to specify the number of equipment units to
             which the given dimensions apply.


      Segment group 11:DGS-FTX
          A group of segments to specify dangerous goods details
          related to the goods item.

         DGS, Dangerous goods
             A segment to specify the class of dangerous goods,
             packing group, etc.

         FTX, Free text
             A segment to specify the dangerous goods technical name
             and any other additional dangerous goods information.

   UNT, Message trailer
       A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of
       segments in the message and the control reference number of the
       message.

4.2   Data segment index (Alphabetical sequence by tag)

          BGM Beginning of message
          COM Communication contact
          CTA Contact information
          DGS Dangerous goods
          DIM Dimensions
          DTM Date/time/period
          EQD Equipment details
          EQN Number of units
          FTX Free text
          GDS Nature of cargo
          GID Goods item details
          HAN Handling instructions
          LOC Place/location identification
          MEA Measurements
          NAD Name and address
          QTY Quantity
          RFF Reference
          TDT Details of transport
          TSR Transport service requirements
          UNH Message header
          UNT Message trailer

Contents of IFTSAI