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

       The Forwarding and transport schedule and availability
       information message may be used for both national and
       international applications. It is based on universal practice
       related to administration, commerce and transport, 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

3.1   Standard 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 Segment
       Table which indicate mandatory, conditional and repeating
       requirements.

0010   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 97B
                     0051 UN

0020   BGM, Beginning of message
       A segment to indicate the type and function of the message and
       to transmit the identifying number.

0030   DTM, Date/time/period
       A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s) applying to the whole
       message.

0040   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.

0050   GIS, General indicator
       A segment to provide a general indicator relating to the whole
       message, such as urgency.


0060   Segment group 1: RFF-DTM
       A group of segments to specify the document or message to which
       the current message relates, and related date and time.

0070      RFF, Reference
          A segment to identify a reference which applies to the
          entire message, e.g. reference to previous message.

0080      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to indicate date and time relating to the
          reference.


0090   Segment group 2: LOC-DTM
       A group of segments to identify the routing and date of the
       schedule or availability information.

0100      LOC, Place/location identification
          A segment to identify a location, e.g. place of
          departure/arrival.

0110      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s) related to the
          location.


0120 | Segment group 3: EQD-EQN-MEA-DIM-FTX-RFF
       A group of segments to define requested or available equipment.

0130      EQD, Equipment details
          A segment to specify requested or available equipment and
          equipment size and type.

0140      EQN, Number of units
          A segment to specify the number of requested or available
          pieces of equipment.

0150      MEA, Measurements
          A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions,
          associated with equipment, in terms of capacity.

0160      DIM, Dimensions
          A segment to specify dimensions applicable to equipment.

0170      FTX, Free text
          A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary
          information associated with the equipment.

0180 +    RFF, Reference
          A segment to specify a reference number to equipment.


0190   Segment group 4: TDT-DTM-TSR-RFF-FTX-EQD-QTY-MEA-SG5
       A group of segments to specify the schedule or availability
       selection criteria and to detail the schedule or availability
       information being provided.

0200      TDT, Details of transport
          A segment to indicate information related to the mode and
          means of transport, eg. specific conveyance/carrier.

0210      DTM, Date/time/period
          A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s), e.g. earliest
          departure date/time, latest arrival date/time.

0220      TSR, Transport service requirements
          A segment to identify contract, conditions of carriage,
          services and priority requirements.

0230      RFF, Reference
          A segment to provide a reference related to the transport
          details, such as the published line or route number.

0240      FTX, Free text
          A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary
          information related to the means of transport.

0250      EQD, Equipment details
          A segment to identify the equipment requested/available.

0260      QTY, Quantity
          A segment to indicate a quantity, e.g. number of
          intermediate stops.

0270      MEA, Measurements
          A segment to indicate weight and/or volume selection
          criteria, e.g. minimum weight.


0280      Segment group 5: LOC-DTM-RFF
          A group of segments to identify the routing(s) and indicate
          corresponding date(s) and time(s).

0290         LOC, Place/location identification
             A segment to identify a location, e.g. place of
             departure/arrival.

0300         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.

0310         RFF, Reference
             A segment to provide a reference related to the location,
             such as the platform number at the place of departure.


0320   Segment group 6: NAD-LOC-SG7
       A group of segments to indicate all parties involved in the
       transaction and relevant locations, contacts and communication
       channels.

0330      NAD, Name and address
          A segment to identify the party's name, address and
          function.

0340      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.


0350      Segment group 7: CTA-COM
          A group of segments to identify a contact and its
          communication channels, related to the party.

0360         CTA, Contact information
             A segment to identify a person or department within a
             party.

0370         COM, Communication contact
             A segment to identify the communication numbers of person
             or department to whom communication should be directed.


0380   Segment group 8: GID-HAN-FTX-SG9-SG10-SG11-SG12
       A group of segments to describe the goods items for which
       schedule or availability is requested/provided.

0390      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.

0400      HAN, Handling instructions
          A segment to specify handling instructions relating to the
          goods item.

0410      FTX, Free text
          A segment to specify free form or processable information
          relating to the goods item.


0420      Segment group 9: GDS-FTX
          A group of segments to identify and describe the goods.

0430         GDS, Nature of cargo
             A segment to describe the nature of cargo.

0440         FTX, Free text
             A segment to describe the goods in free form.


0450      Segment group 10:MEA-EQN
          A group of segments to specify measurements applicable to
          the goods item.

0460         MEA, Measurements
             A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions,
             applicable to the goods item.

0470         EQN, Number of units
             A segment to specify the number of equipment units to
             which the measurement applies.


0480      Segment group 11:DIM-EQN
          A group of segments to specify dimensions applicable to the
          goods item.

0490         DIM, Dimensions
             A segment to specify dimensions applicable to the goods
             item.

0500         EQN, Number of units
             A segment to specify the number of equipment units to
             which the given dimensions apply.


0510      Segment group 12:DGS-FTX
          A group of segments to specify dangerous goods details
          related to the goods item.

0520         DGS, Dangerous goods
             A segment to specify the class of dangerous goods,
             packing group, etc.

0530         FTX, Free text
             A segment to specify the dangerous goods technical name
             and any other additional dangerous goods information.

0540   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
          GIS General indicator
          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