The X12 name is motor carrier freight details and invoice. The 210 carries the carrier’s invoice number, the shipment and bill of lading references, origin and destination, weight and pieces, and the line charges: the base rate, fuel surcharge and accessorials such as detention, liftgate service or extra stops. It also shows the total amount due and the party responsible for payment.
The 210 closes the transportation flow: load tender (EDI 204), response to load tender (EDI 990), shipment status (EDI 214), then the freight invoice, usually after delivery. The shipper’s freight audit checks it against the tendered rate and what actually happened, such as the delivered weight or a recorded detention event, before approving payment.
Freight invoices are a common source of overbilling and disputes. Typical problems include duplicate invoices, rates that don’t match the contract, accessorial charges with no supporting event, and invoices that can’t be tied to a shipment because a reference is missing. Many carriers still send PDF or paper invoices, which have to be keyed before they can be audited.