0. Introduction
1. Scope
   1. Functional Definition
   2. Field of Application
   3. Principles
2. References
3. Message Definition
4. Message Definition
   1. Data Segment Clarification
   2. Message structure
      1. Branching Diagram
      2. Segment Table
   3. Data Segment Index (Alphabetic Sequence)

This specification provides the definition of the Firm Booking Message (IFTMBF) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between partners involved in Administration, Commerce and Transport.

This paper provides the definition of the Firm Booking Message to be used in fulfilling the requirements of trading partners in the transport chain worldwide, in the interchange of cargo and transport related information using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

This message is a single consignment based message, being aligned with other single consignment based messages such as the other two booking messages (IFTMBP and IFTMBC), the instruction messages (IFTMIN and IFTMCS) and the Arrival Notice Message (IFTMAN). The single consignment based messages can be used by all modes of transport for the forwarding and transport of goods from any origin to any destination, regardless of route or prevailing commercial practice. These messages are suitable for the arrangement of the transport of goods between all parties to the movement of the consignment (including the consignor/shipper and consignee as well as the forwarders, brokers, and carriers involved) as well as providing the information necessary to perform that transport and delivery of the goods. They should be used in the same way by each mode of transport when the requirements are common even if functionally similar information is known by different names.

A message from a party definitely booking forwarding and/or transport services for a consignment to the party providing those services. The message will contain the conditions under which the sender of the messages requires the services to take place.

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.

A Firm Booking Message will be sent, usually after an initial space booking has been made. This means that a Firm Booking Message could be sent as the initial message.

The message must be seen as a commitment from the shipper to the carrier or forwarder to execute certain services and is used for operational purposes by the service provider.

A booking-firm can be answered by a confirmation in any form by the service provider but this is not obligatory.

A booking firm message can be updated/replaced by a new booking firm message. It contains all relevant data elements of a consignment for operational purposes and is followed by an Instruction to ascertain a contract.

• A consignment may contain several goods items.
• Goods items may or may not be containerized.
• A goods item may be transported in one or more containers, and a single container may contain one or more goods items.
• One goods item may be related to one or more customs tariff codes.
• Goods items related to one customs tariff code may be carried in one or more containers.
• Goods items may reflect either the contractual or operational description of the goods.
• A party to the movement of the consignment may book or order transport for one or more goods items.
• A party to the movement of the consignment may book or issue instructions of transport to be arranged for several goods items by means of one or several of the following messages: IFTMBP, IFTMBF, IFTMBC, IFTMIN, IFTMCS, IFTMAN.
• Pre-carriage (advanced haulage) and/or on-carriage (destination haulage) of goods items or equipment within one booking or instruction may take place in different steps, each step specified with its own transport details group.
• Equipment may have other types of equipment attached to it, e.g. a temperature control unit attached to a container.
• Equipment and/or goods items may be attached to or transported on another load or transport device, which as such may be attached to or transported on yet another load or transport device, e.g. a container on a chassis on a rail-car.
• Transport devices, which have the ability of powered movement on their own, are specified in the transport details group. Other load or transport devices are specified as equipment.
• The expression of packaging for goods items can be expressed at up to three levels.

A number of generic transport terms are used in this specification, to be described as:

• MODE OF TRANSPORT: The method of transport used for the conveyance of goods or persons, e.g. by rail, by road, by sea.
• MEANS OF TRANSPORT: the vehicle used for the transport of goods or persons, e.g. aircraft, truck, vessel.
• TYPE OF MEANS OF TRANSPORT: The type of vehicle used in the transport process, e.g. wide body, tank truck, passenger vessel.
• EQUIPMENT: Material resources necessary to facilitate the transport and handling of cargo. Transport equipment does under the given circumstances not have the ability to move by its own propulsion (e.g. sea container, trailer, unit load device, pallet).
• TYPE OF EQUIPMENT: The type of material used, e.g. 40 feet container, four way pallet, maxi trailer.

See UNTDID, Part 4 Section 2.5 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 1.

See UNTDID, Part 4, Section 2.5 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 2.

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

0010 UNH, Message header

A service segment starting and uniquely identifying the message. Note: Firm Booking messages conforming to this document must contain the following data in segment UNH, composite S009: Data element 0065 IFTMBF 0052 D 0054 93A 0051 UN

0020 BGM, Beginning of message

A segment to indicate the beginning of a message and to transmit identifying number and type of the message.

0030 CTA, Contact information

A segment to identify a person or department to whom communication should be directed.

0040 COM, Communication contact

A segment to identify a communication number of a person or department to whom communication should be directed.

0050 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate a date and time applying to the whole message, e.g., date and time of document issue.

0060 TSR, Transport service requirements

A segment to identify the contract, conditions of carriage, services, and priority requirements for the transport.

0070 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify free form or processable supplementary information, such as status of transport, remarks to be printed on the transport documents (where required), consignment remarks, insurance instructions, etc., or any other additional information.

0080 CNT, Control total

A segment to specify totals for a consignment.

0090 Segment Group 1: LOC-DTM

A group of segments to specify locations and related date(s)/time(s) which apply to the entire message, e.g. place of transshipment.

0100 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to identify a location applying to the entire message.

0110 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate date(s) and time(s) relating to the location.

0120 Segment Group 2: TOD-LOC

A group of segments to specify terms of delivery and related locations.

0130 TOD, Terms of delivery

A segment to specify the applicable terms of delivery.

0140 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to specify a location related to the terms of delivery.

0150 Segment Group 3: RFF-DTM

A group of segments containing a reference and constants which apply to the entire message.

0160 RFF, Reference

A segment to express a reference which applies to the entire message such as: the document/message number that is to be updated by this very message (according to data element 1225 Message Function, Coded in segment BGM), booking reference, order number, insurance contract, etc.

0170 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate date and time relating to the reference.

0180 Segment Group 4: GOR-FTX-SG5

A group of segments to identify customs and other governmental procedures and required documents.

0190 GOR, Governmental requirements

A segment to indicate applicable governmental procedures related to import, export and transport of the goods.

0200 FTX, Free text

A segment to provide supplementary governmental requirements information.

0210 Segment Group 5: DOC-DTM

A group of segments to specify required documents by government.

0220 DOC, Document/message details

A segment to indicate a document required by government.

0230 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to specify the date/time related to the required document.

0240 Segment Group 6: TCC-LOC-FTX-CUX-PRI-EQN-PCD-MOA-QTY

A group of segments to specify charge calculations associated with the transport.

0250 TCC, Transport charge/rate calculations

A segment to specify charge.

0260 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to indicate a location.

0270 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify processable supplementary information associated with charge.

0280 CUX, Currencies

A segment to specify currencies associated with charge.

0290 PRI, Price details

A segment to specify price details such as price (e.g. 100 dollar) and unit price basis (e.g. per 1000 kilogram).

0300 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of units to which the unit price basis applies.

0310 PCD, Percentage details

A segment to indicate the applicable reduction or surcharge percentage details.

0320 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to specify a monetary amount, such as prepaid amount, discount or total amount.

0330 QTY, Quantity

A segment to indicate a quantity, for example actual weight, declared weight or chargeable weight.

0340 Segment Group 7: TDT-DTM-TSR-LOC-SG8

A group of segments to indicate details of the movement of goods such as mode and means of transport, locations, departure, and arrival date(s) and time(s).

0350 TDT, Details of transport

A segment to indicate information related to a certain stage of the transport, such as mode, means and carrier.

0360 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate departure/arrival date and time.

0370 TSR, Transport service requirements

A segment to identify contract, conditions of carriage, services, priority requirements for this stage of transport.

0380 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to indicate a location such as origin, destination, stop off, etc. related to this leg of transport.

0390 Segment Group 8: RFF-DTM

A group of segments to specify an additional reference related to the stage of the transport.

0400 RFF, Reference

A segment to specify the additional reference.

0410 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to identify date and time relating to the reference.

0420 Segment Group 9: NAD-LOC-SG10-SG11-SG12-SG13

A group of segments to identify a party, related references, locations contacts, required documents, and charges to be paid by the party.

0430 NAD, Name and address

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

0440 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to indicate location where a specific function will be performed.

0450 Segment Group 10: CTA-COM

A group of segments identifying a contact and its communications related to the party.

0460 CTA, Contact information

A segment to identify a person or department within a party.

0470 COM, Communication contact

A segment to identify a communication number of a person or department to whom communication should be directed.

0480 Segment Group 11: DOC-DTM

A group of segments to identify required documents.

0490 DOC, Document/message details

A segment to identify a document required of, by or for the party.

0500 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to identify date and time relating to the reference.

0510 Segment Group 12: RFF-DTM

A group of segments to specify a reference related to the party.

0520 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify a reference used by a party.

0530 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate date and time relating to the reference.

0540 Segment Group 13: CPI-CUX-LOC-MOA

A group of segments to identify the charge and its amount to be paid by the party.

0550 CPI, Charge payment instructions

A segment to identify default charge methodology.

0560 CUX, Currencies

A segment to indicate payment currency related to the charge methodology.

0570 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to identify the place of charge collection.

0580 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to identify the monetary amount associated with the charges.

0590 Segment Group 14: GID-HAN-TMP-RNG-TMD-LOC-MOA-PIA-FTX-SG15-SG16-SG17-SG18-SG19-SG20-SG21-SG22-SG24

A group of segments to describe the goods items for which transport is undertaken.

0600 GID, Goods item details

A segment to identify a goods item for which transport is undertaken. A goods item can be identified by up to three levels of packaging.

0610 HAN, Handling instructions

A segment to specify handling instructions relating to the goods item.

0620 TMP, Temperature

A segment to specify a temperature setting for a goods item.

0630 RNG, Range details

A segment to specify a temperature range setting for a goods item.

0640 TMD, Transport movement details

A segment to specify transport movement details for a goods item.

0650 LOC, Place/location identification

A segment to specify a country associated with a goods item, such as country of origin, or country of destination.

0660 MOA, Monetary amount

A segment to specify a monetary amount associated with a goods item, such as declared value, FOB value, etc.

0670 PIA, Additional product id

A segment to specify article numbers.

0680 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify processable supplementary information relating to the goods item.

0690 Segment Group 15: NAD-DTM

A group of segments to identify different places of collection and/or delivery for the goods item.

0700 NAD, Name and address

A segment to specify an address of a place of collection or delivery for a goods item.

0710 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate date and time relating to the place of collection or delivery.

0720 Segment Group 16: GDS-FTX

A group of segments to describe the goods item.

0730 GDS, Nature of cargo

A segment to describe the nature of cargo.

0740 FTX, Free text

A segment to describe the goods item.

0750 Segment Group 17: MEA-EQN

A group of segments to specify measurements applicable to a goods item.

0760 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions, applicable to a goods item.

0770 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of equipment units to each of which the given measurement applies.

0780 Segment Group 18: DIM-EQN

A group of segments to specify dimensions applicable to a goods item.

0790 DIM, Dimensions

To specify dimensions applicable to a goods item.

0800 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of equipment units to each of which the given dimension applies.

0810 Segment Group 19: RFF-DTM

A group of segments to identify references to a goods item.

0820 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify a reference to a goods item.

0830 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate date and time relating to the reference.

0840 Segment Group 20: PCI-RFF-DTM

A group of segments to specify marks and numbers of a goods item.

0850 PCI, Package identification

A segment to specify marks and numbers of a goods item.

0860 RFF, Reference

A segment to identify a reference relating to the marks and numbers.

0870 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to identify date and time of the reference.

0880 Segment Group 21: DOC-DTM

A group of segments to specify documents and associated date(s) and time(s) for a goods item.

0890 DOC, Document/message details

A segment to specify a document prepared for a goods item.

0900 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to associate date and time with the prepared document.

0910 Segment Group 22: TPL-SG23

A group of segments to identify transport details and associated measurements for a goods item. This group may be repeated to indicate the different phases of the movement.

0920 TPL, Transport placement

A segment to identify transport details for a goods item.

0930 Segment Group 23: MEA-EQN

A group of segments to identify measurements.

0940 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify the distribution of a goods item among the transport details.

0950 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of equipment units to each of which the given measurement applies.

0960 Segment Group 24: DGS-FTX-SG25-SG26-SG27

A group of segments to specify dangerous goods details related to the goods item. One goods item may be in different dangerous goods classes.

0970 DGS, Dangerous goods

A segment to indicate the class of dangerous goods, packing group, etc.

0980 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify the dangerous goods technical name and to specify any additional dangerous goods information.

0990 Segment Group 25: CTA-COM

A group of segments to identify a contact to whom communication regarding the dangerous goods can be directed.

1000 CTA, Contact information

A segment to identify a person or department.

1010 COM, Communication contact

A segment to identify a communication number of a person or department.

1020 Segment Group 26: MEA-EQN

A group of segments to identify dangerous goods measurements.

1030 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurements of the dangerous goods.

1040 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of equipment units to each of which the given measurement applies.

1050 Segment Group 27: SGP-SG28

A group of segments to specify the distribution of the dangerous goods among the transport equipment.

1060 SGP, Split goods placement

A segment to identify the equipment in which the dangerous goods are transported.

1070 Segment Group 28: MEA-EQN

A group of segments to identify dangerous goods measurements.

1080 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurements of that portion of the dangerous goods in the equipment.

1090 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify the number of equipment units to each of which the given measurement applies.

1100 Segment Group 29: EQD-EQN-TMD-MEA-DIM-TPL-HAN-TMP-FTX-SG30

A group of segments to specify equipment in which goods are transported.

1110 EQD, Equipment details

A segment to specify equipment, and equipment size and type used in the transport.

1120 EQN, Number of units

A segment to specify number of pieces of equipment required.

1130 TMD, Transport movement details

A segment to specify transport movement details for the equipment.

1140 MEA, Measurements

A segment to specify measurements, other than dimensions, associated with the equipment, such as weight.

1150 DIM, Dimensions

A segment to specify dimensions applicable to equipment.

1160 TPL, Transport placement

A segment to identify transport details for the equipment.

1170 HAN, Handling instructions

A segment to specify handling instructions for specified equipment.

1180 TMP, Temperature

A segment to specify a temperature setting for the equipment.

1190 FTX, Free text

A segment to specify processable supplementary information associated with the equipment.

1200 Segment Group 30: NAD-DTM

A group of segments to identify different equipment pick-up or drop-off places.

1210 NAD, Name and address

A segment to specify a pick-up or drop-off address.

1220 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment to indicate date and time relating to pick-up or drop-off.

1230 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.