Transport and Logistics

Brief Introduction to the Transport and Logistics Domain

There are both recommendations and standards produced or published by UN/CEFACT, for the transport and logistics domain the core data model is known as the Multi Modal Transport Reference Data Model (or MMT RDM), this is a collection of classes containing attributes that when used in the right structure form the base of the documents or data structures used daily in the transport and logistics domain.

The MMT reference data model project has taken a holistic approach to develop a reference data model based on the UN/CEFACT Core Component Library (CCL) which brings together the data exchange requirements of international multimodal transport processes including related trade, insurance, customs and other regulatory documentary requirements based on the integration of trade facilitation and e-Business best practices.

The UN/CEFACT MMT Reference Data Model is a subset of the Buy/Ship/Pay Reference Data Model and a sister to the Supply Chain Reference Data Model (SCRDM) which is also a subset of the Buy/Ship/Pay Reference Data Model. The MMT and SCRDM Reference Data Models are closely aligned contextualised subsets of the Buy/Ship/Pay Reference Data Model.

All UN/CEFACT Reference Data Models include support for CCBDA compliant data exchange document structures which will be developed in separate projects. Derivation from this reference data model by future projects will ensure that each resultant data document specification will be aligned with the definitions and concepts described in this BRS document. This will enable trading partners to choose the type of document technology that best meets their business requirements when implementing MMT CCBDA compliant data exchange message structures and also provide a migration path for the adoption of future technologies as needed.

For the complete Business Requirement Specification (BRS) you should look at https://unece.org/trade/uncefact/brs and search for the 'Multi-Modal Transport Reference Data Model'

We will do a deep dive on MMT and explain some of the key classes that you can use and familiarise yourself with shortly.

Standards for Transport and Logistics

There are some key standards that in transport and logistics you should familiarise yourself with before digging into the detail:

  • UN/LOCODE - A coded list of global locations used in trade and transport transactions, the UN/LOCODE identifies the smallest administrative area rather than a terminal or facility. Take a look at the list and find your own town or city, for Example Liverpool UK has a coded value of GBLIV full details on UN/LOCODE can be found at https://unece.org/trade/uncefact/unlocode

  • Code List Recommendations - When transferring data electronically codes are often used to provide certainty and clarity so they can be used across many business systems, you will find a full list of the codes used in many messages such as IncoTerms, Packaging Types, Currency, Units of Measure and more at https://unece.org/trade/uncefact/cl-recommendations

  • UN/EDIFACT - The set of internationally agreed standards, directories and guidelines for electronic exchange of structured data, UN/EDIFACT is over 30 years old and still today supports the majority of electronic transactions between actors in the supply chain. This covers things like shipping instructions, tracking, booking and customs messages. Further information can be found at https://unece.org/trade/uncefact/introducing-unedifact

Some examples of Standards published to facilitate Trade and Transport are:

  • Booking of Transport

  • Shipping Instructions to Carrier

  • WayBill (Transport Contract)

  • Status Report or Request

  • Smart Containers

  • IMO FAL Compendium

  • Verified Gross Mass (VERMAS)

This list is not comprehensive and you should refer to the streamlined standards page of UN/CEFACT for the complete list.

Transport Contract Comparison

Goods moving between buyer and seller would move under a contract of carriage, regardless of the mode of transport the MMT RDM has a transport modal subset to cover the 'set' of data required to be exchanged as per the guidelines and regulations for that mode, all of these modes have been mapped from business requirements and regulatory requirements onto the appropriate subset, for the transport contract here are some of the standards that are of interest:

  • Ocean Waybill (Deep Sea Ocean Carriers)

  • River Waybill (Inland Waterway Navigation)

  • eCMR (Road Consignment Note mapped to the CMR Convention)

  • CIM-SGMS Consignment Note (Railway)

UN/CEFACT have produced a matrix for these transport Contract Documents to show the Business Names, and the MMT RDM path as a comparison and to help navigate the data between various modes of transport and their dataset requirements. Note that these subsets are all using the MMT RDM as a base and as such it is easily interoperable to move from one mode to another. This is a key point of the MMT RDM, it is mode independant by nature to allow for this flexibility.

An output from the https://unttc.org work on Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics compared the transport contracts for various mdoes of transport, this can be found in the excel matrix below.

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