> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cedarai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# EDI Waybill Messaging

> Automated EDI transmission for railroad waybills and car orders

## Overview

Cedar automates the transmission of EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) messages between railroads. Whether you're sending waybills to connecting carriers, submitting car orders, or managing haulage arrangements, Cedar handles the complexity of interline communication.

<Info>
  EDI is the standard method railroads use to exchange shipment information electronically. Cedar generates
  industry-standard messages that work with all Class I railroads and most regional carriers.
</Info>

***

## Message Types

Cedar supports multiple EDI message types for different operational needs:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Rail Carrier Waybill" icon="file-lines">
    The standard message for communicating shipment details between railroads. Includes equipment, route, commodity, and
    party information.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Shipper's Car Order" icon="clipboard-list">
    Used when shippers or customers submit car orders directly to railroads. Supports sending as either the railroad or
    the customer.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Automated Transmission Features

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Waybill Transmission" icon="paper-plane" defaultOpen>
    Send waybill information to connecting carriers automatically, with options to include haulage billing in the same workflow.
  </Accordion>

  {' '}

  <Accordion title="Customer Car Orders" icon="user-tie">
    Submit car orders on behalf of customers, with flexibility to send as your railroad or as the customer depending on
    your operational needs.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Acknowledgment Tracking" icon="circle-check">
    Cedar tracks EDI acknowledgments and maintains a complete audit trail of all messages sent and received.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Workflow Integration

EDI messaging integrates with Cedar's workflow automation system:

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    Trigger[Waybill Event] --> Workflow[Automation Workflow]
    Workflow --> EDI[EDI Transmission]
    EDI --> Carrier[Connecting Carrier]
    Carrier --> Ack[Acknowledgment]
    Ack --> Status[Status Update]
```

<Steps>
  <Step title="Trigger">A waybill event triggers the workflow (new waybill, update, etc.)</Step>
  <Step title="Processing">Cedar processes the waybill according to your workflow configuration</Step>
  <Step title="Transmission">EDI messages are generated and sent to the appropriate recipients</Step>
  <Step title="Tracking">Acknowledgments are tracked and waybill status is updated</Step>
</Steps>

***

## Related Features

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Haulage Management" icon="handshake" href="/user-docs/arms/haulage">
    Automated haulage bill generation for movement carriers.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Forward & Store" icon="database" href="/user-docs/arms/forward-and-store">
    Railinc-compliant waybill submission with full normalization.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Switch Billing" icon="shuffle" href="/user-docs/arms/switch-billing">
    Terminal switching services billing automation.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Getting Started

<Note>
  EDI messaging is configured through Cedar's workflow automation. Contact your Cedar implementation team to set up your
  EDI workflows.
</Note>

<Tip>
  For questions about EDI configuration or to enable additional features, contact your Cedar account team or email
  **[support@cedarai.com](mailto:support@cedarai.com)**.
</Tip>