> ## 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.
# Haulage Management
> Automated haulage billing and EDI messaging for interline rail operations
## What is Haulage?
In railroad operations, **haulage** occurs when one railroad uses another railroad's track to move freight. It's a common arrangement that allows railroads to extend their reach without building new infrastructure.
The railroad with the **commercial relationship** - they have the customer contract and negotiate rates, but don't
own the track for a segment.
The railroad that **physically moves** the freight - they own the track and provide the locomotives and crews for
that segment.
Think of it like a shipping company that doesn't own trucks in a certain region. They contract with a local trucking
company to move packages, but the shipping company keeps the customer relationship and handles billing.
***
## Why Haulage Management Matters
Without proper haulage management, railroads face: - **Revenue leakage** from missed billing opportunities -
**Compliance issues** from incorrect EDI messages - **Operational confusion** from unclear responsibilities
Cedar's haulage automation handles the complexity so your team can focus on operations.
***
## How Cedar Handles Haulage
Cedar identifies haulage arrangements by analyzing route codes in waybills - no manual flagging required.
The system automatically generates the right EDI messages: - **Haulage messages** to movement carriers with
appropriate content - **Forward & Store messages** to downstream carriers with cleaned routes
Routes are intelligently processed to show only what each recipient needs to see - protecting your commercial
relationships while ensuring operational accuracy.
Complex routes with multiple haulage segments? Cedar handles them all, generating separate messages for each
movement carrier.
***
## Key Features
Cedar identifies haulage arrangements from your waybill routes and automatically generates and sends the appropriate EDI messages to movement carriers - no manual tracking required.
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Routes are automatically processed so each recipient sees only the information they need, protecting your commercial
relationships while ensuring operational accuracy.
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Empty car movements are detected automatically and processed with the appropriate billing codes and documentation.
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When cars return empty, Cedar reverses routes while preserving haulage relationships and carrier responsibilities.
Cedar handles real-world complexity including routes where the same railroad appears multiple times with different roles, or routes with multiple haulage segments.
***
## Supported Scenarios
Cedar's haulage module handles a wide range of real-world scenarios:
Standard arrangements where your railroad has commercial rights and another performs the movement.
Complex routes with haulage arrangements at multiple points along the journey.
Whether haulage occurs before or after your railroad's origination point.
Routes where the same railroad appears multiple times with different responsibilities (e.g., origin and haulage
rights).
***
## Integration with Other EDI Features
Haulage management works seamlessly with Cedar's other EDI automation features:
Send waybills to connecting carriers with optional haulage support built in.
Submit F\&S-compliant waybills to Railinc with automatic haulage route processing.
Bill switch carriers for terminal services at origin or destination.
***
## Benefits
**Automated Processing**
Eliminate manual haulage bill creation and tracking. Cedar processes haulage automatically as waybills flow through the system.
**Reduced Errors**
Rule-based processing ensures consistent, accurate EDI messages every time.
**Faster Turnaround**
Real-time processing means haulage bills go out immediately, not when someone remembers to create them.
**No Missed Bills**
Every haulage arrangement is identified and billed - nothing falls through the cracks.
**Accurate Settlement**
Correct route and party information ensures proper interline settlement.
**Complete Audit Trail**
Full visibility into what was sent, when, and to whom.
**AAR-Compliant EDI**
Messages follow Association of American Railroads standards for interline communication.
**Proper Information Sharing**
Each carrier sees only what they need to see - protecting commercial relationships.
**Consistent Processing**
Same rules applied every time, reducing compliance risk.
***
## Getting Started
Haulage processing is automatic once your workflows are configured. Contact your Cedar implementation team to enable
haulage features for your operations.
Identify which carriers you have haulage relationships with.
Work with Cedar to set up your EDI workflows with haulage options enabled.
Review sample outputs to ensure messages meet your requirements.
Enable automated haulage processing in production.
***
## Questions?
For questions about haulage configuration or to enable haulage features for your railroad, contact your Cedar account
team or email **[support@cedarai.com](mailto:support@cedarai.com)**.