The Customer Identification File (CIF) is the central repository for information about all Rail customers. It is used daily throughout the North American rail industry to process customer data transactions. Railroads use CIF numbers (also known as CIF IDs) to identify customer locations and to determine where pricing agreements and other contract terms apply. The use of CIF numbers helps to provide accurate delivery instructions and improve the shipment reservation, bookings, and equipment ordering processes. CIF numbers also improve the quality of customer information on bills of lading (BOL’s), waybills, and other documents.
CIF contains the name, physical and mailing addresses, corporate parent identification, and a unique identification code for each location of a rail-served customer. The CIF number is used in exchanges of shipment information. Using an identification code (versus name and address) ensures that each participant in a shipment transaction refers to the same physical customer location. CIF also enables carriers to query, add, change, expire, and reinstate EDI 838 messages with subscribers who receive distribution through EDI.