This transaction set enables U.S. Customs brokers, freight forwarders, and carriers to report the status of general orders held in U.S. Customs custody. Typically sent by the party responsible for managing general order merchandise (such as a customs broker or the importing carrier) to the shipper, consignee, or their designated representative, it responds to inquiries or is transmitted proactively as status changes occur. The message structure centers on three key segments: the M10 (Manifest Identifying Information) segment, which identifies the specific manifest or shipment being reported; the P4 (U.S. Port Information) segment, which specifies the port of entry where the general order is held; and the M14 (General Order Status Information) segment, which conveys the current condition and location details of each item or line within the order.

For example, when FedEx Freight receives merchandise from a Hong Kong exporter that cannot be immediately cleared through U.S. Customs, it may engage ABC Customs Brokers to manage the general order filing. As the merchandise awaits documentation or duty payment, ABC Customs Brokers sends an X12 352 transaction to both FedEx Freight and the importer containing status updates via multiple M14 segments—one indicating items held awaiting duties, another indicating partial release of certain line items. The P4 segment confirms the merchandise is at the Port of New York/Newark, while optional K1 remarks segments note, for instance, that additional invoices have been requested from the exporter. This status information allows all parties to coordinate next steps for clearing or withdrawing the shipment.