Different Hierarchical Level (HL) Segment in the Shipment

In the X12 856 Advance Ship Notice (ASN), the HL (Hierarchical Level) segment is used to represent different levels in the shipment hierarchy. 

These levels define the structure and details of the shipment, allowing for a clear representation of how goods are packaged and shipped.

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Common HL Levels in X12 856

HL Code (HL03)	Description	Purpose
S	Shipment	Represents the entire shipment. Includes details like carrier and shipping date.
O	Order	Represents the order within the shipment. Includes details like PO number.
P	Packaging	Represents individual packaging units (e.g., cartons or containers).
T	Tare	Represents intermediate packaging, such as pallets or crates.
I	Item	Represents individual items or SKUs within a packaging unit.

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HL Levels Explained

1. Shipment Level (HL03 = S)
• Purpose: Top-level segment for the overall shipment.
• Associated Segments:
• BSN: Shipment identification.
• TD1/TD5: Carrier and transportation details.
• DTM: Ship date/time.

Example:

HL*1**S~

TD1*PLT94*2~         --> 2 Pallets in the Shipment

TD5*2*UPS*G*Ground~

DTM*011*20240101~

2. Order Level (HL03 = O)
• Purpose: Represents an individual purchase order within the shipment.
• Associated Segments:
• PRF: Purchase order details.
• REF: Additional references (e.g., contract numbers).

Example:

HL*2*1*O~

PRF*123456~          --> PO Number

3. Packaging Level (HL03 = P)
• Purpose: Represents packaging units, such as cartons or containers.
• Associated Segments:
• TD1: Packaging type and quantity.
• MAN: Package identification (e.g., carton label).

Example:

HL*3*2*P~

TD1*CTN25*10~        --> 10 Cartons

MAN*GM*CTN123456~

4. Tare Level (HL03 = T)
• Purpose: Represents an intermediate packaging unit, such as a pallet or crate.
• Associated Segments:
• TD1: Tare packaging type.
• MAN: Tare label (e.g., pallet label).

Example:

HL*4*3*T~

MAN*GM*PLT123456~

5. Item Level (HL03 = I)
• Purpose: Represents individual items or SKUs.
• Associated Segments:
• LIN: Item identification (e.g., UPC or part number).
• SN1: Quantity details.

Example:

HL*5*4*I~

LIN**UP*012345678901~

SN1**50*EA~

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HL Hierarchy Examples

Simple Hierarchy: Shipment → Order → Item

HL*1**S~

TD1*PLT94*1~

HL*2*1*O~

PRF*123456~

HL*3*2*I~

LIN**UP*012345678901~

SN1**100*EA~

Complex Hierarchy: Shipment → Packaging → Tare → Item

HL*1**S~

TD1*PLT94*1~

HL*2*1*P~

TD1*CTN25*10~

HL*3*2*T~

MAN*GM*PLT123456~

HL*4*3*I~

LIN**UP*012345678901~

SN1**50*EA~

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Best Practices for HL Levels

1. Understand Trading Partner Requirements: Ensure the HL structure matches your partner's EDI specifications.
2. Maintain Proper Parent-Child Relationships: Validate the hierarchy to prevent mismatched or skipped levels.
3. Use Unique HL Identifiers: The HL01 (hierarchical ID) must be unique within the document.

These HL levels provide flexibility to model various shipment structures, ensuring accurate representation of complex shipping scenarios in the ASN.