# OTM5

> OTM5 (Open Transport Model 5) is an open standard for exchanging freight transport data — orders, consignments, stops, and statuses — between systems and partners.

OTM5 defines a common, vendor-neutral data structure for transport orders so that carriers, shippers, forwarders, and software platforms can exchange information without building bespoke point-to-point integrations for every partner. Because the model is open, data stays portable and interoperable across the logistics ecosystem.

Building a TMS on OTM5 means transport orders, consignments, and stops are structured to a shared standard from the start, simplifying integration with ERPs, customer systems, and partner carriers.

## Frequently asked questions

### How does OTM5 differ from EDI?

EDI is a family of older, message-based standards (such as EDIFACT) for exchanging business documents. OTM5 is a modern, open data model designed specifically for transport, making it easier to represent multi-stop, multi-modal orders in a structured, machine-readable way.

### Can I convert documents to OTM5?

Yes. Transportial offers a free OTM5 document converter, and the platform exposes OTM5-structured data through its REST API for partner integrations.


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Canonical page: https://transportial.com/en/glossary/otm5