Shipping Label

A shipping label is the physical identifier that tells every handler in the supply chain where a package or pallet needs to go. It's affixed at the point of origin – by the warehouse, shipper, or fulfillment center – and carries the information that carriers, sortation facilities, and delivery drivers need to move the freight to its destination. In parcel and LTL shipping especially, the label is what makes the shipment machine-readable and scannable throughout the carrier's network.

A standard shipping label includes the ship-from and ship-to addresses, carrier name and service level, tracking or PRO number (usually encoded as a barcode or QR code), weight, package dimensions, and any special handling indicators – fragile, keep upright, temperature-sensitive, or hazmat. For LTL freight, labels often include the BOL number, freight class, and a piece count indicator (e.g., "1 of 4") so terminal workers can verify all pieces are present before dispatch. Parcel carriers like FedEx and UPS have specific label format requirements, and shipments with non-compliant labels may be delayed or returned.

Label accuracy seems trivial until it goes wrong. A transposed ZIP code sends freight to the wrong terminal. A missing barcode means the package can't be sorted automatically and gets set aside for manual handling, delaying delivery. An incorrect weight causes billing adjustments after the carrier re-weighs. For shippers moving high volumes of parcel or LTL freight, label generation is best handled programmatically – pulling address, weight, and routing data directly from the order management or TMS system and printing compliant labels automatically. This eliminates handwritten labels and the errors that come with them.