In this article, learn about:
Why the same part can need different shipping labels depending on where it’s headed
What automotive plants require and how those labels differ
How export wood packaging introduces a separate compliance requirement
A brake component, fastener, or hand tool can leave the same warehouse on three different shipping lanes. A pallet headed to a retail or maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) distributor may need a barcode and tracking number that match the shipment data sent ahead of the load. A pallet going to an automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or Tier 1 plant may need an Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) label format that matches the customer’s part-numbering and receiving requirements. If the shipment crosses a border on a wood pallet, the packaging must also meet applicable treatment and marking requirements.
The product doesn’t change, but the requirements do. For industrial and automotive suppliers, packaging and labeling requirements depend on where the shipment is going, who will receive it, and, for international shipments, what materials are used to package it.
Which Standard Applies?
Three requirements commonly come into play for industrial and automotive suppliers:
GS1-128 and Serialized Shipping Container Codes (SSCC): Used for many retail and distributor shipments, where pallet or case identification needs to connect to shipment information.
AIAG B-10: Provides a foundation for automotive trading-partner label requirements, with individual OEMs and Tier suppliers adding their own specifications. The information required is available for purchase here.
ISPM 15: Applies to wood packaging material moving across international borders and focuses on treatment and marking rather than barcode labeling.
The same stock-keeping unit (SKU) can therefore require different labeling or packaging treatment during the same week, depending on the customer and destination.
Regime | What Triggers It | What the Label or Mark Carries | Who Sets or Enforces It | What Failure Can Look Like |
GS1-128 and SSCC | Shipping to a retail or distributor DC | An SSCC used to identify the shipping container and connect it to shipment data | The receiving customer, based on its supplier requirements | Manual rework, delayed receiving, compliance chargebacks |
AIAG B-10 | Shipping to an automotive OEM or Tier supplier | Container, master, and mixed-load label information based on automotive trading-partner requirements | The customer, using AIAG B-10 as a foundation and its own supplier manual | Rejected containers, receiving delays, supplier performance issues |
ISPM 15 | Shipping wood packaging across an international border | A permanent treatment mark on compliant wood packaging | Customs and plant-health authorities | Refused entry, re-export, or destruction of noncompliant packaging |
The requirements vary by shipping lane, but the operational goal remains the same: Kkeep the physical shipment and the data describing it aligned.
GS1-128 and SSCC Requirements
Retail and MRO distributor warehouses commonly use GS1-128 barcode labeling to identify shipping units. Each pallet or case may carry a tracking number called an SSCC, or Serial Shipping Container Code. The SSCC is an 18-digit identifier built from a company prefix, a serial reference, and a check digit.
The SSCC needs to connect to the shipment information sent to the receiving customer in advance. That information is often provided through an advance ship notice (ASN). When the physical label and electronic shipment data don’t agree, the receiving process can be interrupted even when the product itself arrived in good condition.
Distributor Packaging Requirements
Labeling is one part of a distributor’s packaging requirements. Supplier guides can also specify pallet dimensions, maximum load weights, carton marking requirements, and other packaging details.
Those requirements vary by distributor and can change over time. Suppliers building a specific shipping lane should double-check the current requirements in that customer’s supplier guide rather than relying on a general packaging summary.
Related reading: Pallet Building 101: TI/HI, Stacking, and Why Retailers Care
AIAG B-10 Automotive Label Requirements
Automotive supply chains use a different labeling framework. AIAG B-10 provides a standard for labels used on unit loads and transport packages moving between automotive trading partners. Individual OEMs and Tier suppliers can then add their own requirements through supplier manuals.
An automotive supplier therefore needs to account for customer-specific labeling requirements when preparing a shipment. The underlying shipment information may be the same as information used for a retail order, while the required label format, data fields, and customer instructions can differ.
Master, Container, and Mixed-Load Labels
A published automotive supplier manual illustrates how these requirements can work in practice. Carlex’s material identification and labeling standard, which is based on AIAG B-10, requires a Master Label on pallets containing identical parts. Two identical copies attach to adjacent sides of the pallet. The Master Label does not replace the individual container labels on the boxes underneath.
Mixed-load pallets containing more than one part number have their own labeling requirements.
For suppliers serving multiple customer types, the practical challenge is making sure the correct customer-specific label is generated from accurate shipment information. The same underlying data can support different physical labels across different shipping lanes.
ISPM 15 Wood Packaging Requirements
An export order can introduce a separate requirement that focuses on packaging material rather than barcode labeling.
If a pallet, crate, or dunnage is made of wood, it can fall under ISPM 15. This phytosanitary standard addresses the international movement of wood packaging material. In the United States, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) oversees export requirements.
Compliant wood packaging must receive an approved treatment, including heat treatment to a core temperature of 56 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes, or an approved fumigation treatment. It must then receive a permanent, legible mark from an appropriately accredited provider.
Noncompliant wood packaging can be refused entry, required to be re-exported, or destroyed under supervision.
Plastic and metal pallets fall outside ISPM 15 because the standard applies to wood packaging material. Material selection can therefore be another consideration for suppliers managing international shipping lanes.
A pallet specification that works for a domestic shipment can create a problem at an international border if the wood packaging wasn’t treated and marked correctly.
When Labels and Data Disagree
Across these shipping environments, the specific requirements change, but the operational challenge is similar: The physical shipment and its data need to stay aligned.
A retail pallet can be delayed when its SSCC doesn’t correspond with the shipment data. An automotive container can be rejected when its label doesn’t meet the customer’s part-numbering or formatting requirements. An export shipment can be stopped when its wood packaging doesn’t carry the required treatment mark.
These problems often begin before anything reaches the label printer. They can originate in item setup, packaging hierarchies attached to item records, customer-specific requirements, or the way shipment data is generated.
For suppliers serving multiple types of customers, accurate item and shipment data becomes especially important. The same product information may feed different labels and shipping processes depending on the destination.
That’s where SPS Commerce helps industrial and automotive suppliers: keeping product records, shipping labels, and shipment notices consistent across different customer requirements and shipping lanes.
SPS Commerce does not manufacture pallets, treat wood, or determine a customer’s packaging specifications. It helps suppliers keep the data behind their shipping processes accurate and connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the same product need different pallet labels depending on the customer?
Yes. A retail or distributor order may require a GS1-128 label with an SSCC, while an automotive OEM or Tier supplier may require an AIAG B-10-based label that follows its own supplier specifications. The product stays the same, while the destination and customer requirements determine the applicable label.
Does ISPM 15 apply to plastic or metal pallets?
No. ISPM 15 applies to wood packaging material, including pallets, crates, skids, dunnage, and reels. Plastic and metal pallets fall outside the standard.
What happens if a shipment arrives with noncompliant wood packaging?
Depending on the destination and applicable requirements, customs authorities can refuse entry, require the noncompliant material to be re-exported, or have it destroyed under supervision. A pallet that meets domestic requirements can still create a problem when used for an international shipment.
Who sets automotive labeling requirements if AIAG B-10 is the base standard?
AIAG B-10 provides the foundation for automotive trading-partner labels, while individual OEMs and Tier suppliers can add requirements through their supplier manuals. Those requirements can cover details such as Master Label placement, container labels, and mixed-load formatting.
Keep Shipment Data in Sync Across Every Lane
Industrial and automotive suppliers rarely ship into just one kind of destination. A single supplier may need to support retail and distributor labeling, automotive customer requirements, and international packaging regulations at the same time.
See how SPS Commerce helps industrial suppliers keep item data, labels, and shipment notices consistent across every lane.
Not ready for that yet? The Supply Chain Source has more on packaging and labeling compliance.
This article summarizes packaging, labeling, and export requirements published by AIAG and APHIS for general informational purposes. Double-check current requirements against the specific retailer, OEM, or government source before building a shipment.