Military Shipping Label (MSL)
MIL-STD-129 LABELS, UID LABELS, RFID AND DOD/GSA COMPLIANCE SERVICES
MILITARY COMPLIANCE LABELS
MIL-STD-129 specifies that items must me marked for easy identification before they are transported. This marking helps the military to fill the necessary requisition when a particular stock goes short of the balance level. This standard has been approved to be used by the United States Department of Defense and all other government agencies.
The Department of Defense has adopted RFID technology for reliable tracking of products across a wide spectrum of industries. The DoD uses this standardized label and tagging system to track containers and shipment pallets and their contents employing this RFID technology.
THE MILITARY SHIPMENT LABEL (MSL) IS PLACED ON:
Military Shipping Labels are placed on each loose (non-palletized) case or shipping container, each palletized unit load (not on each case on the pallet) and each full rail car or full truckload. The standard size for a MSL is 4 inches by 6 inches which may include an RFID inlay which is required when shipping to certain Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) warehouses.
COMPONENTS OF THE MILITARY SHIPMENT LABEL (MSL)
Military Shipping Labels have three primary components, human readable information, linear bar codes, and a two-dimensional PDF417 bar code symbol. Some components contain multiple pieces of data. MIL-STD-129 labels identify the supplier, the final destination of the shipping container and other necessary information pertaining to the shipment.
REQUIRED MSL MARKINGS
MSL markings consist of both human readable and bar coded information on a recommended 4×6 inch label. The exact format of the MSL is not mandated by the standard, as long as the required data is included along with compliant linear and 2D bar codes. Listed below is the required human readable information:
* Transportation Control Number or TCN
* DODAAC or CAGE
* Ship to Address
* Date Shipped
* Method of Shipment
* Transportation Priority
* Weight
* Cubic feet
* Total pieces
* National stock number or NSN
* Shipped from location
* Required delivery date
REQUIRED BAR CODED INFORMATION:
The following information is required:
* Transportation Control Number (TCN)
* Piece Number
* Ultimate Consignee
* A single two-dimensional (2D) bar code in a PDF417 symbol is required.
* A Transportation Control and Movement Document (TCMD) is rarely required for contractor/ vendor shipments.
USAGE AND PLACEMENT OF MSL
A Military Shipping Label (MSL) is required for all shipments to the Department of Defense. A single MSL is placed on each loose shipping case or shipping container, crate, palletized load or each full rail or truckload. The label is not to interfere with other required markings, cleats, strapping or closure tape on the container, and must be placed where there is minimal risk of damage to the label. It should be applied right of center on a vertical face allowing for 2 inches from all edges of the container. One additional item is that the MSL may not be placed on the top or bottom of the container unless otherwise specified in the contract.
RFID MILITARY SHIPMENT LABEL
RFID enabled labels should not be applied where sealing tape or bands are placed over the label which may cause interference with the scanning of the barcode or reading the RFID inlay.
MIL-SPEC Contracts
We have earned our enviable industry reputation in part because of our four decades of experience and knowledge of the U.S. Department of Defense’s detailed military packaging specifications and regulations.
MIL-SPEC Labeling
We are experts in the complex military packaging and labeling requirements. We make sure your package gets delivered to it’s desired location on-time at a lower cost than you can do yourself.
