Generate GS1-compliant SSCC-18 pallet labels for fresh produce right in your browser. Check digits calculated for you, retailer-ready formats, two-sided printing.
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A PTI pallet label — also called an SSCC label or a pallet "license plate" — identifies an entire pallet of produce with a single, unique 18-digit Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC), encoded in a GS1-128 barcode.
Where a PTI case label identifies each individual case using a GTIN, lot number, and voice pick code, the pallet label ties all of those cases to one scannable ID. When a pallet arrives at a retailer's distribution center, a single scan of the SSCC receives every case on it and matches the shipment to the advance ship notice (ASN) flowing through EDI. That's why most major retailers require it on inbound produce — it's the link between your labeled cases and their receiving systems.
A retailer-ready SSCC pallet label is more than a barcode. These are the core data elements, expressed with their GS1 Application Identifiers:
The unique 18-digit pallet ID: extension digit, your GS1 company prefix, a serial reference, and a calculated check digit. Encoded in GS1-128 and printed human-readable.
The GTIN of the cases on the pallet and how many there are — so receiving knows what, and how much, each pallet holds.
Origin and destination DC, in plain text. Required for routing and cross-docking at the retailer's facility.
Purchase order, bill of lading, or ASN references some retailers require printed directly on the pallet tag alongside the SSCC.
Pallet labeling specs differ by buyer. Here's how the major produce retailers generally handle SSCC pallet labels:
| Retailer | Pallet label requirement |
|---|---|
| Walmart / Sam's Club | SSCC pallet labels required, tied to an advance ship notice (ASN). |
| Kroger | SSCC pallet labels required on inbound produce shipments. |
| Costco | SSCC pallet labels required on two adjacent sides of each pallet. |
| ALDI | Standard PTI case labeling; SSCC pallet labels per supplier agreement. |
| Standard PTI | SSCC pallet labels recommended for full case-to-pallet traceability. |
Requirements change. Always confirm the current pallet-label specification with your specific retailer or buyer before shipping.
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The Serial Shipping Container Code is an 18-digit GS1 identifier for a logistics unit — in produce, almost always a pallet. It's made of an extension digit, your GS1 company prefix, a serial reference you assign, and a check digit. Encoded in a GS1-128 barcode under Application Identifier (00), it gives each pallet a globally unique "license plate."
For most major retailers, yes. Walmart and Sam's Club require SSCC labels tied to an ASN, Kroger requires SSCC pallet labels, and Costco requires them on two adjacent sides. The exact spec depends on your buyer, so always confirm current requirements directly with the retailer.
A case label identifies one case (GTIN, lot, voice pick code). A pallet label identifies the whole pallet with a single SSCC that links every case stacked on it. Receiving scans the one SSCC instead of every individual case.
It varies by retailer. Many require an SSCC label on two adjacent sides so the pallet can be scanned regardless of how it's oriented in the DC. PTI Label Studio prints matching copies for each side.
Some retailers require PO, BOL, or ASN references printed on the pallet tag in addition to the SSCC. The Packing House plan adds BOL and order numbers directly to pallet tags, plus a Master Label for shipment-level summaries.
Yes — PTI Label Studio generates native ZPL for Zebra thermal printers and exports PDF for standard printers, so you can use whatever hardware you already have.
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