License plate tracking for pallets and cartons
A license plate number (LPN) is a barcode on a container, such as a pallet, carton or tote, that stands for everything on it. Scan the plate and you move or ship the whole container in one step. NextStock treats the license plate as part of every stock record, not an add-on.
Highlights
LPN on every balance
Stock is identified by location, SKU, owner, lot, status and license plate, so a mixed pallet stays accurate line by line.
Receive onto a plate
Receive a pallet onto a plate and put the whole thing away by scanning the destination bin.
Whole-LPN allocation
Allocation can take an entire pallet for a large order, and the picker scans the source plate to confirm.
SSCC pallet labels
Outbound pallets get GS1 SSCC labels for B2B customers who receive by scan.
What license plate tracking solves
Without plates, moving a pallet of 48 cases to reserve means recording 48 cases, or more often recording nothing. Stock ends up in the right place physically and the wrong place in the system. With a plate, the move is one scan of the pallet and one scan of the bin.
Plates also keep mixed containers honest. A pallet with three SKUs and two lots stays one physical thing, while its contents stay separate lines in the ledger.
How license plates work in NextStock
A license plate is a container with its own barcode, and every balance on it records the plate. Plates can sit inside other plates, like cartons on a pallet, and shipping the outer plate ships everything under it.
- Receiving: stock can be received onto a plate, with lot and serial captured as usual
- Putaway: a whole pallet goes away in one task, and bins can limit how many plates they hold
- Picking: whole-LPN allocation sends a full pallet to a large order; the picker must scan the source plate
- Pick containers: pickers can pick into a tote or carton that becomes its own plate
- Shipping: mixed pallets, loads and GS1 SSCC pallet labels for B2B deliveries
Partial picks and mixed pallets
Not every order takes a full pallet. When a picker takes 10 cases from a plate of 48, the remaining 38 stay on the plate in the same bin, and the 10 move into the picker's container. Both changes are movements, so the plate's history shows exactly what left and when.
Pallet labels print through label printing as ZPL to a thermal printer, with reprint history when a label is torn or lost.
License plates vs bin locations
A bin location is a fixed place in the building. A license plate is a container that moves. You need both: the bin tells a picker where to go, and the plate tells them which container to take.
A common mistake is using plates as bins, for example by leaving a plate on a shelf forever and adding loose units to it. It works, but it hides the real location of stock. Keep plates for things that move as one unit.
Who license plate tracking is for
3PLs receiving full pallets for clients use plates to cut receiving and putaway to a few scans, with the owner recorded on every line. Distributors shipping full or mixed pallets to retail and wholesale buyers use them for B2B freight and loads. Brands with bulk reserve storage use them to replenish pick faces pallet by pallet.
Getting started with license plates
Decide which flows use plates before you print anything. Most warehouses start with inbound pallets and reserve storage, and leave loose pick faces plate-free.
- Print a pallet label as each pallet is received, and stick it where a scanner can reach
- Set a maximum plate count on reserve bins so putaway doesn't over-stack them
- Train the team to scan the plate for whole-pallet moves and the item for partial ones
- Read our guide to warehouse barcode labels for label placement
Built for
Frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers to the questions warehouse teams ask most.
What is the difference between an LPN and an SSCC?
An LPN is a container identifier used inside your warehouse to track what sits on a pallet, carton or tote. An SSCC is a GS1 standard 18-digit code for a logistics unit, used when a pallet leaves your building so the receiver can scan it. NextStock prints GS1 SSCC labels for outbound pallets.
Can a license plate hold more than one SKU?
Yes. A plate can hold several SKUs and lots, and each stays a separate line in the balance with its own quantity and status. That's how mixed pallets work in both directions: inbound pallets from a supplier and outbound pallets built for one customer.
Do I have to use license plates?
No. Plates are optional. Many small warehouses run entirely on bins and item scans. Plates start to pay off when you receive or ship full pallets, store in reserve racking or replenish pick faces pallet by pallet. You can introduce them for one flow at a time.
What happens if a picker takes part of a plate?
The picked quantity moves off the plate into the picker's container, and the rest stays on the plate in its bin. Both are recorded as movements. If the allocation was for the whole plate, the picker scans the plate to confirm it.
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