Home · Learn · What Is an SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)?
What Is an SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code)?
SSCC identifies a specific physical shipping unit — the pallet itself, not what's on it. Every advance ship notice and dock receipt uses one.
An SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) is an 18-digit GS1 identifier assigned to a specific logistics unit — a single pallet, a single case, a single carton being shipped. Where GTIN identifies a product type ('Coke 12-oz can') and GLN identifies a location (the receiving dock), SSCC identifies one specific instance of a shipping unit in motion. Each pallet that leaves a manufacturer's warehouse gets a unique SSCC; no two pallets in the world share an SSCC.
SSCC is the foundation of supply-chain track-and-trace. Every EDI 856 advance ship notice declares SSCCs that will arrive. Receiving docks scan SSCCs to confirm physical receipt. WMS systems use SSCCs to manage put-away and pick. DSCSA aggregation in pharma uses SSCCs to link manufacturer cases to wholesaler shipments to dispenser deliveries.
SSCC structure: 18 digits broken into 4 parts
Digit 1: extension digit (you choose 0-9 to give yourself 10× more SSCC namespace within your prefix). Digits 2 through N+1: GS1 Company Prefix (typically 7-10 digits). Digits N+2 through 17: serial reference (you assign these sequentially or randomly within your namespace). Digit 18: Mod 10 check digit, computed identically to UPC/EAN. Example: 0 0614141 12345678 5 — extension 0, prefix 0614141, serial 12345678, check digit 5. The total namespace inside one GS1 Company Prefix is huge: ~10 billion unique SSCCs across the 10 extension values.
How SSCC is encoded for scanning
SSCC almost always renders as GS1-128 (a variant of Code 128) with Application Identifier (00). On a typical pallet label you see: human-readable '(00) 0 0614141 12345678 5' above the barcode + the GS1-128 with the FNC1 control character + AI 00 + the 18-digit SSCC. Scanners decode this and the WMS knows immediately that an SSCC just arrived. Some pallets also embed SSCC in an RFID tag using the EPC SGTIN-96 or SSCC-96 binary encoding — Walmart and Target receiving docks read both forms.
SSCC vs GTIN vs GLN — three different identifier kinds
These three identifiers cover the three different things you need to identify in supply chain. (1) GTIN — what kind of product is this? (a Coke 12-oz can). (2) GLN — where is this happening? (the receiving dock at Wholesaler XYZ's Atlanta DC). (3) SSCC — which specific shipping unit is this? (Pallet number 12345678 that left the Coca-Cola Atlanta plant Tuesday). All three are issued from the same GS1 Company Prefix and use the same Mod 10 check-digit math — but they answer completely different operational questions.
How SSCC is used in EDI 856 advance ship notices
When a manufacturer ships a load to a wholesaler, they send an EDI 856 ahead of the truck. The 856 declares every SSCC that's about to arrive: 'Pallet SSCC 00614141123456785 is coming, contains these case-level SSCCs, which contain these GTIN-level units'. The receiving dock scans each SSCC as it comes off the truck and matches it against the 856 — discrepancies (missing pallets, unexpected pallets) flag for resolution. This 'paperless receiving' workflow is core to every modern 3PL and retailer DC.
Pharma DSCSA aggregation uses SSCC at the pallet level
DSCSA EPCIS event data uses SSCC to identify pallet-level logistics units in aggregation events. A typical aggregation: 'This case SSCC contains these 100 unit serial numbers (SGTINs). This pallet SSCC contains these 24 case SSCCs.' When the wholesaler receives the pallet, they can scan the pallet's SSCC and pull the entire downstream tree of case-and-unit serials from EPCIS — no need to unstack and scan each case. Mandatory under full DSCSA enforcement starting May 28, 2026.
How to mint an SSCC for your shipments
Same path as a GLN. If you already have a GS1 Company Prefix (because you sell at retail), SSCCs are free — you mint them from your existing namespace using your WMS or shipping software. Most WMS systems (Manhattan, JDA, NetSuite WMS, even ShipStation) automatically assign sequential SSCCs as you build pallets. If you don't have a Company Prefix, GS1 US doesn't sell single SSCCs the way they sell single GTINs — you need at least the 10-GTIN tier ($250 initial) to access the SSCC pool. Practical reality: every company that ships pallets to retailers already has a Company Prefix.
FAQ
What does SSCC stand for?
Serial Shipping Container Code. It's the 18-digit GS1 identifier for a specific physical shipping unit — one pallet, one case, one carton being moved between supply chain locations. Issued from your GS1 Company Prefix; each unit gets a unique SSCC.
How is SSCC different from GTIN?
GTIN identifies a PRODUCT TYPE — 'Coke 12-oz can'. SSCC identifies a SPECIFIC SHIPPING INSTANCE — 'pallet number 12345 that left the Atlanta plant Tuesday with 1,200 of those cans on it'. One GTIN, many SSCCs over time. GTIN goes on the product packaging; SSCC goes on the pallet shipping label, encoded as GS1-128 with Application Identifier (00).
Where does the SSCC barcode go?
On the pallet shipping label, rendered as GS1-128 with the (00) Application Identifier. Standard pallet labels (GS1 Logistic Label) carry the SSCC barcode plus human-readable digits, plus optional GTIN, lot, expiry, and carrier information. The label is placed on the side of the pallet visible to the receiving scanner — typically 4 feet up from the floor on the long side.
How many SSCCs can I generate from one Company Prefix?
Roughly 10 billion. The extension digit (1 digit) gives you 10 namespaces, and the serial reference (~9-12 digits depending on your prefix length) gives you ~1 billion per namespace. In practice, no company runs out — SSCCs are recycled after several years once everyone has finished archiving the EDI documents that referenced them.
Is SSCC required for shipping?
Required by Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, Home Depot, and most major retailers for any palletized shipment from a supplier. Required by DSCSA pharma supply chain for case and pallet aggregation events. Not required for direct-to-consumer e-commerce shipments (UPS and FedEx use their own tracking numbers, not SSCCs). The threshold is 'are you sending pallets to a retailer's distribution center?' If yes, SSCC is mandatory.
Can I have the same SSCC on two pallets?
No — by design. The 'Serial' in SSCC means each unit gets a unique number that's never reused while the original is still 'in flight' in the supply chain. GS1 recommends not recycling an SSCC for at least 12 months after the shipment closes. Most companies don't recycle them at all because their WMS doesn't make it worth saving the namespace.
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