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A shipping label is the transport label a courier generates and fixes to each parcel. It carries four things at once: the routing data the sorting hub reads, the address the delivery driver uses, the declaration the destination customs sees, and the basis for charging freight.
Courier systems generate the label once the shipment is entered. It carries the waybill number and barcode, sender and recipient details, service type, declared contents and value, weight and piece count, and the destination routing code.
| Type | How you get it | Typical user |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier account label | Generated in the carrier's portal or account system | Regular shippers with a monthly account |
| Forwarder label | Generated in the forwarder's or consolidator's system | Smaller sellers shipping at discounted rates |
| Handwritten waybill | Completed by the courier or at a counter | One-off shipments |
| Pre-generated label | Number issued before the parcel is handed over | Giving the buyer a tracking number in advance |
| Platform label | Generated through a marketplace or ERP integration | E-commerce sellers pushing tracking back automatically |
| Field | How to complete it | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Sender details | Full company name, address, contact, phone | Abbreviated company name with no reachable contact |
| Recipient details | Name, street and number, city, state, postcode, phone | Missing street number or postcode, so delivery fails |
| Recipient phone | Include the country code and make sure it is answered | A single wrong digit leaves the driver unable to call |
| Waybill number and barcode | System generated; never overwrite it | Tape covering the barcode so machines cannot scan it |
| Service type | Choose the transit speed you actually need | Defaulting to the cheapest service and missing the deadline |
| Description of goods | Specific English description | Writing gift or sample and being treated as a false declaration |
| Declared value | Match the enclosed invoice, and state the currency | Understating value, then facing duty and penalties on examination |
| Piece count | Number every piece, as in 1 of 3 | No numbering, so a missing piece goes unnoticed until the destination |
Express clearance works from the label plus the enclosed invoice. Destination customs uses the description and value to decide whether duty applies, whether a permit is needed, and whether anti-dumping measures are in scope. A specific description lowers the chance of examination.
Lithium batteries, loose cells, magnetic items, liquids and powders, and goods carrying brand marks are all restricted on express channels. They need extra labelling, and some can only travel on a dedicated restricted-goods service.
| Cargo | Documentation and marking | Channel requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment with lithium batteries installed | Battery mark, UN38.3 test report | Often accepted on standard services with declaration |
| Loose cells and power banks | Battery class mark, compliant packaging | Banned on most services; dedicated restricted-goods channel required |
| Magnetic items | Magnetic field test report or shielded packing | Above the limit, shielding and retesting are required |
| Liquids and powders | Composition statement and safety data sheet | Category and destination limits vary by channel |
| Branded goods | Brand authorisation or proof of legitimate purchase | High infringement risk; most channels refuse |
| Cause | How it shows up | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Incomplete address | No street number, postcode, or state | Confirm the full address with the recipient before dispatch |
| Unreachable phone | Wrong number, or nobody answers | Check the country code and ask the recipient to keep the line open |
| Clearance refused | False declaration, or a missing permit or certificate | Prepare the documents and marks the destination requires |
| Recipient refuses the parcel | Duty too high, or goods not as ordered | Agree who pays duty before dispatch |
| Nobody available to sign | Repeat failed attempts, then return | Choose a service with collection from a depot or redelivery |
| Prohibited goods | Channel screening flags restricted cargo | Confirm the channel accepts the category before dispatch |
The transport label a courier generates and fixes to each parcel. It handles sorting and routing, provides the delivery address, carries the customs declaration, and records the freight basis. It is not a bill of lading, though it performs the waybill function on express shipments.
The label is the physical tag on the box; the waybill is the document recording the contract of carriage. On express shipments the two carry essentially the same data, and the label can be thought of as the waybill's carrier on the parcel.
Write a concrete English description such as plastic kitchenware or stainless steel bolt. Words like gift, sample, and parts invite examination at the destination and can be treated as a false declaration.
Destination customs will revalue against the goods and market prices. The result is back duty plus possible penalties, a hold, or a return. The label, invoice, and packing list must all state the same figures.
Equipment with lithium batteries installed needs a battery mark and a UN38.3 test report, and it can often travel on a standard service with a correct declaration. Loose cells and power banks are banned on most services and need a dedicated channel.
Print on thermal or laser stock so the barcode is sharp. One label per parcel, no tape over the barcode, applied to the flattest face and reinforced on all four edges so it does not come loose in transit.
Normally the sender, for both legs, and the amount can exceed the original charge. The usual causes are an incomplete address, an unreachable phone number, refused clearance, or the recipient declining the parcel.
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