DD Form 1387 Military Shipment Label: Fill Out and Use This PDF

Military Shipment Label (MSL) PDF Details

The Military Shipment Label is the official Department of Defense transportation form used to identify and track every shipment moving through the military supply chain worldwide. Governed by Military Standard 129R (MIL-STD-129R), this label ensures accurate routing, handling, and delivery of military cargo from origin to final destination. The form received approval from the Office of Management and Budget under control number 0704-0188, reflecting its standing as a mandatory government document across all branches of the armed forces.

The label is divided into distinct data blocks, each serving a specific logistical function. The Transportation Control Number (TCN) is a 17-character alphanumeric code assigned to each shipment for end-to-end tracking through the Defense Transportation System. The Department of Defense Activity Address Code (DODAAC) identifies the receiving unit, and a full mailing address including ZIP code and unit name is required for every shipment. The type of service field specifies the transportation mode: air, surface, or water. The transportation priority level (Priority 1 for urgent, Priority 2 for routine, Priority 3 for deferred) is assigned based on mission impact and operational need. The Required Delivery Date (RDD), recorded in Julian date format, indicates when the shipment must arrive at the consignee. Weight in pounds, cube in cubic feet, and piece number fields allow tracking of individual pieces within multi-piece shipments.

Modern military shipment labels also incorporate passive RFID technology per MIL-STD-129R requirements. RFID tags must be applied to each individual piece and encoded with data matching the printed label. This enables automated identification without line-of-sight scanning, improving supply chain visibility for Department of Defense logistics managers. The label must be applied to all sides of a shipping container that do not already carry markings from prior shipments. For sensitive or classified cargo, a companion label with distinctive markings is required to ensure appropriate security handling. Proper use of the label is a regulatory requirement under the Defense Transportation Regulation.