The United States Postal Service (USPS) is to place new two-dimensional barcodes on its leased box trucks and trailers.
The new 99V barcodes use two-dimensional data matrices – also known as QR codes – and are replacing traditional barcodes. When scanned, they provide a vehicle identification number and information about the vehicle, such as its type and dimensions. They are expected to be more robust but can still be scanned if they do get damaged.
During processing, packages are assigned to a container before being placed on a truck or trailer. The barcode on the truck or trailer is then scanned, thereby associating that vehicle with the package containers it is carrying.
The USPS logistics team expects to have the new barcodes installed on the entire fleet by the end of the summer. The company says it has installed new barcodes on approximately 95% of its fleet of owned and leased trailers and box trucks.
Mike Taylor, a USPS logistics program analyst, said, “These barcodes improve the visibility of packages as they move through the network. We know what is in these trucks and trailers and where they are at any given moment.”
