Jan 05, 2024

FedEx barcode(FDX1D) changes coming February 2024

As FedEx continues to increase the One FedEx footprint and add new services and special service options, it has become necessary to change the format of the FDX1D barcode data for Express shipments. This may affect your customer’s sortation processes.

The FedEx 1D barcode consists of 34 characters, the first 8 of which constitute the Product Index. All valid combinations of base service, package type, service options, and Form ID are assigned a unique 8-digit Product Index number. Currently, all Product Indexes begin with a value of “1” or “9”.  

To allow FedEx Express to add new services and special service options, the first digit of an Express shipment will expand to a range of 0 – 8. The immediate impact of this change will take place in the February 2024 URSA for shipments to a specific section of Canada. Express shipments to any one of these 284 postal codes may have a “2” in the starting position. Please note that that this is just the first of many projects to impact this digit, so this change will eventually affect all shippers, not just Canada shippers. FedEx Ground continues to reserve “9”.  

Although the Product Index was not designed for external customer use, we are aware that some customers may be using the value to differentiate between Ground and Express packages to direct shipments to different dock doors or otherwise create automated rules. If you know of a shipper who has implemented a sort scanning process that relies on the starting digit of the barcode, please inform them of this change and that in the future Express shipments will use a range of 0 – 8 in the starting position.