An LPN (license plate number) is a barcode label that groups items into one trackable container, like a pallet or box. Multi-warehouse accounts, whether a 3PL or a brand, sometimes need to move LPNs between warehouses without losing LPN-level traceability. LPN warehouse transfer does this in two controlled stages: load the LPNs into a non-sellable in-transit location at the origin warehouse, then receive them into a receiving location at the destination warehouse using the mobile app.
Before You Begin
- Activation required: Contact ShipHero Support to enable LPN transfers between warehouses in your account.
- Required user role permission: The user's role must have License Plate Number permissions enabled and be assigned to the appropriate warehouse for each step (Step 1: origin warehouse, Step 2: destination warehouse).
- LPNs: The LPNs you're transferring already exist in the origin warehouse and have scannable barcode labels.
- Locations: The origin warehouse has a dedicated in-transit location, such as In-Transit-MW, marked as non-sellable. The destination warehouse has a receiving location, such as REC-40.
Important
Don't change LPN contents while inventory is in transit. LPN warehouse transfer preserves the same LPN identity and contents from loading through receipt.
For an overview of LPNs in ShipHero, see Overview: License Plate Numbers (LPNs) in ShipHero.
Table of Contents
- How LPN Warehouse Transfer Works
- Expected Result: LPN Warehouse Transfer
- Operational Tips for LPN Warehouse Transfers
How LPN Warehouse Transfer Works
LPN warehouse transfer moves LPNs between warehouses in two stages: move the LPNs to an in-transit location at the origin warehouse, then receive them at the destination warehouse. An in-transit location is a standard warehouse location marked non-sellable, so inventory in it can't be sold or allocated while it travels.
In this example, the origin warehouse is 3PL - MIDWEST, its stock location is OVER-50, and its in-transit location is In-Transit-MW. The destination warehouse is 3PL - WEST, and its receiving location is REC-40.
Pro-Tip
Name the in-transit location so any user can tell the inventory is between warehouses, for example In-Transit-MW. You can reuse the same in-transit location for future transfers.
Step 1: Move LPNs to an In-Transit Location at the Origin Warehouse
When LPNs are physically loaded onto the truck or transport, update their location in ShipHero so the system shows they're no longer available at the origin stock location.
Use the mobile app's Putaway flow to do this. Putaway is the flow normally used to move inventory into a new location. Here, it works as a stand-in for a warehouse-to-warehouse transfer. For a full walkthrough of the app screens, see How to Use Putaway V2 with LPN Support in ShipHero Mobile.
- In the mobile app, open Putaway and scan the origin stock location barcode (for example, OVER-50). The app adds the LPNs from that location, in this example P125 and B395, to the putaway list.
- Tap Start putaway.
- Scan any LPN from the list.
- Scan the in-transit location barcode (for example, In-Transit-MW) as the destination for each LPN.
- Repeat until every LPN is moved, then confirm the putaway summary.
| New Putaway List | Start Putaway Tapped | In-Transit Location Scanned | Putaway Summary |
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Note for 3PLs: An LPN can contain inventory from more than one client. ShipHero doesn't currently limit an LPN to a single client's merchandise.
Step 2: Receive Transferred LPNs at the Destination Warehouse
When the transport arrives at the destination warehouse, receive the LPNs into a receiving location. In this example, the destination warehouse is 3PL - WEST and the receiving location is REC-40.
- In the mobile app, switch to the destination warehouse.
- Open the ShipHero mobile menu, select Receiving, and then Receive transferred LPN (New).
- Scan the destination receiving location (for example, REC-40). The app prompts you to scan the LPNs to receive into that location.
- Scan each LPN that arrived on the transport: B395, P125. For a palletized or nested LPN, scan the parent LPN. A parent LPN holds other LPNs, called nested or child LPNs, and receiving the parent LPN P125 also brings its nested LPNs into REC-40.
- Review the receive list. The mobile app shows the destination receiving location and the LPNs being received.
- Complete the receipt.
| Scan Receiving Location | Scan LPN to Receive | Scanned LPN with Nested Children | Receive Summary |
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The receive list shows the transferred LPNs being received into REC-40, with their origin shown as 3PL - MIDWEST. This confirms that the destination warehouse is receiving inventory that was previously moved into the origin warehouse's in-transit location.
Receiving matches LPN barcodes, not warehouse locations, so the origin warehouse's in-transit location is never scanned during receiving. This also means two warehouses can use in-transit locations with the same name without causing conflicts.
Expected Result: LPN Warehouse Transfer
After an LPN warehouse transfer is complete:
- The transferred LPNs are no longer sitting in the origin warehouse's sellable stock location.
- Parent and nested child LPNs remain traceable.
- The destination warehouse can put the received LPNs away to their final locations.
- The LPN records show updated location, status, contents, and history for traceability.
Operational Tips for LPN Warehouse Transfers
- Only use the in-transit location for inventory that has physically left the origin warehouse. Move LPNs into it when they're loaded.
- If an LPN doesn't appear during destination receiving, confirm it was moved to the origin warehouse's in-transit location first, and that the user is set to the receiving warehouse.
- To reconcile in-transit inventory against a transport manifest, run the Item-Location report and filter it to your in-transit location. ShipHero doesn't have a dedicated in-transit LPN report.