How the ISO 6346 check digit works.

The check digit is the final number in an ISO 6346 container identifier. It exists to catch bad container numbers before they become bad operational records.

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Definition

What the check digit does

The check digit is a validation digit calculated from the letters and serial digits ahead of it. If the remainder does not match the last digit, the container number is invalid.

Why teams care

It catches mistakes that look close enough to pass by eye.

Gate teams, depot operators, truckers, and surveyors often deal with numbers that are only one character off. The ISO 6346 calculation catches many of those mistakes before they hit the record.

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PrefixCheck runs the ISO 6346 validation workflow directly in the field.

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