The Vendor Shipment Module (VSM) is a web application operated by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to manage of shipments made to its depots and customers by defense contractors. Its primary function is to provide the current address of military recipients and assign Transportation Control Numbers (TCNs) to shipments. More recently VSM has begun to provide pre-assigned shipment labels for small parcel services, such as FedEx and UPS. For larger shipments (TL/LTL), VSM provides the necessary paperwork for transportation carriers.
Defense contractors remain responsible for labeling their shipments in accordance with Mil-Std-129 and invoicing the Government with its Wide Area Workflow (WAWF) web application. Contractors using compliance labeling products like MIL-Comply/Labeling can prepare container labels then use VSM Automation to request a TCN, Ship-To address and other data necessary to prepare Military Shipment Labels and print transportation labels (e.g. UPS and FedEx). Automation products such as this interface with DLA servers allowing shipping without use of the VSM web site.