Metrc (Illinois) has issued Support Bulletin IL_IB_0027 (effective 02/11/2026, distributed 02/17/2026) announcing a new vehicle-management field that lets transporters store a vehicle’s Registration Number directly in Metrc. This article explains what changed, where the new field appears in transfers and deliveries, and what the update means for day-to-day transporter and shipping compliance.
Bulletin IL_IB_0027 overview (Illinois Metrc)
This Illinois Metrc enhancement adds a Registration Number field to transporter vehicle records. Metrc designed the field to support multiple state-required vehicle identifiers, including vehicle registration numbers, certification numbers, or VIN-style identifiers, depending on how Illinois (or a specific program configuration) requires transporter details to be captured.
The goal is to improve transparency for regulators and reduce the need for external spreadsheets or workarounds when documenting transporter vehicle identifiers.
What changed in Metrc: the new Vehicle Registration Number field
Where the field lives
The new Registration Number field is available when you add a vehicle or update an existing vehicle in Metrc’s vehicle management area for transporters. It complements existing vehicle details such as make and model to create a more complete vehicle record.
Field rules and limitations operators should know
Metrc’s Illinois bulletin specifies the following behaviors for the Registration Number field:
- Optional field: Metrc allows you to save a vehicle without a Registration Number, unless a specific transfer workflow or state configuration requires it at the time of a transfer or delivery action.
- Up to 100 characters: The field accepts up to 100 alphanumeric characters, which supports a wide range of formats used by different agencies.
- Uniqueness across active vehicles: A Registration Number can only be associated with one active vehicle at a time. This helps prevent duplicate identifiers across active transporter assets.
Required permission in Metrc
To add or edit a vehicle’s Registration Number, a licensed user must have the appropriate permission to manage Transporters in Metrc. If your team cannot see or edit vehicle details, it’s typically a role/permission issue rather than a system error.
How the Registration Number shows up in transfers
For Licensed transfers and External transfers, when you select a transfer type that is configured to capture Transporter Information, Metrc will display the vehicle’s Registration Number alongside the rest of the transporter’s vehicle details in the transfer action window.
Operationally, this matters because transport staff, shipping managers, and compliance teams can confirm the vehicle identifier being represented on the transfer without looking outside Metrc. If Illinois requires a specific identifier for a given workflow, this is also where the field may be treated as required based on configuration.
Transfers Hub visibility
The Illinois bulletin also notes that the Transfers Hub displays the vehicle registration information within the transporter/vehicle details view. This improves audit-readiness by making the information visible to teams reviewing transfer records after the fact.
Transfer manifest output
The transfer manifest will include the vehicle’s Registration Number alongside other vehicle information. For day-to-day operations, this reduces the risk of inconsistencies between what is stored in Metrc and what appears on documentation provided during transport or inspections.
How the Registration Number shows up in sales deliveries
Metrc’s update extends beyond transfers into Sales Deliveries. Sales delivery records display the Vehicle Registration Number within the transporter/vehicle information, and the Sales Delivery Hub was updated to show the same vehicle registration details.
This is especially useful for retail or delivery workflows where multiple vehicles may be used across different routes, shifts, or third-party transport arrangements. Having the identifier stored in Metrc can help align your internal dispatch records with what regulators expect to see tied to a specific delivery.
Practical compliance implications for Illinois cannabis operators
Better accuracy and fewer “off-system” workarounds
Before this enhancement, many teams tracked vehicle identifiers in external tools (spreadsheets, dispatch apps, SOP binders) and then tried to reconcile those details during audits or incident reviews. Storing the identifier directly in Metrc reduces the chance of mismatched or missing transporter vehicle information.
Audit readiness and internal controls
Because the Registration Number is visible in key places (vehicle records, transfer workflows, hubs, and manifests), compliance teams can more easily:
- Validate that the correct vehicle identifier is tied to the correct vehicle record
- Confirm the identifier displayed at the time of transfer or delivery matches internal dispatch documentation
- Reduce duplicate identifiers across active vehicles (since Metrc restricts one active association per Registration Number)
Team workflow changes to plan for
In day-to-day operations, most businesses will want to update SOPs for onboarding new vehicles and configuring transporter details so the Registration Number is captured consistently. Even though the field is optional in the vehicle record, it may become effectively required if a transfer type or state program configuration enforces transporter identifier capture during shipment creation.
Related compliance tooling: DistruLabels and DistruERP
DistruLabels (free) for compliant cannabis labels
DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels. For operators working in Metrc, it can help support Metrc Retail ID compliance by generating consistent retail-ready labels that align with the identifiers and product data you maintain in your seed-to-sale system.
DistruERP for complete supply chain management
For larger operators needing end-to-end visibility across cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and sales operations, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform built for complete supply chain management. It’s typically used to connect operational workflows (inventory, orders, fulfillment, and compliance processes) so teams can scale while maintaining reliable reporting and controls.
Metrc resources referenced in the bulletin
Metrc Support
Metrc Support can be reached by phone at 877-566-6506, or through the Support portal (accessible via metrc.com). Hours listed in the bulletin are Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m. ET, and Sunday voicemail/portal only.
Metrc Learn and Metrc Expert
The bulletin also highlights Metrc Learn (on-demand training) and Metrc Expert (in-app knowledge base) as resources for system functionality guidance and step-by-step help.
