Collecting a label in an item delivery system (100) comprises reading a label on a unit load when the unit load is terminated, defacing the label if the quality of the label meets a predefined quality level, depositing the label in a read bin holder if the quality of the label meets a predetermined quality level, and depositing the label in a no-read bin holder if the quality of the label does not meet a predefined quality level. The item delivery system includes a network (160) facilitating communication between an information system (110), a label collection system (120), legacy systems (130), customer systems (140), and delivery systems (150).