SAP is removing leading zeroes from external EXIDV Handling Unit value

All,

I am externally assigning the Handling Unit numbers. When I try to enter a value which begins with a leading zero, when I press enter, SAP removes the leading zeroes. This is a problem as I need the leading zeroes. They should not be truncated.

Can someone please help me fix this so the leading zeroes are not truncated?

The field I am entering the HU is VEKP-EXIDV in VL02n when I am in the pack screen.

I get the issue both in the foreground when packing in VL02n as well as in the background when I use an IDOC.

Any ideas how to get SAP to allow the leading zeroes to remain as the external HU