What Can I Use to Track a Shipment?
Learn which shipment references you can use when creating a tracking request.
Tracktainer
Last Update il y a 9 jours
Supported tracking references
Tracktainer allows you to start tracking using three main types of shipment references.
Container Number
A container number is the unique identification number assigned to a shipping container.
Example:
MSCU7283610
Container numbers generally follow the ISO 6346 structure:
MSCU — Owner code
728361 — Serial number
0 — Check digit
Use a container number when you want to track a specific container.
Bill of Lading
You can also use a Bill of Lading number, commonly referred to as a B/L number.
The Bill of Lading is associated with the shipment and may contain one or multiple containers.
Use B/L tracking when you want to follow the shipment using the transport document reference instead of an individual container number.
Booking Reference
A carrier booking number can also be used to start tracking.
A booking may contain multiple containers.
For example, Tracktainer notifications can show individual progress for several containers belonging to the same booking, including which containers have completed an event and which are still pending.
Which reference should I use?
If you have a container number, this is usually the simplest way to track one specific container.
If you're managing a shipment containing several containers, using the Bill of Lading or booking reference may give you a broader shipment-level view.
Do I need to select the carrier?
Usually, no.
Tracktainer's Auto Detect option is designed to identify the carrier based on the reference you enter.
We'll cover this in detail in the next article.