Tracking —Container & Bill of Lading
Track your shipments in real time using your container number or bill of lading (B/L) number.Get up-to-date vessel schedules, port arrival times, and container status — all in one place.
Container Tracking vs Bill of Lading Tracking
Track by container number
Use your container number (e.g. ABCD1234567) to track the real-time location and status of your cargo. Container numbers typically start with the prefix. Best for: importers and exporters monitoring specific cargo units from origin to destination.
Track by bill of lading
Use your B/L number to retrieve full shipment details, including all containers linked to a single booking. B/L numbers are found on your original shipping documents. Best for: freight forwarders managing multiple containers under one consignment.
How to Track Your Container with Tradlinx
Tracking your container is fast and easy with Tradlinx.Get real-time updates at every milestone from pickup to final return for complete shipment visibility.
Enter your container number
Input your 11-character container number into the search field at the top of this page (e.g., ABCD1234567). Not sure what your container number looks like? See the guide below.
Click "Track Container"
View real-time container location, estimated arrival time, and potential delays — all in one place.
Check end-to-end container location
Track your container's journey in real-time, from pickup to final return.
Smarter Container Tracking —Accurate, Automated, and End-to-End
- Covers 98% of global containers across major shipping lines and ports
- Over 3 million containers tracked with precise, real-time updates
- Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) auto-updated with AI-powered accuracy
- Track every event in real time from container pickup to return
- Monitor detailed events, including transshipment and inland transportation
- Get insights to avoid demurrage & detention with precise movement tracking
- Get notified instantly via email and in-app alerts
- Monitor historical ETA changes to track trends
- Share automated delay and ETA change reports with customers and partners
- 12x more frequent data updates compared to competitors
- Processed carrier data with support for additional shipment events
- Hourly data granularity for precise tracking and insights
Real-Time Container Tracking
- Covers 98% of global containers across major shipping lines and ports
- Over 3 million containers tracked with precise, real-time updates
- Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) auto-updated with AI-powered accuracy
Complete Container Route & History Tracking
- Track every event in real time from container pickup to return
- Monitor detailed events, including transshipment and inland transportation
- Get insights to avoid demurrage & detention with precise movement tracking
Smart Delay & ETA Change Alerts
- Get notified instantly via email and in-app alerts
- Monitor historical ETA changes to track trends
- Share automated delay and ETA change reports with customers and partners
Unmatched Data Accuracy
- 12x more frequent data updates compared to competitors
- Processed carrier data with support for additional shipment events
- Hourly data granularity for precise tracking and insights
How to Track Shipments Using Tradlinx B/L Tracking
Using the Tradlinx B/L Tracking tool, you can easily track the shipment status of all cargo handled by carriers. Here's how:
Enter the Master B/L number issued by carriers
Input your Master B/L number into the Tradlinx B/L Tracking tool at the top of this page.
Click the "Track B/L" button
Tradlinx will retrieve real-time shipment data directly from carrier feed.
View real-time shipment details
See departure and arrival ports, transshipment updates, and estimated time of arrival (ETA) for your full consignment.
*Sign up as a Tradlinx Ocean Visibility trial user to track up to 10 additional shipments. Gain access to detailed operation logs, container events data, and more real-time insights.
All About Bills of Lading (B/L)
Streamline Your Workflow with B/L Insights.
A Bill of Lading (B/L) is a vital document used in international shipping. It serves as both a receipt for goods being transported and a document of title, enabling the exchange of goods between sellers and buyers.
In export and import transactions, the B/L acts as proof of ownership. It is exchanged for goods during the sale and purchase process.
Types of B/L
- Original B/L: Typically issued in triplicate by the shipping or logistics company, with additional copies for banks and records.
- Waybill or Surrendered B/L: Issued based on the transaction’s needs.
The B/L can vary by the issuer
- Master B/L (issued by carriers): Also referred to as “Carrier B/L” or “Master Direct B/L.”
- House B/L (issued by freight forwarders): A customized version for specific clients.
Master B/L (Carrier B/L) and House B/L (Forwarder B/L) differ in terms of the issuing party and their characteristics:
Master B/L
- Issued by the shipping line (carrier).
- Benefits: Faster clearance upon cargo arrival.
- Limitation: Limited flexibility in resolving shipment-specific issues.
House B/L
- Issued by the freight forwarder.
- Benefits: Personalized support and issue resolution.
- Limitation: May involve additional time and fees.
Shippers can choose the B/L type that aligns with their needs and operational priorities.
To identify the issuing party, check the bottom or top-right corner of the document.
Master B/L numbers are typically located at the top-right corner of the Bill of Lading document and follow the format XXXX12345689.
- The first 3–4 letters represent the carrier’s prefix code (e.g., COSU for COSCO, MSCU for MSC).
- This is followed by 8–12 alphanumeric characters.
- Some carriers may use 3-letter prefixes instead of 4.
Shipping Company Master B/L Prefix Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) MSCU, MEDU Maersk Line MAEU CMA CGM CMDU COSCO Shipping COSU, COAU Hapag-Lloyd HLCU Evergreen Marine EGLV Ocean Network Express (ONE) ONEY Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) HDMU Yang Ming Marine Transport YMLU, YMJA, YMPR ZIM Integrated Shipping Services ZIMU
