Container Cargo Tracking

Container cargo tracking is an essential tool in determining the location of the cargo that you have sent via sea, land or air freight forwarding services. You can find this tool via the internet, through certain websites that specifically offer tracking services for all types of cargos.

You may also find the same service on your freight forwarder’s official website. While shipments usually have a pre-determined schedule of departure and arrival; there are instances when unforeseen occurrences take place that wreak havoc on the shipment schedule.

In this regard, a container cargo tracking service is your best tool in locating your cargo.

How It Works

Whether you are using a second party container cargo tracking or the one provided by your freight forwarding service, there are basically three types of information that you may be asked to furnish to expedite tracking of your shipment.

These information are the Container, Bill of Lading and Booking Number. Oftentimes, you wouldn’t be required to give all of the above information. You may simply be asked to choose one and then input the corresponding number specific to your chosen information.

Once you have typed in the needed information, the container cargo tracking service will try to locate your package as best they can. Usually, what you will see is the date of shipment, estimated time of arrival, and the location of your package.

Sometimes, the reason for the delay is also included. The most common reason of delay is changes in weather conditions.

Map Tracking

There is another type of container cargo tracking and this one uses a virtual map to let you know the exact or estimated location of your shipment. For this type of cargo tracking service, you may be asked to provide your specific container, the shipping or freight forwarding service that you used and the port of discharge.

If you are unsure of the port of discharge, there usually is a link that will give you the names of ports in different parts of the globe. From the list, you can select the port that your cargo was dispatched from.

After you have given all the required information, there is an indicator on the virtual map that will give you the estimated location of your cargo. As with other virtual maps, you can zoom in and zoom out the exact spot on the map so you can have a closer or aerial look of the current location of your shipment.

With most container cargo tracking services, there is a list of the freight forwarding companies that they are affiliated with so you can readily check if they can accommodate your cargo tracking request.

Air Cargo Tracking