Online container tracking is essential for any business that deals with buying or selling to any location on the map. Tracking the container that your merchandise is in will not only tell you where the merchandise is located, but can give you detailed information as to the time you can expect delivery. The current position of your cargo, as well as the last transshipment and its location can be found through container tracking.

There are websites available to any company that offers you the opportunity to integrate a track and trace system into your own company’s website for customers to use. All logistics companies that deal with sea containers or forwarding should take advantage of container tracking. There are many container tracking systems that work with different shipping lines, and many of these shipping lines are known to use many of the same container tracking systems online. Therefore it is beneficial to any company that uses container tracking to search and find the one container tracking site that offers their shipping lines most commonly used.

There are generally 3 ways of container tracking online. You can use the container reference number, the bill of lading number or the booking number from the shipping line. Many websites that offer container tracking also offer routing finders as well as line services or voyage finders. The routing finder allows you to type in the code or name of the location of loading as well as the name or code for the place of discharge. This will then offer you the route that your container is taking on its way to you. For the voyage finder, simply typing in the voyage reference number or letters will give you all the information about the containers on that voyage. There are many options available for container tracking for your business.

There are other websites that offer you container tracking by entering in the vessel name that your container is being sent on. Once entered, results will populate that will give you information on the next 10 port calls as well as all the vessel’s statistics. When using the vessel tracking however, since 9/11 many companies require a home port ID to use this option.

The newest technology in container tracking is a battery powered device that is placed in with the goods of the container. This GPS system enables you to know whether the container tracking information is correct and that your load has not went missing. These types of GPS systems used for container tracking are controlled through an internet based system and interface, so that you are always aware of the whereabouts of your goods. If this seems a bit overwhelming to you, if you have ever had a load go missing or sent to the wrong place, you understand the idea behind this great GPS system for container tracking.

There are many online companies that offer container tracking, that are reputable and user friendly. If your company has any dealings with container shipping and receiving, finding a reliable container tracker is of the utmost importance.