Best ways to track bill of lading in 2024 [+ tackle 5 current challenges] (2024)

To track a bill of lading means hours of manual coordination with various stakeholders, which can soon turn into a frustrating experience. Luckily, with technological advancements, automation of real-time data about your container’s whereabouts is now possible. Find out how Container xChange can help you track your BL in 4 easy ways using digital innovations.

Are you tired of trying to track bill of lading using a tracking service or carrier website? These platforms are often unreliable, inefficient and time-consuming.

Tracking your shipment via the BL goes hand in hand with keeping tabs on your box. After all, container tracking is important for you to know where your containers are, ideally at all times. If there’s a problem or a delay, you need to be able to communicate this to your customers, as quickly as possible.

That’s why on Container xChange, we wanted to make this process as fast and efficient for you with our digitized offerings. Here’s how we can help:

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Track bill of lading at your fingertips with Container xChange

At Container xChange, we’ve created a service that allows you to track your shipments automatically, without the constant manual input. All you have to do is monitor your tracking dashboards and keep an eye out for issues. All tracking data is stored in the system, and is easily accessible, anywhere and at any time.

Say goodbye to tedious hours spent inputting bill of lading numbers and manually organizing information. Now you can access the information you need easily with just a few clicks. We let you focus on what’s important; your customers, and we do the rest.

It gets even better!

Container xChange enables you to manage not only your container tracking but your entire container logistics workflow, all in one place.

We’re a neutral platform connecting container owners and users. With over 50,000 containers available to lease or buy, in over 2,500 locations worldwide. We offer the best prices for both buying and leasing containers. All of our members are vetted and come with our stamp of approval, so you don’t have to worry about scams or fraud.

Once you become a member, you’ll have access to our leasing and buying platforms, tracking services, and so much more.

We’re here to help you track boxes easily. Start your journey today, by scheduling a free demo of our platform.

Track bill of lading with these companies

Digitizing your workflow process is the way of the future. Check out these companies who add to the world of digitalization:

Shipment Link

With Shipment Link, you can choose ‘quick tracking’ or ‘multiple tracking’ (the first option is for quickly checking on a shipment, and the second is for checking on more than one). You can track your containers using the bill of lading number, the booking number, or the container number.

Find Shipment Link here.

Track Trace

Track Trace uses the bill of lading numbers with the format XXXX123456789.

Shipup

With Shipup, you get one free tracking per week, otherwise, a fee is required to track containers. Again, you can track using the bill of lading number, container number, or booking number.

Registration is needed in order to track a shipment more than once a week.

Find Shipup here.

BoL number tracking: Importance of container monitoring in the shipping industry

You know what it’s like. A shipment has run late again. You didn’t get enough warning (or any), and now your customers are unhappy. Maybe they even left a scathing review on your website. This impacts negatively on your sales, and your business as a whole, not to mention your customer relations. No one wants that.

These days, various technologies are used in an attempt to make the shipping and transport process more transparent and traceable. These include big data, live location, and automation. Automated and digitized international container search is now slowly becoming more commonplace, but not nearly fast enough to keep up with the demand.

Container tracking systems help the logistics industry in various ways. This includes obtaining the exact location of cargo at various times, gathering port details, and tracking a container anywhere, anytime, without limitations. All of these are very useful for the container user or owner.

Here are some of the most widely-used tracking systems available at present:

How to track bill of lading in shipping

Unfortunately, the shipping industry is massive, and with so many moving parts, you’ve always got to factor in uncertainties and potential issues. This may never change. The main thing is that shippers know about these issues so that they can plan accordingly. Knowing where containers are, as well as their current status is infinitely helpful in pre-empting problems, keeping customers happy, and costs down.

As we know, this age-old industry has been snail-like in adopting new methods, leaving many parties frustrated and permanently out of the loop. With so many players involved, it’s no wonder communication is difficult and often gets lost. Things are far from efficient.

Thanks to recent innovations, there are ways to completely change how tracking is managed, with real-time data collection, and automated tracking software.

The good news is, xChange has created such a service.

At xChange, we track containers through several different channels. Information is pulled from carrier websites, depots, carrier reports, terminals, and xChange forecasts. This information is available via user-friendly dashboards.

With our platform, it’s also possible to track containers outside of Container xChange. Our API tracking allows users to integrate their equipment management systems with our system, as well as to export data as CSV or excel files. Now you can have all of your data neatly compiled, with just the click of a button!

On the dashboard, you can search for containers using container numbers, find partners, check for releases, and receive alerts.

You can also see as much or as little data as you want, from tracking multiple containers at once to honing in on the details of just one.

If you’re tired of inefficient tracking systems and hours wasted inputting data, it’s time to join Container xChange, and automate your container logistics and tracking processes.

Click below to learn more about tracking your container with us.

What is a bill of lading?

A bill of lading is an important document for tracking the whereabouts of a shipment during its long journey across the ocean. It’s basically a list containing legally binding information. The bill of lading acts as a receipt of freight services. It contains details about the cargo, such as the type, quantity and destination of the items.

The bill of lading ensures that the carrier delivers the shipment in good condition to the consigneeWhat is a consignee? When transporting freight (by ocean, air, or land), there are two parties involved — one who is shipping and the other who is receiving the freight. The recipient of the goods b... More (importer). It’s also particularly important for international trade, acting as proof of ownership over the goods being transported. It would be nearly impossible to transport goods internationally without this crucial piece of paper.

One of the easiest ways to track your shipment is by using the bill of lading number. So if you’re looking at your bill of lading document, you’ll find the BL number at the top right-hand corner of the document, next to the words ‘BOL #’. The number is a combination of 4 letters (the carrier’s code), followed by an 8, 10 or 12-digit code.

An example of a bill of lading number would be MSC17392833. You’re also going to need the shipping line name in order to track a bill of lading successfully.