How to Track a Bill of Lading (BL Number): Step-by-Step Guide
A Bill of Lading (B/L or BOL) is one of the most important documents in international shipping. Beyond being a legal contract and receipt, your Bill of Lading number can also be used to track your shipment's progress. In this guide, we'll explain how to effectively track shipments using your BL number.
What is a Bill of Lading?
A Bill of Lading serves three critical functions in international trade:
- Receipt of Goods: Confirms the carrier received the cargo in good condition
- Contract of Carriage: Establishes terms between shipper and carrier
- Document of Title: Represents ownership of the goods
Understanding Your BL Number
Bill of Lading numbers vary by shipping line but typically follow certain patterns:
- Usually 9-20 characters long
- May contain a mix of letters and numbers
- Often includes the carrier's SCAC code or prefix
- Unique to each shipment booking
Examples of BL number formats:
- Maersk: 123456789 or MAEU123456789
- MSC: MEDU1234567
- COSCO: 6012345678
- Hapag-Lloyd: HLCU1234567890
How to Track Using Your BL Number
Method 1: Carrier Website
Each major shipping line provides BL tracking on their website:
- Visit the carrier's official website
- Navigate to their tracking or cargo tracking section
- Select 'Bill of Lading' as the reference type
- Enter your BL number
- View your shipment details
Method 2: Ocean by Traqo Platform
The most efficient way to track Bill of Lading numbers is through Ocean by Traqo:
- Universal BL tracking: Track BL numbers from any major shipping line
- Auto-carrier detection: Simply enter your BL number - we'll identify the carrier automatically
- Real-time updates: Get the latest status without visiting multiple websites
- Complete visibility: View container details, vessel information, and route maps
- Historical data: Access complete tracking history for your records
Method 3: Contact Your Freight Forwarder
Your freight forwarder can provide:
- Direct access to tracking through their systems
- Additional context and insights
- Proactive updates on delays or issues
BL Tracking vs Container Tracking
Understanding the difference helps you choose the right approach:
| BL Number Tracking | Container Number Tracking |
|---|---|
| Tracks entire shipment | Tracks individual container |
| May include multiple containers | Single container focus |
| Shows booking-level details | Shows container-specific events |
| Carrier-specific format | Standardized ISO format |
Tips for BL Number Tracking
- Keep your original BL: The number format must match exactly
- Know your carrier: Some platforms require carrier selection for BL tracking
- Try both reference types: If BL doesn't work, try the container number
- Check for prefixes: Some carriers require the full BL including any letter prefixes
Track Your BL with Ocean by Traqo
Stop juggling between different carrier websites. Ocean by Traqo provides a unified platform for all your shipment tracking needs. Whether you have a Bill of Lading or container number, get instant visibility across 100+ shipping lines.
Visit traqocontainer.com to track your shipment now.