APL bill of lading tracking

How to read an APL bill of lading number

APLU4655331 example only — not a real shipment

A bill of lading number identifies the transport document, not the box: it usually starts with the carrier’s four-letter code (its SCAC) — APLU for APL — followed by the document number, e.g. APLU4655331.

You’ll find it top-right on the B/L or sea waybill. It’s different from the container number (which identifies the physical box and can cover several containers on one B/L) and from your booking reference — if one identifier returns nothing, try the other on the carrier’s page.

If your APL tracking isn’t working

1. 1 Check the number format first

   Bill-of-lading numbers start with the carrier’s letter code followed by the document number (like APLU4655331). Make sure you’re using the B/L number, not the container number or the booking reference — they’re three different identifiers on the same paperwork.

2. 2 Make sure the number was issued by this carrier

   If your shipment was booked through a freight forwarder, the number on your paperwork may be the forwarder’s own reference, which APL’s system won’t recognise. Ask whoever issued your documents which carrier number to use — or paste the number on our homepage and we’ll work out who it belongs to.

3. 3 Too early or too late

   New shipments can take a little while to appear — most carriers only start returning results once the bill of lading is in their system after export gate-in or acceptance. Long-delivered shipments drop out too: tracking data is usually purged weeks or months after delivery.

4. 4 Paste carefully on APL’s page

   APL asks you to type the number on its own page, so paste it exactly — no spaces before or after, and no extra characters picked up from an email. If the page shows a security check, complete it and search again.

5. 5 Still nothing?

   Your booking agent or APL’s customer service can look the shipment up internally — have the bill of lading number and the issuing office or booking reference handy when you ask.

Frequently asked questions

How do I track an APL bill of lading?

Type your bill of lading number in the box above and press Track. You’ll land on APL’s own tracking page — paste your number there and search. APL bill of lading numbers usually begin with APLU.

What does an APL bill of lading number look like?

Bill-of-lading numbers usually start with the carrier’s four-letter code (its SCAC prefix) followed by the document number — for example COSU6285551440. For APL the carrier code is APLU. A format-valid example is APLU4655331.

Why does the APL page open without my number filled in?

APL asks everyone to enter the number on its own page (it has a security check), so it can’t be filled in ahead of time. We bring you to the right page — just paste your number there.

What if my number doesn’t start with APLU?

Then it probably wasn’t issued by APL — shipments booked through a freight forwarder or partner carrier often travel under another company’s bill of lading number. Paste the number on our homepage and we’ll suggest the right carriers and forwarder, or check your shipping paperwork for who issued it.

Is this APL’s official tracking site?

No — this is a free, independent tool that brings every carrier’s tracking together in one place. When you track here you end up on APL’s own page, so everything you see comes straight from APL. We never see or store your shipment details.