# Live Tracking (https://docs.carlio.app/docs/exports/track-a-shipment)

Switch on shipment tracking so the carrier updates the vessel, the route and the arrival date



Shipment tracking reads the voyage from the carrier. The dashboard writes the vessel, the ports and the dates onto the shipping record of every linked car.

**Requirements:** permission to update cars. The plan must include tracked shipments. The limits are 15 shipments on Starter, 35 on Trade and 100 on Export. The form shows "Live tracking is not included in the current plan" when the plan has none.

## Steps [#steps]

1. Open the shipping form with **Edit Shipping** or **Add Shipping**. See [Record a shipment](/docs/exports/record-a-shipment).
2. Choose a line in **Shipping line**. The **Live tracking** switch stays off for **Other carrier, entered manually**.
3. Enter the **Bill of lading**, the **Booking number** or the **Container number**.
4. Turn on the **Live tracking** switch.
5. Under **Track by**, choose **Bill of Lading**, **Booking Number** or **Container Number**. The default is **Bill of Lading**. A button is unavailable when the line does not support that reference.
6. Select **Save**.

## Result [#result]

The **Vessel or truck**, **From**, **To**, **Departed** and **Arrives** fields become read-only. A note states that the carrier updates them. The **Shipping** panel of the car page then shows the carrier, the status, the route, the arrival date, the vessel and the time of the last update. Select **View Voyage** to open the **Shipment** tab.

The form states the use of the plan limit, for example "3 of 15 tracked shipments in use".

## Notes [#notes]

* The dashboard checks the reference with the carrier before it uses a tracking place. A mistyped reference is refused and uses no place.
* The message "Shipping details saved. Live tracking did not start." means that the record is saved and the tracking is not. The message states the reason.
* When every place of the plan is in use, the dashboard refuses a new reference with a message that names the plan limit. The remedies are raising the plan limit or stopping an active shipment. A delivered shipment holds no place.
* Cars with the same reference share one tracked shipment and one place. One bill of lading covers every container on it.
* A shipment that is already delivered when first checked is shown once and uses no place.
* The status shows as **Planned**, **In Transit**, **Delivered** or **Cancelled**. **Awaiting Carrier Data** appears before the first report. **Needs Attention** appears when the last update failed. Point at the badge to read the reason.
* The **Live Tracking** column of the exports list shows the status and the time of the last update.
* The dashboard refreshes active shipments in the background.
* The panel can suggest a status change. The text "The carrier reports departure." offers **Mark as In Transportation**. The text "The carrier reports arrival." offers **Mark as Delivered**. The change takes effect only after the team member selects the button.

## Refresh and stop [#refresh-and-stop]

Select **Refresh Tracking** in the row menu of the exports list, or the refresh button on the car page. A shipment can be refreshed once every 15 minutes. The button is unavailable until then.

Select **Stop Tracking** in the row menu to end tracking. Turning the switch off in the form and selecting **Save** has the same effect. On a shared reference, only the selected car leaves the shipment.

## When tracking stops by itself [#when-tracking-stops-by-itself]

| Reason                                                              | Text shown                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| The carrier reports delivery                                        | **Delivered**                              |
| The carrier cancels the shipment                                    | Cancelled by the carrier                   |
| The carrier rejects the reference                                   | Rejected by the carrier                    |
| The carrier sends no data within 30 days, or 120 days pass in total | No carrier data within the tracking period |
| No car remains on the reference                                     | No vehicle remains on this reference       |
| The subscription of the dealership ends                             | The subscription is no longer active       |

A stopped shipment keeps its last data for display and releases its tracking place. The **Live Tracking** column then reads "Tracking stopped".

<Callout type="info">
  A finished voyage is not looked up again. Tracking the same bill of lading or booking number later
  reuses the stored data.
</Callout>