Struggling to identify the shipping company from a bill of lading? Take the tracking number APLU067589785 as an example—this clearly indicates an APL (American President Lines) shipment, despite potential visual cues suggesting otherwise.
Many might notice the vessel name "HYUNDAI TENACITY V.011W17" and assume the carrier is Hyundai Merchant Marine. However, appearances can be deceiving in global shipping. Slot-sharing agreements between carriers mean that even when a vessel belongs to one company, multiple carriers may operate space aboard it. The vessel name alone cannot determine the actual contracting carrier.
The definitive method for identifying the booking carrier lies in the bill of lading number . Each shipping company maintains specific prefixes in their tracking numbers—these alphanumeric codes serve as unique identifiers. Additionally, examining the carrier information on customs declarations provides reliable confirmation.
Modern shipping alliances frequently engage in space-charter arrangements to optimize routes and reduce costs. On busy trade lanes like Europe-Asia, it's common to find five or six different carriers sharing capacity on a single vessel. This operational reality makes understanding bill of lading numbering conventions essential for accurately tracking cargo movements.