---
title: How do I begin tracking shipments?
description: Here you will find information on what input is required to begin tracking a shipment. Vizion will refer to this as creating a new reference. Creating a new reference can be done in three ways.
---

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# How do I begin tracking shipments?

## Here you will find information on what input is required to begin tracking a shipment. Vizion will refer to this as creating a new reference. Creating a new reference can be done in three ways.

### **Carrier Code**

[Tracking by carrier code](https://docs.vizionapi.com/#9eb0b1c1-0627-4722-9096-3b456298f5da) will generate a single reference and return the most recent trip for the container. The API requires two inputs when tracking by container number:

1. Container tracking ID
2. Carrier code

```
{   "container_id": "MRKU0090522",   "carrier_code": "MAEU",   "callback_url": "https://yourdomain.com/webhook"}
```

Once the required input is passed a reference ID assigned to the container shipment will be included in the response. You may use the reference ID to get updates, reference status, unsubscribe, and more.

### Bill of Lading

[Tracking by bill of lading](https://docs.vizionapi.com/#af5fbcb7-4e1b-48c3-9b6a-ed04e4d94f34) generates a reference for all containers related to the bill of lading, see more information on this in [Create a reference via Bill of Lading overview](https://support.vizionapi.com/create-reference-via-bill-of-lading-overview?hsLang=en). The API requires two inputs when tracking by master bill of lading:

1. Master bill of lading number
2. Carrier code

```
{   "bill_of_lading": "MAEU255221188",   "carrier_code": "MAEU",   "callback_url": "https://yourdomain.com/webhook"}
```

Once the required input is passed a reference ID assigned to the bill of lading will be included in the response. You may use the reference ID to get updates, reference status, unsubscribe, and more.

The reference ID assigned to the bill of lading will now act as a parent reference ID for all containers associated with the bill of lading. See more information on the parent/child relationship between bill of lading and container references [here](https://support.vizionapi.com/parent-reference-id-relationship?hsLang=en).

### Auto Carrier Identification

[Tracking by ACI](https://docs.vizionapi.com/#8ed39cf9-f138-4f04-95f0-81a7aa44bc6e) will generate a single reference and return the most recent trip for the container. The API requires only the container ID:

1. Container tracking ID

```
{  "container_id": "MRKU0090522",  "callback_url": "https://yourdomain.com/webhook"}
```

If a carrier is found we will add the carrier code value to your shipment and begin tracking it just as if you had provided the carrier code upon input. Please note that tracking by ACI should only be used if you do not know the carrier code. It is designed to be used as a *discovery tool* if the carrier is unknown and there is no other way to find the carrier. If the Auto Carrier Identification tool is used by default, you may expect a large number of tracking failures.

 

 

 

- [Getting started](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/getting-started?hsLang=en)
- [Track containers](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Create reference via Bill of Lading](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#create-reference-via-bill-of-lading)
    - [Create reference via Carrier Code](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#create-reference-via-carrier-code)
    - [Create reference via Auto Carrier Identification](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#create-reference-via-auto-carrier-identification)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#troubleshooting)
    - [Create reference via Booking Number](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#create-reference-via-booking-number)
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    - [Getting started](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/tutorials?hsLang=en#getting-started)

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