--- title: Bill of lading number formatting description: This article contains the difference between valid and invalid master bill of lading numbers. --- [Skip to content](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/bill-of-lading-formatting#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Contact Support](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [Customer portal](https://support.vizionapi.com/tickets?hsLang=en) ![Master Vizion Logo File\_Updated April 2022\_Yellow-1.png\]](https://support.vizionapi.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Master%20Vizion%20Logo%20File_Updated%20April%202022_Yellow-1.png?height=40&name=Master%20Vizion%20Logo%20File_Updated%20April%202022_Yellow-1.png) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://vizionapi-8694848.hs-sites.com/blog) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://vizionapi-8694848.hs-sites.com/blog) - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact Support](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/kb-tickets/new) - [Customer portal](https://support.vizionapi.com/tickets) - [Go to vizionapi.com](https://www.vizionapi.com/) [Go to vizionapi.com](https://www.vizionapi.com/) How can we help? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration?hsLang=en) 2. [Track containers](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en) 3. [Create reference via Bill of Lading](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/track-containers?hsLang=en#create-reference-via-bill-of-lading) # Bill of lading number formatting ## This article contains the difference between valid and invalid master bill of lading numbers. Master bill of lading numbers for most international shipping companies follow the same format of SCAC + master bill of lading number. If your bill of lading number does not follow this format, it may be a house bill of lading number which is not currently supported by the Vizion API. Otherwise, no additional formatting is required when passing a master bill of lading number to the API via the [Create Reference via Bill of Lading endpoint](https://docs.vizionapi.com/#af5fbcb7-4e1b-48c3-9b6a-ed04e4d94f34) or optionally via the [Create Reference via Carrier Code endpoint](https://docs.vizionapi.com/#9eb0b1c1-0627-4722-9096-3b456298f5da).  **We highly recommend providing the bill of lading number to the Vizion API exactly as it is provided to you.** Below, you can find generic examples of each supported carrier's known master bill of lading format as of **January 2024** based on what is acceptable via that carrier's own tracking webpage. This may not be the source of truth indefinitely, but these are the trends that we have observed based on the month and year previously mentioned. | **Carrier** | **Carrier Code** | **MBL Formatting** | **Example** | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Australia National Line | ANNU | 3 letters + 7 numbers | ABC1234567 | | APL | APLU | 3 letters + 7 numbers | ABC1234567 | | CMA CGM | CMDU | 3 letters + 7 numbers | ABC1234567 | | COSCO | COSU | 10 numbers | 1234567890 | | Evergreen | EGLV | 12 numbers | 123456789012 | | Hamburg Suud | SUDU | 12 alphanumeric characters | A1B2C3D4E5F6 | | Hapag-Lloyd | HLCU | HLCU + 2 letters + (1 letter or 1 number) + 9 alphanumeric characters | HLCUABC1A2B3C4D5 | | Hyundai | HDMU | 4 letters + 8 numbers | ABCD12345678 | | Korea Marine Transport | KMTU | 10 characters (3 letters + 7 numbers, or 4 letters + 6 numbers) | ABC1234567, or ABCD123456 | | Maersk | MAEU | 9 numbers | 123456789 | | Matson | MATS | 10 numbers | 1234567890 | | MSC | MSCU | MEDU + 2 alphanumeric characters +6 numbers | MEDUA1234567, or MEDUAB123456 | | ONE Line | ONEY | 12 characters (3 letters + 9 numbers, or 4 letters + 8 numbers) | ABC123456789, or ABCD12345678 | | OOCL | OOCL | 10 numbers | 1234567890 | | Pacific International Line | PCIU | 12 characters (3 letters + 9 numbers, or 4 letters + 8 numbers) | ABC123456789, or ABCD12345678 | | Sinokor | SNKO | SNKO + 12 numbers | SNKO123456789012 | | SM Lines | SMLM | 12 characters (3 letters + 9 numbers, or 4 letters + 8 numbers) | ABC123456789, or ABCD12345678 | | Wan Hai | WHLC | 3 numbers + 2 letters + 5 numbers | 123AB12345 | | Yang Ming | YMLU | 1 letter + 9 numbers | A123456789 | | ZIM | ZIMU | 3 letters + 4 to 7 numbers | ABC1234, ABC12345, ABC123456, or ABC1234567 | - [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) - [Vizion data](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/vizion-data?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Data sources](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/vizion-data?hsLang=en#data-sources) - [ETAs](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/vizion-data?hsLang=en#etas) - [Formatting](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/vizion-data?hsLang=en#formatting) - [Accounts and billing](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/accounts-and-billing?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Usage](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/accounts-and-billing?hsLang=en#usage) - [Technical support](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/accounts-and-billing?hsLang=en#technical-support) - [Integrations](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/integrations?hsLang=en#main-content) - [No Code Workbook](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/integrations?hsLang=en#no-code-workbook) - [Tutorials](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/tutorials?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Getting started](https://support.vizionapi.com/migration/tutorials?hsLang=en#getting-started) - [Default HubSpot Blog](https://vizionapi-8694848.hs-sites.com/blog) # Vizion Inc. 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