---
title: Overview of how to track by bill of lading
description: This article details how containers are tracked in our system by using a master bill of lading number, and how containers are identified in association to their master bill of lading with parent and child references.
---

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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)

# Overview of how to track by bill of lading

## This article details how containers are tracked in our system by using a master bill of lading number, and how containers are identified in association to their master bill of lading with parent and child references.

When tracking a shipment with the master bill of lading number, Vizion will:

1. **Identify all of the containers associated with that master bill of lading**. The API will return all containers related to the bill of lading submitted. To track a specified set of containers, you will need to track each container individually.
2. **Create one parent reference and child references for each individual container.**
3. **Provide updates for each container.**

Tracking cannot be initiated with a *house bill of lading* number. The Vizion API requires a container ID or *master bill of lading* to get started.

### **Parent and child references**

The **parent\_reference\_id** property is only populated when using a master bill of lading number on its own to track containers, and *will be shown in the child reference updates*. This allows you to easily group shipments together as you receive updates for each container. If you are creating a reference via carrier code or ACI, the **parent\_reference\_id** value will be null.

In the example response below, a reference was created using only the master bill of lading **ONEYSINA68242400**. The ID for the master bill of lading reference *961012a5-9e06-4e3f-93e5-77e544d4ce* (see in bold) will be the **parent\_reference\_id** for each individual container reference created. Notice the **container\_id** field is null for a parent reference.

```
{ "message": "Reference created successfully.",   "reference": {    "carrier_scac": "ONEY",    "callback_url": "https://webhook.site/3d479c96-3fd9-4fe1-96a3-f1257f3b4ac5",    "bill_of_lading": "ONEYSINA68242400",    "carrier_id": 10,    "organization_id": "29c05d-efb13d11-4871-b173-b30226a1c1",    "auto_carrier": false,    "container_id": null,    "parent_reference_id": null,    "last_update_status": null,    "last_update_attempted_at": null,    "id": "961012a5-9e06-4e3f-93e5-77e544d4ce",    "active": true,    "created_at": "2021-11-15T14:34:41.909Z",    "updated_at": "2021-11-15T14:34:41.909Z",    "retry_count": 0  }}
```

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    - [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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