What are Carrier Tracking Events and How do I Read Them? 

Carrier tracking events are a series of detailed events in the life cycle of the parcel that give you visibility into its journey through the carrier’s network. 

High-level tracking milestones are standardized across all FlavorCloud’s network of carriers as three distinct stages — In progress, In transit (shipped), and Delivered.  

The detailed Tracking events, though, are specific to each carrier and vary based on service level and type of carrier.  

For example, express carriers have the most detailed tracking events along the way, while standard carriers have fewer major milestones represented through tracking.  

Economy carriers have fewer tracking events than standard carriers, especially after a parcel is handed over post clearance to the final mile local carrier in the destination country. In general, FlavorCloud customers don’t need to go to the carrier’s website for tracking, but for economy carriers, the final mile carrier tracking link can provide more details.   

The examples below are from FlavorCloud’s customizable branded tracking page.  

In the examples, you can see: 

1. The estimated delivery date: FlavorCloud’s estimates are based on the agreements we have with the carriers in our network. 
2. The tracked FlavorCloud milestone: In Progress, In Transit, or Delivered.  
3. The location of the last event reported by the carrier. 
4. The detailed tracking events from the carrier. Note that the newest event is at the top. 

Example Express Orders  

Example Standard Orders 

Key to note is that early or prep alerts are often misunderstood as indicators of parcels in stages that they are not. For example, an electronic notice to a carrier letting them know to expect a package does not indicate it has left the warehouse. Below you will find a typical journey and corresponding alerts for a Standard shipment and an Express shipment. 

Standard Orders 

When a Standard order is fulfilled 

• Typically, you will see a tracking number 
• When you click through and see a status like “Shipment created and label generated APC LAX” or another APC location, they are electronically aware of the order, but it does not mean it has left the facility. 

When Standard Orders Arrive at an APC Facility 

• When a parcel order is recognized at the APC facility, you will see “parcel order scanned.” 
• Typically, the order will be processed and depart within the next business day, and the tracking will display “Departed Processing Center.” 
• This shows that it is being transported to its final destination. 
• If a final mile carrier is known, that carrier and tracking number will appear below the APC tracking number on the tracking page. Final mile details will not be available/allocated on FC tracking until they are assigned by the international carrier (in this case, APC) 
• The final mile carrier might only have received the electronic information; tracking will start for them when they receive the actual parcel. 
• Note the final mile carrier information highlighted in the image below. 

Standard Delivery Confirmation 

• The FlavorCloud Milestone will be “Delivered.” 
• In some cases, the delivered confirmation might not have been sent yet, but you can always confirm via APC tracking on their site with the tracking number. If there is a final mile carrier, use the tracking number provided and check via their site.  
• Usually, you can copy the tracking number and then click it to be taken to the carrier’s tracking page. 

Express Orders 

When an Express order is fulfilled 

• Typically, you will see a tracking number 
• When you click through and see a status like “Customs status updated” and “Shipment Created and Label Generated with DHL,” this means they are electronically aware of the order but does not mean it has left the facility. 

Express Shipment — Left the Warehouse 

• To confirm a shipment has left your facility and is in the hands of the Express Carrier, look at the tracking page for a status like “Shipment Picked Up.”    
• Until you see that, the carrier will consider the package to still be at the warehouse. 

Express Delivery Confirmation 

• The FlavorCloud Milestone will be “Delivered.” 
• In some cases, the delivered confirmation might not have been sent yet, but you can always confirm via the carrier tracking on their site with the tracking number.