ZIM bill of lading tracking

How to read a ZIM bill of lading number

ZIMU4624576 example only — not a real shipment

A bill of lading number identifies the transport document, not the box: it usually starts with the carrier’s four-letter code (its SCAC) — ZIMU for ZIM — followed by the document number, e.g. ZIMU4624576.

You’ll find it top-right on the B/L or sea waybill. It’s different from the container number (which identifies the physical box and can cover several containers on one B/L) and from your booking reference — if one identifier returns nothing, try the other on the carrier’s page.

If your ZIM tracking isn’t working

1. 1 Check the number format first

   Bill-of-lading numbers start with the carrier’s letter code followed by the document number (like ZIMU4624576). Make sure you’re using the B/L number, not the container number or the booking reference — they’re three different identifiers on the same paperwork.

2. 2 Make sure the number was issued by this carrier

   If your shipment was booked through a freight forwarder, the number on your paperwork may be the forwarder’s own reference, which ZIM’s system won’t recognise. Ask whoever issued your documents which carrier number to use — or paste the number on our homepage and we’ll work out who it belongs to.

3. 3 Too early or too late

   Timing matters: a number that was only just issued may not show results yet, and carriers remove old shipments from public tracking a few weeks after delivery. If the shipment is very new or long delivered, an empty result doesn’t mean the number is wrong.

4. 4 Still nothing?

   Contact whoever sold you the freight service (your forwarder, broker, or ZIM directly) with the bill of lading number and the booking reference — they can see internal status that public tracking doesn’t show.

Frequently asked questions

How do I track a ZIM bill of lading?

Type your bill of lading number in the box above and press Track. You’ll land on ZIM’s own tracking page with your number already filled in. ZIM bill of lading numbers usually begin with ZIMU.

What does a ZIM bill of lading number look like?

Bill-of-lading numbers usually start with the carrier’s four-letter code (its SCAC prefix) followed by the document number — for example COSU6285551440. For ZIM the carrier code is ZIMU. A format-valid example is ZIMU4624576.

Can I bookmark or share my ZIM tracking link?

Yes — once your shipment comes up on ZIM’s page, you can bookmark that page or send the link to a colleague, and they’ll see the same shipment.

What if my number doesn’t start with ZIMU?

Then it probably wasn’t issued by ZIM — shipments booked through a freight forwarder or partner carrier often travel under another company’s bill of lading number. Paste the number on our homepage and we’ll suggest the right carriers and forwarder, or check your shipping paperwork for who issued it.

Is this ZIM’s official tracking site?

No — this is a free, independent tool that brings every carrier’s tracking together in one place. When you track here you end up on ZIM’s own page, so everything you see comes straight from ZIM. We never see or store your shipment details.