AWB tracking: Why and how to track your air cargo

Air freight is fast. Ergo, tracking air freight needs to be even faster.

Air cargo tracking is paramount to ensuring smooth deliveries. In this article, we explain why and how to track your high-flying cargo using the so-called air waybill (AWB).

What is AWB tracking?

First, let’s understand: What is an air waybill? — It’s an important shipping document that accompanies every shipment transported by air. It acts as a receipt, contract of carriage, and tracking tool, ensuring a smooth and efficient flow of air cargo.

Every air waybill has a unique identifier called an AWB tracking number, which can be used to trace the associated air freight shipment while in transit.

By extension, air waybill tracking is a system to monitor the real-time status and location of air freight.

What does the AWB tracking number signify?

Every air waybill has a unique 11-digit number used for tracking air cargo. Here’s an example :

Importance of AWB tracking in air freight

Tracking the AWB allows all stakeholders — shipper, consignee, carrier, or associated parties — to monitor the shipment’s location and status in real time. This visibility and transparency help ensure:

• Improved planning and decision-making: Knowing the exact location can help predict potential shipping delays, allowing time for adjustments in logistics and delivery schedules.
• Enhanced security: Tracking helps identify potential security risks or suspicious activity, enabling faster reaction to disruptions.
• Reduced costs: Proactive air freight tracking helps avoid delays and demurrage charges at airports as well as facilitates faster customs clearance.
• Improved customer satisfaction: Customers can track their shipments and receive updates, leading to a better overall experience and building trust.

Bird’s eye view of air waybill tracking process

1. AWB issuance: The shipper generates the air waybill, containing consignment details like origin, destination, weight, goods description, declared value, and tracking number.
2. Shipment acceptance: The airline accepts the shipment and scans the AWB barcode, recording and verifying its entry into the tracking system.
3. In-transit updates: The AWB is linked to the flight information system, enabling tracking throughout the journey. As the shipment moves through different airports and checkpoints, its status is updated in the tracking system, including information on loading, unloading, and clearance procedures.
4. Delivery confirmation: Upon arriving at the destination airport, the consignee or their agent is notified, and the shipment is delivered upon confirmation and after completing customs clearance.

Any information about your air shipment’s status can be accessed through various channels like the airline’s website, dedicated tracking platforms, or mobile apps — using the AWB number.

Industry-specific benefits of air cargo tracking

Pharmaceuticals

• Temperature-sensitive medications: Real-time tracking ensures proper temperature control throughout the journey, reducing spoilage and ensuring product integrity.
• Counterfeit prevention: Tracking helps identify suspicious detours or delays, potentially indicating attempts to divert or tamper with the medicines.
• Regulatory compliance: Tracing and documenting every step of the journey helps to comply with strict regulations governing pharmaceutical transportation.

E-commerce

• Improved customer satisfaction: Real-time updates on shipment location and estimated delivery time enhance transparency and build customer trust.
• Reduced lost or stolen packages: Tracking helps pinpoint potential issues and allows for faster recovery or replacement of lost items.
• Optimised logistics: Tracking data helps identify bottlenecks and optimise delivery routes, leading to faster deliveries and cost savings.

High-value goods

• Enhanced security: Real-time air cargo tracking allows for constantly monitoring valuable shipments, reducing the risk of theft or loss.
• Quick insurance claims: Detailed tracking data provides strong evidence for insurance claims in the event of damage or loss.
• Increased trust and transparency: Clients can track valuable goods and get real-time updates, fostering trust and confidence in the transportation process.

Perishables and fresh produce

• Reduced spoilage and loss: Real-time temperature and humidity monitoring allow immediate intervention if conditions deviate from optimal ranges.
• Proactive planning: Based on potential disruptions, real-time data enables rerouting shipments, adjusting storage temperatures, or re-prioritising deliveries to maximise shelf life.
• Faster clearance times: Efficient tracking facilitates quicker customs clearance, reducing non-ideal storage duration and preserving product quality.

The future of air cargo tracking: E-AWB

Like any digital technology, the electronic air waybill (e-AWB) is revolutionising the air cargo industry by replacing paper-based documentation with a secure and efficient digital alternative. It offers multifold benefits, including:

• Boosting supply chain efficiency: E-AWB eliminates the need for manual processes, accelerating cargo handling and clearance times.
• Slashing operational costs: The paperless format eliminates printing, handling, and storage costs, resulting in significant financial savings for all stakeholders.
• Improving data accuracy: E-AWB reduces manual data entry errors, maximising consistency and accuracy throughout the supply chain.
• Fortifying logistics security: Digital signatures and encryption employed in e-AWB safeguard data integrity and eliminate the risk of fraud or manipulation.

As air cargo supply chains embrace newer technologies like e-AWB, the tracking landscape is poised to evolve further, offering even greater transparency, agility, and security for all stakeholders involved in the global air cargo network.

At Maersk, we can offer exceptional visibility of your air cargo. Our in-house cargo airline, high standards, and network connecting all the hubs and gateways across the globe enable us to ensure the fast and efficient deliveries your customers have come to expect. Keep your goods moving with Standard Air Freight, Air Charter and Sea-Air Services – either by leveraging our own-controlled air freight network or our strategic partners with Maersk Air Freight.