Carrier tracking number formats
Tracking Number is a unique ID number or code assigned to package or parcel when it was shipped. The tracking number is typically printed on the shipping label as a bar code that can be scanned by anyone with a bar code reader or smartphone. Tracking Number allows you to track the progress of the Package between the source and destination location.
Tracking Number Formats
Tracking numbers consist of letters and numbers between 8 and 40 characters long.
Example:
USPS Tracking®: 9999 1999 9999 9999 9999 99
Amazon Logistics®: TBA999999999999
China Post®: LO999999999CN
SF-Express®: SF9999999999999
Some carriers explicitly includes specific combination of characters, usually consonant with company name, in tracking number. It is significantly simplifying the process of carrier identification.
Example:
SF-Express®: SF9999999999999 (SF + 13 digits)
Vova Logistics®: VO9999999999VA (VO + 10 digits + VA)
International Tracking Number Formats
The UPU (Universal Postal Union) defined S10 standard for international mailings.
S10 Tracking Number Format consist of a two letter (service indicator code), an eight digit serial number (in the range 00000000 to 99999999), a single check-digit, and a two-letter ISO country code (the latter identifying the issuing postal administration's country).
With increased liberalization and the possibility of multiple postal services operating in the same country, the use of country codes to designate the postal service is a problem. To solve this, each country has a designated postal service that controls all S10 identifiers from that country, any competing postal services will have to cooperate with the designated owner. The organization assigned by the UPU member country shall manage the issue and use of S10 identifiers, among all the operators under the authority of that UPU member country, in such a way as to ensure that no S10 identifier is reused within a period of 12 calendar months. A period of 24 calendar months, or longer, is recommended.
Example:
China Post®: LO999999999CN
Taiwan Post®: UB975582318TW
Service Indicator Code:
| Code Format | Interpretation |
| AV- AZ | domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only, identifying RFID-tracked e-commerce items |
| BA-BZ | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
| CA-CZ | Parcel post; the use of CZ requires bilateral agreement. It is not required to use CV for insured parcels but if the service indicator CV is used, then it is recommended that it be used only on insured parcels. |
| DA-DZ | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
| EA-EZ | EMS; the use of EX–EZ requires bilateral agreement |
| GA | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
| GD | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
| HA-HZ | e-commerce parcels; the use of HX–HY requires multilateral agreement; the use of HZ requires bilateral agreement |
| JA-JZ | reserved; cannot be assigned as valid service indicator values |
| KA-KZ | reserved; cannot be assigned as valid service indicator values |
| LA-LZ | Letter post trackable, several subtypes; the use of LZ requires bilateral agreement |
| MA-MZ | Letter post: M bags |
| NA-NZ | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
| PA-PZ | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
| QA-QM | Letter post: IBRS (International Business Reply Service) |
| RA-RZ | Letter post: registered, but not insured delivery. The use of RZ requires bilateral agreement. |
| SA-SZ | reserved; cannot be assigned as valid service indicator values |
| TA-TZ | reserved; cannot be assigned as valid service indicator values |
| UA-UZ | Letter post: items other than LA–LZ (Express), MA–MZ (M bags), QA–QM (IBRS), RA–RZ (registered), VA–VZ (insured), subject to customs control, i.e. bearing a CN 22 or CN 23 |
| VA-VZ | Letter post insured; the use of VZ requires bilateral agreement |
| WA-WZ | reserved; cannot be assigned as valid service indicator values |
| ZA-ZZ | for domestic, bilateral, multilateral use only |
Tracking Number starting with 1Z
1Z is a standard developed in the 90s for tracking carrier shipments. The sequence includes information for the account number, service type, and invoice number, as well a zero-fill flag and a final checksum to validate the entire sequence.
#1 UPS Tracking Number
UPS uses tracking number format starting with 1Z for domestic shipments.
Format: 1Z + 6AN + 10D
Example: 1Z40V2W90313820762
#2 USPS Tracking Number
USPS uses absolutely the same tracking number format for codes starting with 1Z
Format: 1Z + 6AN + 10D
Example: 1Z40V2W90313820762
Tracking Number starting with 1LS
Lasership
Format: 1LS + 12D
Example: 1LS729800645322
*AN - Alphanumeric characters
*D - Digits