One of the unique uses of the U.S. Customs Data that Zepol's TradeIQ provides is the ability to find a specific container based on its number. Some companies will use this to track their shipments and see how the shipment information is being provided to U.S. Customs, while others will use this feature to investigate what products have been or what currently is in a container as it travels across the country.

We have heard from several of our customers that they will often note a container number that they see in a shipyard or while driving down the road, and then look up what products have been shipped in the container over the last 6 years. They can see who the companies were that received the goods and which suppliers they received shipments from. In addition, they are able to see detailed descriptions of the products that are being imported.

Some small companies will find that they used the same container as some of the biggest companies in the world or that something odd was in the container the last time it was imported. Below is an example of the last 10 shipments in Container Number: GLDU7104878, showing the date and the products were imported over the last 6 years:

May 2009: Consolidated container with Auto Parts, Fabrics, and Sporting Goods
January 2009: Boxes of Womens Knit Pants with details including the style number and fabric make up
December 2008: Promo Jackets
September 2008: Men’s Turtleneck Knit Tops
January 2008: Scrap Metal
November 2007: Feminine Hygiene Products
May 2007: Wearing Apparel with Invoice Numbers
April 2007: Famous Energy Drink
October 2006: Crackers and Cookies
September 2005: Seasonal Indoor Multi Lights

It is pretty interesting to see the variety of products that are shipped in the same container over time by some of the most noteworthy companies in the world. To see the detail of this container and all others shipped via vessel since 2003, please register for a demonstration at www.zepol.com.