Container Tracking Milestones: Origin to Destination, Every Event Explained

A container shipment generates a dozen or more tracking events between the origin terminal and the final empty return. Each event marks a custody transfer, a milestone, or a status change — and each one carries a different name depending on which carrier you are tracking.

This guide walks through every tracking milestone from Gate In at origin to Empty Returned at destination, in lifecycle order. For each event, you will find what it means, how carriers label it, when to expect it, and what operational decision it should trigger.

Gate In

Definition

Gate In is the tracking event that records when a laden (loaded) container enters the terminal at the port of origin, passing through the terminal gate and into the yard for staging before vessel loading.

Explanation

Gate In marks the moment a container transitions from the shipper’s or trucker’s control to the terminal’s custody. The container has been stuffed with cargo, transported by truck or rail to the port, and cleared through the terminal gate. At the gate, the terminal operator records the container number, seal number, weight, and condition — creating the first terminal-generated event in the tracking timeline.

This event is distinct from the booking confirmation or empty container pickup that precedes it. A booking can be confirmed days or weeks before Gate In occurs. The empty container may have been released from a depot, transported to a warehouse for stuffing, and then trucked to the terminal — none of which appears in carrier tracking. Gate In is when the terminal’s system first sees the container.

Different carriers label this event differently. MSC uses “Gate In.” Maersk uses “Gate In (Full).” CMA CGM uses “Gate In Full.” COSCO uses “Gate-in at First POL.” OOCL uses the verbose “Full Container Received by Carrier at Origin.” The physical event is the same — the label varies. For the full cross-carrier comparison, see our event naming guide.

The timing of Gate In relative to the vessel’s departure is operationally important. Most terminals have a cut-off time — typically 24-72 hours before the vessel’s scheduled departure — after which they will not accept new containers for that sailing. If a container arrives at the gate after cut-off, it will be held for the next available sailing, and the tracking timeline will show a gap between Gate In and the next event.

Example

A freight forwarder books space on a Maersk vessel departing Shanghai on March 15. The container is stuffed at a warehouse on March 11, trucked to Yangshan terminal, and passes through the gate at 14:00 on March 12. Maersk’s tracking portal shows “Gate In (Full)” with a timestamp of March 12. The vessel departure cut-off is March 13 at 18:00, so the container is accepted for the planned sailing.

Why It Matters Operationally

Gate In is the first confirmation that a shipment is physically moving through the carrier’s infrastructure. Before this event, the shipment exists only as a booking. After it, the container is in the terminal system and queued for loading. For operations teams, the Gate In event serves as the trigger to confirm that the container made the terminal cut-off and is on track for the planned vessel. If Gate In does not fire before the cut-off, the container has likely been rolled to a later sailing.

Gate In also starts the clock on terminal storage charges at some ports. If the container sits in the terminal yard for too long before loading — because of a vessel delay or a missed connection — origin-side storage charges may apply.

Common Confusion

Gate In vs Empty Pickup: Gate In refers to the laden (full) container entering the terminal. It is not the same as picking up an empty container from a depot. Some carriers like Hapag-Lloyd and Yang Ming show “Empty Released” as a separate, earlier event in the timeline — that is the origin depot releasing the empty, not the full container entering the terminal.

Loaded on Vessel

Loaded on Vessel is the tracking event that records when a container has been lifted from the terminal yard and placed onto the ship at the port of loading.

This event confirms the container is physically on the vessel. Terminal cranes lift containers from the yard onto the ship according to a stowage plan that determines placement by weight, destination, and hazmat classification. The event fires when the terminal operating system records the lift-on. Carriers label it differently: Maersk and ONE use “Loaded on Vessel,” MSC uses “Loaded (at POL),” CMA CGM uses “Loaded at POL,” and OOCL uses “Loaded on Board at First Port of Load.”

The time between Gate In and Loaded on Vessel can range from hours to days, depending on when the container arrived at the terminal relative to the vessel’s loading window. A container that gates in three days before the vessel berths will sit in the yard longer than one that arrives during active loading operations.

A container gated into Busan terminal on March 10. The vessel berths on March 12, and loading operations run through March 13. The “Loaded on Vessel” event posts on March 13 at 09:00, confirming the container is aboard.

This event confirms the container made the sailing. If the vessel departs and you never see a “Loaded” event, the container was likely rolled. Loaded on Vessel is the point of no return for the origin leg — once on the ship, the container is committed to that voyage.

Loaded vs Vessel Departed: Loading happens before departure. A vessel can be loading containers for 12-36 hours before it departs. The “Loaded” event fires per container; “Vessel Departed” fires once for the entire ship.

Vessel Departed

Vessel Departed is the tracking event that records when the ship has left the port after completing loading operations.

This is a vessel-level event, not a container-level event. It fires once for the entire ship, meaning every container aboard gets the same departure timestamp. Carriers label it as “Vessel Departed” (MSC, Evergreen), “Departure from POL” (Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd), or “Vessel Departure” (ONE). After this event, the next update typically will not appear until the vessel reaches the next port — which could be days or weeks later.

The departure event sometimes fires based on the scheduled time rather than the actual time, especially on carriers with longer data lags. If you see a departure timestamp that seems premature, check the vessel’s position on an AIS service like MarineTraffic to confirm it has actually left port.

CMA CGM’s tracking shows “Departure from POL” at Shanghai on March 14 at 22:00. The next event will be either arrival at a transshipment port or arrival at the destination, depending on the routing — potentially 7-30 days later.

Vessel Departed confirms the shipment is underway. It is the starting point for ETA calculations. If the departure is delayed relative to the schedule, all downstream ETAs shift accordingly. Operations teams use this event to update consignees, arrange destination logistics, and start countdowns for expected arrival.

Departed vs In Transit: “Departed” is a point-in-time event (the ship left). “In Transit” is a status that persists for the duration of the voyage. Some carriers show both; others show only one.

Stuffed

Stuffed (also called “vanned”) is the term for loading cargo into a container at the shipper’s facility or a container freight station before transport to the port.

Stuffing is the physical act of packing cargo into a container. It happens at the shipper’s warehouse (for FCL shipments) or at a CFS (for LCL consolidation). Like stripping, stuffing is not a carrier tracking event — it occurs before the container reaches the terminal and is outside the carrier’s visibility. After stuffing, the container is transported to the port for Gate In.

A shipper receives an empty container from the depot on March 8. Their warehouse team stuffs the container with 20 pallets on March 9. A trucker picks up the laden container on March 10 and delivers it to the port terminal, where it gates in.

Stuffing must be completed and the container delivered to the terminal before the terminal’s cut-off time, or the container will miss the planned vessel. Late stuffing is one of the most common causes of containers being rolled to later sailings.

Stuffed vs Laden: “Stuffed” describes the action of loading cargo. “Laden” describes the state of the container being loaded with cargo. A container is stuffed (action), and it is then laden (status).

Laden

Laden describes a container that is loaded with cargo, as opposed to an empty container.

Laden is a status descriptor, not a tracking event. It distinguishes a loaded container from an empty one. You will see it used in event labels like “Gate In (Full)” or “Gate Out (Full)” — “full” and “laden” are interchangeable. Carriers track laden and empty container movements separately because they have different operational and financial implications. Laden containers are subject to demurrage; empty containers are subject to detention.

Maersk’s tracking shows “Gate In (Full)” — the “(Full)” indicates the container is laden. After delivery and stripping, the container becomes empty, and a subsequent “Gate In” at the return depot would be for the empty unit.

The laden/empty distinction determines which charges apply (demurrage vs detention), which terminal handling rates are charged, and how the container is categorized in customs and terminal systems.

Laden vs Stuffed: “Stuffed” is the action of loading. “Laden” is the resulting state. A container is stuffed and then is laden.

Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR)

Definition

An Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) is a document that records the physical condition and handoff of a container when custody transfers between two parties — typically between a trucker and a terminal, or a trucker and a depot.

Explanation

An EIR is generated each time a container changes hands. The most common interchange points are: when a trucker picks up an empty from a depot (empty out), when the laden container enters the port terminal (Gate In), when the laden container exits the destination terminal (Gate Out), and when the empty container is returned to the depot (Empty Returned).

The EIR records the container number, the date and time of interchange, the parties involved, and a condition inspection noting any damage — dents, holes, rust, broken seals, or malfunctioning doors. This condition record is critical for resolving damage disputes. If a container is returned with damage, the carrier may charge the consignee for repairs. The EIR from the pickup point proves the container’s condition at the time of receipt, and the EIR at return documents any changes.

EIRs are not part of carrier tracking portals. They are issued by terminals and depots at the point of interchange. The EIR is a physical or digital document — not a tracking event. However, it serves as the legal record of container custody transfer and condition at each handoff point.

Example

A trucker picks up an empty container from a depot on March 8. The depot issues an EIR noting a small dent on the right side panel. The shipper stuffs the container and delivers it to the port terminal. At Gate In, the terminal issues another EIR confirming the container’s condition (including the pre-existing dent). At the destination, the consignee’s trucker picks up the container at Gate Out — another EIR is issued. When the empty is returned to the depot, the final EIR is generated. If new damage is found, the depot pickup EIR proves the dent was pre-existing.

Why It Matters Operationally

The EIR is your primary documentation for demurrage and detention disputes (proving pickup/return dates), container damage claims (proving pre-existing vs new damage), and custody transfer accountability. Always obtain and retain EIRs at every interchange point. Drivers should inspect the container and note any damage on the EIR before accepting custody.

Common Confusion

EIR vs Bill of Lading: The EIR documents the container’s physical condition and custody transfer. The Bill of Lading documents the cargo, the contract of carriage, and the parties. They are different documents serving different purposes.

Gate Out

Gate Out is the tracking event that records when a laden (full) container leaves the destination terminal, typically picked up by a trucker for delivery to the consignee.

Gate Out is the mirror of Gate In — where Gate In records the container entering the origin terminal, Gate Out records it leaving the destination terminal. The event fires when the trucker passes through the terminal gate with the container. At that point, the container transitions from the terminal’s custody to the trucker’s (and ultimately the consignee’s) control.

Carriers label this as “Gate Out” or “Gate Out (Full)” (MSC, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd), “Gate Out Full” (CMA CGM), “Container Gated Out” (ONE), or “Picked up at Final Destination for Delivery” (OOCL). The physical event is the same across all carriers.

For many carriers, Gate Out is effectively the last event in the tracking timeline. Some carriers show a subsequent “Delivered” event if the carrier handles the delivery leg (carrier haulage), but on merchant haulage shipments — where the consignee arranges their own trucking — the carrier loses visibility after Gate Out.

A trucker arrives at APM Terminals in Long Beach with a valid terminal appointment and valid releases (customs, freight, terminal). The trucker picks up the container and exits through the gate at 10:30 on March 17. Maersk’s tracking portal shows “Gate Out (Full)” with a March 17 timestamp.

Gate Out confirms the container has left the terminal. It stops the demurrage clock — charges no longer accrue once the container exits. However, it starts the detention clock: the consignee now has a set number of free days to unload the cargo and return the empty container to the carrier’s depot before detention charges begin.

Gate Out vs Delivered: Gate Out means the container left the terminal. Delivered means it reached the consignee’s location. On carrier haulage, both events may appear. On merchant haulage, only Gate Out may appear.

On Rail

On Rail is the tracking event indicating that a container has been loaded onto a rail car for inland transport from the port to an inland destination.

After a container is discharged at port and cleared for release, it may move inland by truck (drayage) or by rail (intermodal). “On Rail” fires when the container is loaded onto a rail car at the port’s on-dock or near-dock rail facility. This event is primarily relevant for US imports at ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, and New York/New Jersey, where a significant percentage of containers move inland by rail to destinations like Chicago, Memphis, Dallas, or Atlanta.

Not all carriers track the rail leg in their portal. Maersk and CMA CGM’s Private API tier include rail and ramp moves, but the public portals may not. The rail move is often operated by a domestic railroad (BNSF, Union Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern) rather than the ocean carrier, and the tracking data depends on the data-sharing arrangement between the railroad and the carrier.

A container is discharged at Long Beach on March 14 and cleared for rail. It is loaded onto a BNSF train on March 16. CMA CGM’s Private API shows an “On Rail” event. The container will arrive at the Chicago rail ramp in 5-7 days.

The rail leg adds 3-7 days of transit after the ocean voyage. Knowing when a container goes on rail lets you estimate the inland arrival and schedule final delivery. Without this event, you have a gap between “Gate Out” at the port and arrival at the inland ramp.

On Rail vs Gate Out: Gate Out at the port and On Rail can be different events. The container may gate out of the marine terminal, move to a near-dock rail facility, and then load onto a train — each as a separate step.

Arrived at Inland Destination

Arrived at Inland Destination is the tracking event indicating that a container has reached the inland rail ramp, depot, or intermodal facility after traveling by rail from the port.

This event marks the end of the rail leg and the beginning of the final delivery stage. The container is now at an inland facility (like a rail ramp in Chicago, Memphis, or Dallas) where it can be picked up by a local trucker for last-mile delivery to the consignee. The event fires when the railroad’s system registers the train’s arrival at the destination ramp and the container is unloaded from the rail car.

Like the “On Rail” event, inland arrival visibility depends on whether the carrier has data-sharing with the railroad. Not all carriers surface this event in their tracking portals.

A container that went on rail at Long Beach on March 16 arrives at the BNSF Logistics Park in Chicago on March 22. The carrier’s tracking shows “Arrived at Inland Destination” on March 22. A local trucker picks it up on March 23 for delivery to the consignee’s warehouse.

This event is the trigger for scheduling final-mile delivery. It also starts a new free time clock at the inland ramp — if the container is not picked up within the ramp’s free time, storage charges apply. These are separate from port demurrage and have their own rate schedules.

Arrived at Inland Destination vs Delivered: Inland arrival means the container is at the ramp. Delivered means it has reached the consignee’s final location. These are distinct events.

Delivered

Delivered is the tracking event indicating that the container has been transported to the consignee’s designated location and the cargo is considered received.

This event fires when the laden container reaches the consignee’s warehouse, distribution center, or designated delivery address. It marks the completion of the door-to-door transport leg. The “Delivered” event is most commonly seen on carrier haulage shipments, where the ocean carrier manages the trucking to the final destination. On merchant haulage shipments (where the consignee arranges their own trucking), most carriers do not show a “Delivered” event — the tracking ends at Gate Out.

Carriers that show a Delivered event include Maersk (“Delivery Has Been Completed”), Hapag-Lloyd (“Delivered”), CMA CGM (“Delivered”), Evergreen (“Delivered”), and Yang Ming (“Delivered”).

A container on Hapag-Lloyd carrier haulage gates out of Rotterdam on March 18. The trucker delivers it to the consignee’s warehouse in Düsseldorf on March 19. “Delivered” posts to the tracking portal on March 19.

Delivered confirms the cargo has reached its final destination. After delivery, the consignee needs to strip the container and return the empty within the detention free time. The clock is now ticking on detention charges.

Delivered vs Gate Out: Gate Out means the container left the terminal. Delivered means it reached the consignee. On merchant haulage, only Gate Out may appear.

Empty Returned

Empty Returned is the tracking event indicating that the empty container has been returned to the carrier’s designated depot or terminal after the cargo has been unloaded.

After the consignee receives and strips the container, the empty must be returned to a carrier-designated location — typically a container depot or the original port terminal. The “Empty Returned” event fires when the depot or terminal records the empty container passing through its gate. An Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) is generated at this point, documenting the container’s condition at handoff.

Not all carriers surface this event in their tracking. MSC’s public tracking typically ends at Gate Out. Maersk does not show empty return as a distinct milestone. ONE, Yang Ming, Evergreen, and OOCL do show “Empty Returned,” “Container Return,” or equivalent events (OOCL labels it “Empty Container Returned to Carrier at Destination”).

A container is delivered to a warehouse in Atlanta on March 20, stripped the same day, and the empty is trucked back to the carrier’s depot on March 22. ONE’s tracking shows “Empty Return” on March 22. The carrier’s detention free time expires on March 25, so the return is within the free window — no detention charges.

Empty Returned is the event that stops the detention clock. Returning the empty before the detention free time expires avoids charges. If you need to prove timely return for a detention dispute, the EIR from the depot is your primary documentation — not the carrier’s tracking portal.

Empty Returned vs Empty Released: “Empty Returned” is at the destination (the consignee returns the empty after stripping). “Empty Released” (used by Hapag-Lloyd and Yang Ming) is at the origin (the depot releases an empty for the shipper to stuff). Opposite ends of the shipment lifecycle.

Stripped

Stripped (also called “devanned”) is the term for unloading cargo from a container at the consignee’s facility or a container freight station.

Stripping is the physical act of removing cargo from inside the container. It happens after delivery at the consignee’s warehouse or at a CFS (Container Freight Station) for LCL shipments. “Stripped” is not typically a carrier tracking event — it occurs in the consignee’s facility, outside the carrier’s visibility. The term is relevant because stripping must happen before the empty container can be returned, and the speed of stripping directly affects detention charges.

A container is delivered to a warehouse in Los Angeles on March 18. The warehouse team strips the container on March 19, unloading all pallets. The empty container is ready for return on March 19.

Stripping speed is the primary controllable factor in detention management. Every day the container sits full at the consignee’s facility is a day of detention ticking. Scheduling warehouse labor for same-day or next-day stripping after delivery minimizes this exposure.

Stripped vs Stuffed: Stripped means cargo removed from the container. Stuffed means cargo loaded into the container. They are opposite actions — stripping at destination, stuffing at origin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does Gate In mean my container will definitely make the planned vessel?
A: Not necessarily. Gate In confirms the container is in the terminal, but if it arrives after the terminal’s cut-off time, or if the vessel is overbooked, the container may be rolled to a later sailing.

Q: Why does my tracking show nothing between booking and Gate In?
A: Carrier tracking begins at the terminal, not at the warehouse. Empty container pickup, stuffing, and trucking to the port are not tracked by the ocean carrier.

Q: Is Gate In the same on every carrier?
A: The physical event is the same, but the label varies. See our event naming comparison for how each carrier labels this milestone.

Q: If my container shows “Loaded on Vessel,” can it still be removed before sailing?
A: In rare cases (customs holds, safety issues), a container can be offloaded after loading. But this is uncommon and would generate a separate event.

Q: Why did “Loaded” appear hours after the vessel already departed?
A: The event was physically recorded during loading but the data synced to the portal later. Most carriers have a 2-12 hour data lag.

Q: My tracking shows “Departed” but the vessel is still in port on MarineTraffic. Why?
A: The departure event may have been posted based on the scheduled time. The actual departure was likely delayed. The tracking data should update once the vessel physically departs.

Q: How long after departure should I expect the next tracking update?
A: On direct services, not until arrival at the destination port (7-30+ days). On transshipment routings, at the first hub port. See our guide on why tracking stops updating.

Q: What does “vanned” mean?
A: Vanned is a synonym for stuffed — cargo loaded into a container. Both terms are standard in the industry.

Q: Is VGM declared at the time of stuffing?
A: VGM (Verified Gross Mass) must be declared after stuffing and before the container is loaded onto the vessel. It certifies the total weight of the container including cargo, packing materials, and the container itself.

Q: What is the opposite of laden?
A: Empty. An empty container has no cargo inside. Carriers track empty moves separately from laden moves.

Q: Does “Full” mean the same as “Laden”?
A: Yes. In tracking labels, “Full” and “Laden” are interchangeable. “Gate In (Full)” means the same as “Gate In (Laden).”

Q: Is the EIR available on the carrier’s tracking portal?
A: No. EIRs are issued by terminals and depots at the point of interchange. They are not part of carrier tracking systems.

Q: What should I do if the EIR shows pre-existing damage?
A: Note it on the EIR, photograph the damage, and keep the documentation. If additional damage is found at return, the EIR proves what was pre-existing vs what occurred during your custody.

Q: Does Gate Out stop demurrage charges?
A: Yes. Demurrage applies while the container is in the terminal. Once it gates out, demurrage stops. Detention may begin.

Q: Why does tracking end at Gate Out on some carriers?
A: On merchant haulage shipments, the carrier has no visibility into the trucking leg. The trucker is not the carrier’s system, so no further events are generated.

Q: Do all carriers show “On Rail” events?
A: No. This is carrier-dependent and often only available through API (not the public portal). CMA CGM’s Private API tier and Maersk’s API include rail moves.

Q: Does demurrage apply during the rail leg?
A: If the container gates out of the port terminal, port demurrage stops. However, the container may be subject to different charges at the inland ramp if it is not picked up within the ramp’s free time.

Q: Are there storage charges at the inland ramp?
A: Yes. Inland ramps have their own free time and storage charge schedules, separate from port demurrage.

Q: How long does the rail leg typically take?
A: US domestic rail transit is typically 3-7 days from West Coast ports to major inland hubs. East Coast ports to inland destinations are generally shorter.

Q: Why doesn’t my tracking show a “Delivered” event?
A: Your shipment is likely merchant haulage — you arranged trucking yourself. The carrier has no visibility into the delivery.

Q: Does detention start at delivery or at Gate Out?
A: Detention typically starts at Gate Out (when the container leaves the terminal), not at delivery. Check the carrier’s tariff for specifics.

Q: Which carriers show Empty Returned in their tracking?
A: ONE, Yang Ming, Evergreen, and OOCL show this event. MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM generally do not surface it in public tracking.

Q: What if I return the empty to the wrong depot?
A: The carrier designates specific depots for empty return. Returning to the wrong location may result in the return not being recorded, and detention charges may continue. Confirm the designated depot before dispatching the empty.

Q: Does the carrier track when a container is stripped?
A: No. Stripping happens at the consignee’s facility, outside carrier visibility.

Q: What does “devanned” mean?
A: Devanned is a synonym for stripped — cargo unloaded from the container. Both terms are used interchangeably in the industry.