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The current_status attribute on container objects provides a high-level view of where a container is in its journey. This guide explains the different status values and their meanings.

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Available Status Values

The current_status field can have one of the following values:

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new

Default state - The container is tracked but we don’t yet have enough information to determine its actual status. This is the initial state when tracking begins.

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on_ship

In transit by vessel - The container is on a ship at any point prior to arrival at the Port of Discharge (POD). This status can apply at multiple stages:
  • During the ocean voyage from origin to destination
  • Before vessel departure from the Port of Lading
  • Any time the container is loaded on a vessel

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available

Ready for pickup - The container has arrived at the POD or inland destination and is confirmed available for pickup. You can proceed with arranging pickup when you see this status.

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not_available

Arrived but not ready - The container is at the POD or inland destination but is not yet available for pickup. This could be due to:
  • Customs holds
  • Terminal holds
  • Documentation requirements
  • Other restrictions

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grounded

Availability unknown - The container is physically at the POD, but we don’t currently know whether it’s available for pickup or not. This typically means the terminal isn’t providing real-time availability data.

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awaiting_inland_transfer

Moving inland - The container is either:
  • Still at the POD waiting to be loaded onto rail for an inland move
  • In transit between the POD and a rail terminal
  • At a rail terminal but not yet loaded onto a rail car
This status is specific to shipments with inland rail movements.

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on_rail

In transit by rail - The container has been loaded onto a rail car and is being transported to its inland destination.

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picked_up

Out for delivery - The container has been picked up from the terminal or facility for delivery.

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off_dock

At alternative facility - The container has been moved to a different terminal or off-dock storage facility for pickup. You may need to go to this alternative location rather than the original POD terminal.

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delivered

Delivery confirmed - This status is only shown when delivery has been manually marked as delivered through the Terminal49 dashboard.

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empty_returned

Container returned empty - The container has been emptied and returned to the shipping line or designated return location.

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dropped

Not currently used - This status value is defined but not actively used in the system.

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loaded

Not currently used - This status value is defined but not actively used in the system.

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Important Considerations

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Status Accuracy

The logic to derive container statuses is complex and involves processing data from multiple sources including:
  • Shipping line updates
  • Terminal systems
  • Rail carrier feeds
  • Manual updates
There can sometimes be errors in the reported current_status. When making critical business decisions, we recommend:
  • Cross-referencing with transport events
  • Contacting the terminal directly for time-sensitive pickups

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Status Transitions

Containers don’t always follow a linear path through these statuses. For example:
  • A container may go from on_ship directly to available if terminal data arrives quickly
  • A container might alternate between available and not_available if holds are placed and removed
  • The status may remain as new for some time if data from the shipping line is delayed

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API Usage

To get the current status of a container, you can read the container’s current_status attribute in your API responses: 
GET /v2/containers/{id}
The response will include: 
{
  "data": {
    "id": "ff77a822-23a7-4ccd-95ca-g534c071baaf3",
    "type": "container",
    "attributes": {
      "number": "KOCU4959010",
      "current_status": "available",
      ...
    }
  }
}