Where can I get a listing of possible tracking number formats for all the major couriers?

January 14, 2008 7:58 PM

Where can I get a listing of possible tracking number formats for all the major couriers?

I need to get a fairly exhaustive listing of all the possible tracking number formats for UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL.

Ultimately I'm building an application that needs to have the functionality of auto-detecting which courier a tracking number is for. So if someone input a number that began with "1Z" I know it's UPS. Or if it's 22 characters long, it's most likely USPS.

posted by JPigford to computers & internet (8 comments total)

Fedex:
999999999999

DHL:
International Air Freight Shipments - 7 digit HAWB number 1234567
International Ocean Shipments - 9 character HBL number SEA123456
U.S. Domestic Shipments* – 3 character origin code and HAWB number, which can be up to 10 digits in length. SEA1234567
posted by sharkfu at 8:03 PM on January 14, 2008

@sharkfu: Do you know of anywhere that has an exhaustive list or anywhere on those couriers sites that can list or verify their formats? I'm not really looking to just have people list off things. I need stuff as close to exact as possible.
posted by JPigford at 8:45 PM on January 14, 2008

Google will do this for you if you simply enter the number into the search area.
posted by jourman2 at 10:16 PM on January 14, 2008

Yet another independent software developer crushed by google! *falls to knees* Curse you Google!
posted by oxford blue at 11:27 PM on January 14, 2008

For example, typing a FedEx tracking number will return the latest information on your package.

(Tries it out.)

Doesn't work on DHL-shipped packages.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:12 AM on January 15, 2008

Yeah, I've entered tracking numbers into Google for years, and it has never worked with DHL tracking numbers.

OP: Have you tried contacting the shipping companies?
posted by Dec One at 5:36 AM on January 15, 2008

There is a Thunderbird extension that does (or used to do) this. You highlight the tracking number in your email and the shipment details appear in Firefox. If you can contact the author of the extension he might be able to help. I used it for a while and it was great.
posted by Umhlangan at 6:19 AM on January 15, 2008

I realize there are other places that track packages...that doesn't help me with the info I'm asking for though.
posted by JPigford at 6:26 AM on January 15, 2008