---
title: "Anonymous one-off tracking lookup (no API key)"
method: POST
path: "/v1/track/public"
---

# Anonymous one-off tracking lookup (no API key)

`POST /v1/track/public`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.trackingmcp.com`
- URL: `https://api.trackingmcp.com/v1/track/public`
- Auth: none required

Free, unauthenticated lookup of a container, bill of lading, or booking. Per-browser allowance of 1 lookup per reference type; returns HTTP 429 with `gated: true` once spent. Send a stable per-browser UUID in `X-Anon-Id`.

## Headers

- `X-Anon-Id` string

## Request body

- object
  - `reference` string, required: Container number (4 letters + 7 digits), bill of lading, or booking reference.
  - `reference_type` 'container_id' | 'bill_of_lading' | 'booking_number': Client-side guess; the server refines it.
  - `carrier_code` string: Optional SCAC hint.

## Response `200`

Live tracking result.

- object
  - `ok` boolean
  - `data` PublicTrackResult
    - `identifier` string
    - `identifier_type` 'container_id' | 'bill_of_lading' | 'booking_number'
    - `carrier_code` string, nullable
    - `carrier_name` string, nullable
    - `status` string
    - `eta` string, date-time, nullable
    - `origin` string, nullable
    - `destination` string, nullable
    - `vessel` object, nullable
      - `name` string, nullable
      - `lat` number, nullable
      - `lng` number, nullable
    - `events` object[]
      - `description` string
      - `location` string, nullable
      - `datetime` string, date-time, nullable
      - `actual` boolean
    - `observability` object, nullable
      - `lenses` object
        - `actuals` boolean
        - `position` boolean
        - `plan` boolean
        - `probability` boolean
      - `active_count` integer

## Other responses

- `400`: Missing or invalid reference (e.g. bad ISO 6346 container number).
- `404`: No live data found for the reference.
- `429`: Free anonymous allowance spent — create a free account to continue.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/trackingmcp/apis/trackingmcp-rest-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/trackingmcp/apis/trackingmcp-rest-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/trackingmcp/apis/trackingmcp-rest-api/revisions/6bb8d8172ceb?raw)