# Track & trace

> Track & trace is the capability to follow a shipment's location and status in real time and to review its full movement history from pickup to delivery.

"Tracking" is the live view of where a shipment is now; "tracing" is the historical record of where it has been. Together they give customers and operators confidence, enable accurate ETAs, and surface exceptions early.

In a TMS, track & trace is fed by GPS from a driver app and telematics integrations, and is often shared with customers through secure public tracking links that require no login.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between track and trace?

Tracking is the live, forward-looking view of where a shipment is right now and where it is heading; tracing is the backward-looking history of everywhere it has already been. A track & trace system provides both from the same data: the current position for live monitoring, and the full event log for proof, audits, and dispute resolution.

### How does real-time tracking work in a TMS?

Location data comes from the driver app's GPS and from telematics/board-computer integrations. The TMS combines this with the planned route to show live position, status, and predicted ETA, which can be shared with customers via tracking links.

### Can customers track a shipment without an account?

Yes. A TMS typically generates a secure public tracking link per shipment that a customer can open without logging in. It shows the current status, live map position, and ETA, and often the proof of delivery once completed — which cuts inbound "where is my order?" calls to support.

### What is the difference between track & trace and telematics?

Telematics is the underlying vehicle technology — GPS, sensors, and board computers that report a vehicle's position and status. Track & trace is the shipment-level capability built on top of that data (plus the driver app and planned route) to show where a specific consignment is and when it will arrive.


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Canonical page: https://transportial.com/en/glossary/track-and-trace