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How to Automate Container Tracking (using Excel + API)

If you’re trying to track containers automatically, you’ve probably hit the same wall most logistics teams do.

You start with a simple Excel file. Then you realize you need to:

Check container status on multiple shipping line websites.
Track containers by container number.
Monitor ETA changes.
Update shipment status manually.
Repeat the same process every day.

At first, it works.

But once you’re handling more shipments, manual container tracking becomes slow, inconsistent, and hard to scale.

That’s where container tracking automation comes in.

Instead of checking each shipment one by one, you can connect Excel to a container tracking API and automatically pull real-time container status, latest tracking events, container location, and updated ETA.

All in one place.

No more switching between carrier websites. No more copy-paste.

Just a spreadsheet that updates itself.

Step-by-Step: Container Tracking Automation Using Excel + API

You don’t need a complex system to get started.

Here’s a simple way to automate container tracking in Excel.

Step 1: Create your container tracking list

Start with a clean Excel file:

Container Number
MSCU1234567
CMAU7654321
OOLU9988776

This is your base for container tracking by container number.

You can later expand with:

Status
ETA
Last event
Notes

Step 2: Use a container tracking API

To automate tracking, you need a data source.

A container tracking API replaces manual checks on carrier websites and gives you structured data in one request.

Example API request:

http://api.jsoncargo.com/api/v1/containers/{tracking_number}?shipping_line={shipping_line_name}

This returns real-time shipment data for that container.

Step 3: Connect Excel to the API (Power Query)

In Excel:

Go to
Data → Get Data → From Web

Paste your API request.

Excel will fetch container tracking data directly from the API.

This is the core of container tracking automation in Excel.

Step 4: Convert tracking data into columns

				
					{   "data": {     "container_id": "MEDU9091004",  
   "container_type": "40' HIGH CUBE REEFER",  
   "container_status": "Empty received at CY",  
   "shipping_line_name": "Mediterranean Shipping Company",  
   "shipping_line_id": "0015",   
  "tare": 3900,   
  "shipped_from": "GUAYAQUIL, EC",   
  "shipped_from_terminal": "NAPORTEC TERMINAL - BANANAPUERTO ",  
   "shipped_to": "TRIPOLI, LY",   
  "shipped_to_terminal": "SPCO ( SOCIALIST PORTS CO UNDER MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ) ",     "atd_origin": "2024-07-09 00:00",   
  "eta_final_destination": "2024-08-10 00:00",

The API returns structured data (JSON), like highlighted in the response.

Power Query lets you turn this into readable columns:

Container Number
Status
Last Event
Location
Date
ETA

Now Excel becomes a live container tracking dashboard.

Step 5: Enable bulk container tracking

To track multiple containers at once, you can:

Apply the query to multiple container numbers
Use parameters or a table-based query
Structure your sheet for batch processing

This turns Excel into a tool for bulk container tracking automation.

Step 6: Refresh instead of re-checking

Once everything is connected:

Click Data → Refresh All

That’s it.

Your spreadsheet updates all container statuses in one go.

This is the core of container tracking automation:
you replace manual checking with a single refresh.

Step 7: Add simple tracking logic (optional but powerful)

This is where Excel becomes useful again.

Add a few helper columns:

“Last update older than 3 days”
“ETA changed”
“Still at port”

You can highlight rows that need attention instead of scanning everything manually.

Now you’re not just tracking containers, you’re monitoring exceptions.

Try Container Tracking Automation with JsonCargo

If you’re looking to move from manual tracking to automation, JsonCargo gives you a simple way to get started.

With one API, you can:

Track containers across multiple shipping lines
Retrieve real-time container status and events
Monitor ETA changes automatically
Integrate directly with Excel or your internal systems

It’s the easiest way to turn your spreadsheet into a live container tracking tool.