There are a few common reasons why tracking may not be active immediately after booking, and most are entirely expected. Here is what to look for at each stage.
Your pickup has not occurred yet
Tracking becomes active once your bags have been collected and scanned into the carrier network. If your scheduled pickup date has not yet arrived, your tracking link will not show movement. Once pickup is complete and your bags are scanned, tracking will update automatically.
Your bags were recently picked up
If your pickup occurred earlier today, there may be a brief delay before your first tracking scan appears. Carriers typically scan bags at the point of collection, but processing times can vary. Allow a few hours after your scheduled pickup window before expecting tracking to reflect activity.
A pickup attempt was made but unsuccessful
If no one was available at the pickup address and your bags were not left in an accessible location, the carrier may have been unable to collect your shipment. Check your email for any delivery attempt notifications, and contact our Client Experience Team to reschedule if needed.
You are shipping internationally
International shipments can experience gaps in tracking updates, particularly during customs processing. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with your shipment. Tracking will resume once your bags have cleared customs and re-entered the active carrier network.
You are Shipping Express or Expedited
Tracking updates for expedited shipments may occasionally lag behind the actual movement of your luggage due to how carriers process and update scans within their systems.
Your bags were picked up from a Cruise Debark
Cruise debark shipments are managed by a Port Agent, who holds your bags until they are transferred to one of our shipping partners. As a result, tracking may not begin for up to 48 hours after your debark.
What to do if tracking has not updated within 24 hours of pickup (48 for international or Cruise Debark)
If your scheduled pickup has passed and tracking has not reflected any activity within 24 hours (48 for international or cruise debark), contact our Client Experience Team at +1 617-482-1100 or support@luggageforward.com. A Client Experience Representative will investigate the status of your shipment and provide an update.
For guidance on how to track your shipment once active, see our article: How Do I Track My Luggage?