Mapping Shipment Tracking

You know when you buy something online and the retailer gives you a number that lets you check on it's progress as it makes it's way to the destination? They generally give you a list events--checked in, checked out, in transit, out for delivery, etc.--along with times.

Sometimes, when I have nothing better to do, I take the locations its been and string them together in Google Maps (guessing because the locations don't usually have addresses, but I can guess pretty well with satellite view.)

But the shipper knows exactly where those locations are, and moreover, the route the truck is actually scheduled to take, though this matters more for delivery than shipment. So here's what you do:

1. Plot the anticipated route on Google Maps. I know you can, you don't run a shipment company for years without some way to predict the likely path any given package will take.
2. Plot the actual route as updates come in. Revise the anticipated route if needed.
3. Plot events as pins. Stack multiple events in one pin with timestamps, no need for pin forests at an overnight stay at a warehouse.
4. If you have a way to determine the location of the truck, consider plotting that on the map. Perhaps in real time.

Now your customers can not only read where it is, but can look on a map and see how far away it is.

Better, Google already detects tracking numbers people search for and forwards them to the appropriate page. Leave the mapping data open and get Google to add to the "Forward to Tracking" page a "View tracking in Google Maps" link.