Carrier tracking updates can take hours to reflect the latest movement of an LTL shipment. Between terminal scans, shippers may have limited visibility into where their freight is headed or whether the carrier’s estimated delivery date is still realistic.
Mothership’s new AI-powered predictive middle-mile tracking provides a clearer view of what happens between those updates.
Currently available on select XPO and Forward Air shipments, the feature combines the carrier’s latest scan with extensive historical shipping lane data to predict your freight’s route, expected position, and delivery timing. More carriers will be added soon.
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What's new
On eligible shipments, your tracking map now shows:
- A predicted route in blue: See where your freight is expected to travel next, terminal by terminal.
- An expected position: View where the shipment is estimated to be along that route based on typical travel and terminal handling times.
- At-risk delivery alerts: See when Mothership predicts that the carrier’s current delivery date may no longer be feasible.
How it works
LTL carrier networks are built around established terminal-to-terminal routes. Shipments traveling between the same regions typically move through the same or similar sequence of terminals, creating repeatable patterns across the carrier’s network.
Mothership analyzes years of historical shipping data alongside the latest carrier scan to identify those patterns and predict the shipment’s most likely route, expected position, and delivery timing. On the map, the black route and pins show movement already verified by the carrier, while the blue route and pins show where Mothership expects the freight to travel next.
If the remaining terminals, travel distance, and typical handling times no longer fit within the carrier’s estimated delivery window, you’ll see an alert with Mothership’s earliest realistic delivery estimate.
Predicted routes and delivery estimates are based on real shipment data and apply only to the middle-mile journey between the first and last carrier terminals. They do not cover first-mile pickup or final-mile delivery movement and are not live GPS locations or delivery guarantees.
Why it matters
LTL freight may pass through several terminals before reaching its destination, leaving gaps between carrier scans. Predictive tracking helps fill those gaps so you can better understand what is happening between updates and identify potential delays sooner.
There’s no setup required. When a prediction is available, it will automatically appear on the tracking page for eligible shipments. If no predicted route appears, carrier scans and activity updates will continue as usual.
See what's ahead
Already have a Mothership account? Visit the tracking page in the Mothership dashboard to follow your LTL shipments and see predictive middle-mile tracking in action.
New to Mothership? Sign up today to start shipping and managing your freight in one place.
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