TrackShip Documentation
Real-time delivery tracking for WordPress and WooCommerce with GPS location, ETA estimates, progress bars, and automatic customer notification emails.
Overview
TrackShip is a delivery tracking plugin for WordPress that gives your customers real-time visibility into their shipments. It integrates with WooCommerce orders and provides a branded tracking experience directly on your site, eliminating the need to send customers to third-party tracking pages.
The plugin supports GPS-based location tracking, estimated time of arrival (ETA) calculations, visual progress bars showing delivery stages, and automatic email notifications when shipment status changes. Customers can track their orders using a simple shortcode-powered page on your site.
TrackShip Pro extends the free version with a live map powered by OpenStreetMap, a driver companion app for real-time location updates, and advanced notification customization. Whether you are running a local delivery service or an e-commerce store with nationwide shipping, TrackShip keeps your customers informed.
Installation
Download the trackship.zip file from your Boulley Technology account and install it through your WordPress admin.
- Navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin in your WordPress admin.
- Select the ZIP file and click Install Now, then Activate Plugin.
- TrackShip appears under Tools > TrackShip in your admin sidebar.
WooCommerce Integration
While TrackShip can be used as a standalone tracking system, it works best with WooCommerce. When WooCommerce is active, TrackShip automatically adds a tracking meta box to the order edit screen and includes tracking links in customer order emails. No additional configuration is needed for the WooCommerce integration; it activates automatically when both plugins are present.
If you are not using WooCommerce, you can still use TrackShip by manually creating tracking entries through the TrackShip dashboard and sharing tracking links with your customers directly.
Adding Tracking Information
There are two primary ways to add tracking information to orders, depending on whether you use WooCommerce.
WooCommerce Order Screen
When editing a WooCommerce order, you will see a TrackShip meta box in the sidebar. This meta box contains fields for the carrier name, tracking number, and an optional note. Fill in the tracking details and click Save Tracking. The tracking information is immediately associated with the order and the customer can begin tracking their shipment.
You can add multiple tracking numbers to a single order if the order is shipped in multiple packages. Each tracking entry appears as a separate row in the meta box, and customers see all tracking numbers on their tracking page.
TrackShip Dashboard
For non-WooCommerce sites or when you need to create tracking entries outside of orders, use the TrackShip dashboard at Tools > TrackShip. Click Add Tracking and fill in the recipient name, email, carrier, tracking number, and any notes. The system generates a unique tracking URL that you can share with the recipient.
Customer Tracking Page
TrackShip provides a shortcode that you can place on any WordPress page to create a customer-facing tracking portal. Add the following shortcode to a page:
[trackship_track]This shortcode renders a tracking form where customers can enter their order number or tracking number to view their delivery status. The tracking page displays a visual progress bar, current status, location updates (if available), and the estimated delivery time.
The tracking page is fully styled to match your site's theme. It uses a responsive layout that works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Customers do not need to create an account or log in to track their orders; they only need their tracking number or order number.
You can also link customers directly to their tracking results by appending the tracking number to the URL as a query parameter. For example, if your tracking page is at yoursite.com/track/, you can link to yoursite.com/track/?tracking=ABC123 and the page will automatically display the results for that shipment.
Delivery Statuses
TrackShip uses a clear status progression to communicate where a shipment is in the delivery process. Each status is displayed with a visual progress bar that fills as the shipment moves through the stages:
- Processing — The order has been received and is being prepared for shipment. This is the initial status assigned when tracking is first created.
- Shipped — The package has been handed off to the carrier and is in transit. This status is set when you enter a tracking number or when the carrier confirms pickup.
- Out for Delivery — The package is on the delivery vehicle and will be delivered today. This is updated either manually by a driver using the Driver App (Pro) or automatically by the carrier integration.
- Delivered — The package has been successfully delivered to the recipient. The progress bar shows 100% complete and the delivery timestamp is recorded.
Status updates can be triggered manually from the order edit screen, automatically via carrier webhooks (when supported), or through the Driver App (Pro). Each status change is logged with a timestamp and can optionally trigger an email notification to the customer.
Live Map (Pro)
The Live Map feature in TrackShip Pro adds an interactive OpenStreetMap to the customer tracking page. When a driver is actively delivering an order using the Driver App, the map shows the driver's real-time location along with the delivery route and estimated arrival time.
The map updates automatically at a configurable interval (default is every 30 seconds) without requiring the customer to refresh the page. It displays the driver's position as a moving marker, the destination as a pin, and the route between them. Customers can see at a glance how far away their delivery is and when to expect it.
The map is rendered using OpenStreetMap tiles, which are free and do not require a Google Maps API key. The map is fully responsive and works on mobile devices. When the Live Map is not active (no driver location available), the tracking page gracefully falls back to showing the text-based status and progress bar.
Email Notifications
TrackShip can automatically send email notifications to customers when their shipment status changes. Each status transition has its own email template that you can enable or disable independently.
- Shipped Notification — Sent when tracking is first added to an order. Includes the tracking number and a link to the tracking page.
- Out for Delivery Notification — Sent when the status changes to "Out for Delivery." Lets the customer know their package is arriving today.
- Delivered Notification — Sent when the package is marked as delivered. Includes the delivery timestamp and a thank-you message.
All email templates use your site's default WordPress email styling and include your site name as the sender. You can customize the subject line and body text for each notification type in the TrackShip settings at Tools > TrackShip > Notifications.
If you use WooCommerce, TrackShip notifications are styled to match your WooCommerce email templates for a consistent brand experience. Tracking links in WooCommerce order confirmation emails are also automatically added when tracking data is present.
PWA Support
TrackShip includes Progressive Web App (PWA) support for the customer tracking page. When a customer visits the tracking page on a mobile browser, they can add it to their home screen as a standalone app. The tracking page then behaves like a native mobile app with full-screen display, a custom splash screen, and offline caching.
The PWA manifest is automatically generated by TrackShip and includes your site's name and theme colors. No additional configuration is needed. When installed on a mobile device, the tracking page loads faster on subsequent visits thanks to service worker caching, and the customer receives a native app-like experience without downloading anything from an app store.
PWA support is available in the free version. It works on Android devices (Chrome, Edge, Samsung Internet) and iOS devices (Safari). The "Add to Home Screen" prompt appears automatically when the browser detects that the tracking page meets PWA criteria.
Driver App (Pro)
The Driver App is a TrackShip Pro feature that allows delivery drivers to update their GPS location in real time as they make deliveries. The app runs in the driver's mobile browser and does not require installation from an app store.
To set up a driver, create a driver account in the TrackShip settings and share the driver login link. When a driver logs in from their mobile device, they see their assigned deliveries for the day, along with navigation directions. The app requests GPS permission and sends location updates to your server at the configured interval.
Drivers can also update delivery status directly from the app. When they arrive at a delivery location, they can mark the order as "Delivered" with a single tap. This updates the order status, stops location tracking for that delivery, and triggers the delivered notification email to the customer.
License Activation
TrackShip Pro features (Live Map, Driver App) require an active license key.
- Go to Tools > TrackShip and click the License tab.
- Enter your license key from your Boulley Technology account.
- Click Activate License. Pro features unlock immediately.
Each license covers one site. To move your license, deactivate it from the current site first, then activate on the new site. Manage your licenses from your Boulley Technology account dashboard.
Troubleshooting
The tracking page shows "No tracking information found"
This means the tracking number or order number entered by the customer does not match any records. Verify that tracking has been added to the order. If using WooCommerce, check the TrackShip meta box on the order edit screen. Make sure the tracking number was saved correctly without extra spaces or characters.
Customers are not receiving email notifications
Check that notifications are enabled in Tools > TrackShip > Notifications. Also verify that your WordPress site can send emails. Many hosting providers require an SMTP plugin for reliable email delivery. Test with a plugin like WP Mail SMTP to confirm emails are being sent. Check spam folders as well.
The Live Map is not showing the driver's location
The Live Map requires the driver to be actively logged into the Driver App with GPS permissions granted. If the driver's location is not updating, ask them to check that location services are enabled on their device and that the browser has permission to access their location. Also verify that the driver is assigned to the specific order being tracked.
The shortcode is displaying as plain text
Ensure TrackShip is activated. If you see [trackship_track] as plain text on the page, the plugin may not be active or may have encountered an error during activation. Check Plugins to confirm it is active, and check your site's error log for any PHP errors related to TrackShip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does TrackShip integrate with FedEx, UPS, or other carriers?
TrackShip focuses on providing a branded tracking experience on your own site. It does not pull tracking data from carrier APIs. Instead, it provides its own tracking system that you or your drivers update manually or through the Driver App. For carrier-shipped orders, you can store the carrier tracking number and provide a link to the carrier's tracking page alongside the TrackShip tracking page.
Can multiple drivers use the Driver App simultaneously?
Yes. Each driver has their own account and sees only their assigned deliveries. Multiple drivers can be active at the same time, each updating their own GPS location independently. The Live Map shows the correct driver's location for each individual order.
Is customer data secure?
TrackShip stores tracking data in your WordPress database on your own server. Customer information is not sent to any third-party service. GPS coordinates from drivers are stored temporarily and are only visible to the customer tracking that specific order. Location data is purged after the delivery is completed.
Can I customize the tracking page design?
The tracking page inherits your theme's styles by default. You can further customize it using CSS. The tracking page elements use well-defined CSS classes that you can target in your theme's stylesheet or the WordPress Customizer's Additional CSS section.
Does the PWA work offline?
The PWA caches the tracking page shell for offline loading, so the page itself will open without an internet connection. However, tracking data requires a network connection to fetch the latest status and location updates. When offline, the page displays the most recently cached data with a notice that it may not be current.