GLS Canada Tracking. Free & Online.

The legal entity behind the Canadian GLS site is GLS Logistics Systems Canada Ltd., whose corporate information page gives an address in Dorval, Quebec. Parcel, freight, logistics and warehousing appear as its service lines. Coverage, according to its FAQ, runs from coast to coast with some exceptions, though it does not deliver to PO boxes.

A site selector on every page leads to separate GLS websites for other countries, the United States among them. Only the tracker behind the Canadian site is covered here, and TrackParcel requests its English wording rather than the French.

Both parcel and freight numbers usually have nine characters; a letter may lead a parcel number, and two letters a freight one. On GLS's own page the search box accepts as many as 25 numbers at once, split by commas or spaces.

After removing spaces, hyphens and a pasted AWB: label, TrackParcel passes GLS a number only in one of four forms: eight digits, nine digits, a letter plus eight digits, or two letters plus seven digits. Any other string of up to 50 letters and digits, including two numbers joined by a comma, ends as not found and GLS is never contacted. Auto-Detect never includes GLS Canada in the lookups it runs for these forms, so select GLS Canada by hand.

The lookup matches the one GLS's Track a shipment widget makes before any postal code is entered. For the headline, TrackParcel prefers GLS's status name unless it is a bare code, then the label of the current progress step, then the newest scan. Every scan lists its terminal as the place, plus GLS's extra detail text, which is dropped when it uses words such as signed, receiver, consignee or name, or contains a long number.

Weight is shown in kilograms when GLS marks the shipment metric and in pounds otherwise; no From or To row appears. Sender and consignee names and addresses, the billing account, references, proof-of-delivery images and scan GPS positions are left unread. Times keep any zone GLS attaches; a bare time is taken as Eastern, and every timed scan is displayed converted to IST with an IST label.

Once a number has gone to GLS, two answers become a not-found result: the status NORECORD, and an empty list, which GLS's own widget words as “No shipments found”. Should GLS return a maintenance page or a blank reply instead, TrackParcel says the carrier is unavailable; a reply in an unfamiliar layout is reported as an error.

For a number that keeps failing, GLS's advice is to rule out typing errors first, then confirm with the shipper that GLS picked the parcel up. Contact GLS once both checks are done.

GLS delivers Monday to Friday as standard, with weekend service at some locations for an extra fee. By default a business delivery needs a signature and a residential one does not, and GLS provides a picture for a shipment left without one. Non-perishable food can travel but perishable food cannot, and the trucks are heated in winter so goods do not freeze.

Phone and email reach GLS's Customer Experience team on weekdays, between 7 in the morning and 6 in the evening Eastern time. Before delivery, the team can switch the address if the payee approves, or hold a parcel at a terminal for collection provided it has not left on a delivery run. Claims are filed by the GLS account holder, with the tracking number, the cost or repair invoice and any photos; anyone else goes through the shipper.