CARU → CARU Containers · lessor prefix
CARU Container Prefix — CARU Containers (Leasing)
CARU Containers grew from a Rotterdam trading house into a lessor with a strong sideline in selling used boxes to end customers.
Its single code is common on one-way leases, so CARU boxes often finish their journey as somebody’s storage unit.
4 letters + 7 digits, printed on the doors
CARU check digit: worked example
C | A | R | U | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 10 | 29 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| ×1 | ×2 | ×4 | ×8 | ×16 | ×32 | ×64 | ×128 | ×256 | ×512 |
| 13 | 20 | 116 | 256 | 64 | 64 | 384 | 128 | 768 | 4608 |
Sum 6421 → 6421 mod 11 = 8 → check digit 8 → CARU 426139-8
CARU Containers prefix family
| Prefix | CARU (this page) |
|---|
Prefix register verified against two independent sources on 2026-08-03.
Owner vs operator: the CARU Containers case
If your CARU box is on a shipping journey, the operating line tracks it; if you bought it outright, there is nothing to track.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the CARU container prefix?
CARU is registered to CARU Containers, a container leasing company (lessor) — the BIC register lists it, but the boxes sail in other lines' fleets.
Which line do I track a CARU container with?
Not with CARU Containers — a CARU box is leased, so the tracking data lives with the shipping line named on your booking confirmation or bill of lading; open that line's tracker and paste the CARU number there.
Is CARU 4261398 a valid container number?
Yes — CARU 426139-8 passes ISO 6346 validation: the weighted letter-and-digit sum for CARU426139 leaves remainder 8 mod 11, giving check digit 8. The worked table for this CARU example is on this page.
Is CARU a shipping line prefix or a leasing company prefix?
CARU is a leasing-company (lessor) prefix — CARU Containers owns the steel box, while a shipping line operates it, which is why owner and tracker differ.