An apparatus, including: a shipment conveyance device which is a shipping container, a pallet, or a piece of luggage; a global positioning device, located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, which determines a position or location of the shipment conveyance device; a processor which generates a message in response to an occurrence of an event or in response to a request for information regarding the shipment conveyance device which request is automatically received by a receiver, and which message contains information regarding a shipment of the shipment conveyance device; and a transmitter, located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, which transmits the message to a communication device associated with an owner of the shipment conveyance device or an individual authorized to receive the message.