Starken tracking

What is Starken?

Starken is one of Chile's leading courier and logistics operators, functioning as the dedicated cargo and shipping arm of Grupo de Empresas Tur Bus, one of the country's most established transportation conglomerates. The parent group was founded in 1948 by Jesús Díez Martínez, a Spanish immigrant, and has remained under the control of the Díez family across successive generations. Starken itself traces its origins to approximately 1982, when it began operating under the name Turbus Cargo, using the existing bus and truck route network of Tur Bus to move freight between Chilean cities.

The company's first major expansion came in 2011 with the opening of a 33,000 m² distribution center capable of processing 7,000 packages per hour. Between 2014 and 2015, Turbus Cargo completed a full corporate rebranding, renaming itself Starken and adopting a new visual identity. Management described the transition in Spanish as "la misma entrega con una nueva imagen", meaning the same delivery commitment with a new image, underlining that service quality would remain unchanged while the brand was modernized. A new warehousing facility of 3,900 m², expandable to 13,000 m², was launched alongside the rebrand.

In 2022, marking its 40th anniversary, Starken invested approximately $2 million in a new automated metropolitan distribution hub equipped with Vanderlande sorting technology, capable of processing 6,000 to 6,500 packages per hour. That same year, the company launched a 24/7 robotized locker service and introduced same-day delivery in select areas of the Santiago metropolitan region. In March 2023, Starken signed a strategic alliance with Mall Plaza, integrating its pickup-and-drop-off network into major shopping centers across Chile. December 2023 saw the formal creation of Starken Internacional, a dedicated international shipping division developed in partnership with logistics firm BL Corporations.

• Founded: Approximately 1982, as Turbus Cargo, the cargo division of the Tur Bus intercity transport group
• Rebranded: 2014-2015, transitioning from Turbus Cargo to Starken with a new visual identity while maintaining the same operational structure
• Headquarters: Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
• Parent company: Grupo de Empresas Tur Bus, also referenced as Grupo Jedimar, a family-controlled Chilean transportation conglomerate founded in 1948
• CEO: Rodrigo Prida, as of 2022
• Market position: One of the three dominant courier operators in Chile, alongside Chilexpress and Correos de Chile, with Blue Express also active in the same segment
• Annual volume target: 18 million packages in 2024
• Technology investment: A $6 million short-term plan announced for automation and digital platform development
• International division: Starken Internacional, launched December 2023 in partnership with BL Corporations

Starken serves both individual consumers and corporate clients, making it a versatile carrier across market segments. Notable corporate clients have included LAN Airlines, for whom Starken managed the logistics of pilot and flight attendant uniforms. For e-commerce operators specifically, the carrier has built integrations with platforms such as Shopify and PrestaShop, as well as logistics aggregators including Envíame, Shipit, and Beetrack, positioning itself as a preferred last-mile partner for online retailers. The company's reputation among end consumers is mixed, with third-party review platforms reflecting recurring complaints around delivery delays, though Starken continues to invest in infrastructure capacity.

Which countries does Starken deliver to?

Starken's primary coverage area is the national territory of Chile, a country whose elongated geography presents significant logistical challenges. The carrier serves over 600 destinations through a network of more than 250 physical branches and 800 PUDO, or pick up and drop off, partner points spread across the country. The company organizes its operational territory into 15 regional divisions, supported by 24 regional distribution centers, giving it the infrastructure to reach cities and towns across Chile's full geographic range from the northern desert to the southern tip of Patagonia.

Transit times vary significantly depending on the destination region, reflecting the extreme distances involved in serving a territory that stretches over 4,000 kilometers from north to south. The Santiago metropolitan area and most of the country from Region III through Region X receive next-day service under Express. Destinations in Region II, Antofagasta, require approximately two business days. The far northern regions, specifically Region XV, Arica y Parinacota, and Region I, Tarapacá, require around three business days. The most remote southern regions, Region XI, Aysén, and Region XII, Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, have transit times of 10 to 12 business days due to the extreme geographic isolation of Chilean Patagonia. Easter Island and the city of Coyhaique are cited by Starken as exceptions even to Express service guarantees.

• Far northern Chile (Regions XV and I): Arica, Iquique, and surrounding areas, with transit times of approximately 3 business days under Express service
• Northern Chile (Region II): Antofagasta and nearby destinations, with transit times of approximately 2 business days
• Central Chile (Regions III to X): Valparaíso, Rancagua, Talca, Concepción, Temuco, Valdivia, and Puerto Montt, with next-day delivery under Express service
• Far southern Chile (Regions XI and XII): Coyhaique, Punta Arenas, and Patagonian destinations, with transit times of 10 to 12 business days
• International (North America): United States, including a dedicated receiving address in Miami for the Starken Box forwarding service
• International (Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East): Additional destinations accessible through the Starken Internacional division, available via maritime and air freight products

For international shipments, Starken operates through the Starken Internacional division created in December 2023 with logistics partner BL Corporations. This division targets destinations across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East through a combination of maritime freight and air courier products. A physical mailbox address located in Miami, USA serves as the operational foundation for the Starken Box service, which allows Chilean consumers to purchase from US retailers and have their packages consolidated and forwarded to a home address or Starken branch in Chile. The cross-border e-commerce product includes customs clearance and last-mile delivery in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer formats.

What are the Starken services and delivery times?

Starken organizes its domestic offering around three delivery modalities, with the first being Sucursal, covering branch-to-branch shipments or branch pickup by the recipient, and the second being Domicilio, referring to home delivery to a registered address. The third is PUDO, meaning pick up and drop off at partner locations, many of which are situated inside Mall Plaza shopping centers following the strategic alliance Starken signed with that operator in March 2023. Within these three modalities, distinct service tiers determine the speed and handling priority applied to each shipment.

• Express: The premium domestic tier, targeting delivery within one business day for most destinations from Arica to Puerto Montt, with documented exceptions for the most remote regions and Easter Island
• Standard/Normal: A lower-cost option for less time-sensitive shipments, with transit of 1 to 3 business days for most of the country and up to 10 to 12 business days for Aysén and Magallanes
• Same Day: Launched in 2022, this service targets delivery within a 12-hour window, available in select areas primarily within the Santiago metropolitan region
• Robotized Smart Lockers: An automated 24/7 pickup station service accepting packages up to 15 kg, completing each retrieval transaction in under 30 seconds without staff assistance
• Big Ticket and Giga Ticket: Freight handling for oversized and heavy shipments exceeding standard parcel limits, processed through branches equipped for larger cargo
• Warehousing and Fulfillment: Third-party logistics services for e-commerce businesses covering order fulfillment, pick-and-pack operations, dispatch, and returns management
• International (Starken Internacional): Maritime and air freight, plus dedicated cross-border e-commerce logistics, offered since December 2023

Home delivery is carried out Monday through Friday between 08:00 and 18:00, with Saturday service available between 09:00 and 14:00. Branch pickup operates according to each location's individual hours. The Mall Plaza PUDO alliance points, situated inside shopping centers, operate seven days a week from 10:00 to 20:00, offering recipients a collection window that extends into evenings and weekends. These partner points accept packages up to 25 kg with maximum dimensions of 50x50x60 cm, covering the large majority of standard consumer parcel sizes.

The robotized locker service, introduced in 2022, operates continuously without staff assistance. The flagship installation covers more than 1,000 m², features 322 pickup positions, and processes each robotic transaction in under 30 seconds. This facility is designed to handle the volume of recipients who are unavailable during standard delivery hours or who prefer flexible self-service collection. Packages accepted at locker stations must not exceed 15 kg. The service is available both as a drop-off point for senders and as a collection point for recipients of incoming shipments.

What are the Starken rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Starken calculates shipment rates based on a combination of actual weight, volumetric weight derived from the package's dimensions, the origin and destination locations, and the service level selected. Business account holders registered on the Starken Pro platform access preferential rates negotiated according to their shipping volume, while individual customers use the standard rate card or the online quotation tool available on the carrier's website. Payment can be arranged by the sender at the time of shipment or configured for the recipient to pay upon delivery, and corporate accounts can consolidate charges to a current account for billing purposes.

• Mini Ticket: Maximum weight of 35 kg, maximum dimensions of 50x50x50 cm, accepted at most branches across the national network
• Big Ticket: Maximum weight of 100 kg, maximum dimensions of 100x100x100 cm, accepted at branches with sufficient handling capacity for oversized freight
• Giga Ticket: Maximum weight of 200 kg, maximum dimensions of 150x150x150 cm, available only at select branches specifically equipped to handle heavy cargo

Not all branches accept all three package categories. Big Ticket and Giga Ticket availability varies by location, and senders handling oversized freight should confirm acceptance at the intended branch before preparing a shipment. The automated metropolitan distribution center in San Bernardo is optimized for packages ranging between 50 grams and 10 kg, a size range that represents approximately 80% of Starken's monthly volume. Packages significantly outside this range may require manual handling at intermediate stages of the routing process.

Corporate clients using Starken Pro accounts benefit from current account billing, allowing them to consolidate charges rather than paying per transaction at the point of drop-off. This account structure is designed for businesses with recurring high-volume shipping needs, including e-commerce operators who connect to Starken through platform integrations. Standard customers without a Pro account pay at the point of deposit, or arrange for the recipient to cover freight costs on delivery, which is a common structure for business-to-business shipments where the receiving party bears transport costs.

What are the Starken delivery options?

Recipients of Starken shipments have three primary options for receiving their packages. Home delivery brings the shipment directly to a registered address during defined time windows. Branch collection allows the recipient to pick up the package at any of Starken's 250 or more physical locations distributed across the national territory. PUDO collection is available at more than 800 partner points, a large portion of which are located inside Mall Plaza shopping centers operating on extended hours throughout the week. Each collection method has specific requirements that apply at the time of retrieval.

• Home delivery: Available Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 18:00, and Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00, at the address registered for the shipment at time of deposit
• Branch pickup: Available at any of the 250 or more Starken branches during their operating hours, requiring presentation of a valid national identity document (cédula de identidad) by the named recipient
• Third-party branch collection: Permitted with a simple power of attorney (poder simple), allowing a designated person to collect on behalf of the named recipient
• PUDO points: Over 800 partner locations, including Mall Plaza shopping centers, operating seven days a week from 10:00 to 20:00 and accepting packages up to 25 kg with maximum dimensions of 50x50x60 cm
• Robotized lockers: Automated 24/7 pickup stations accepting packages up to 15 kg, completing each retrieval transaction in under 30 seconds without staff intervention
• Storage period at branches: Packages held for collection must be retrieved within 10 days of arrival at the branch; storage fees are applied once this period expires

For home delivery, if the first attempt is unsuccessful because no recipient is available at the registered address, a second delivery attempt is made. If the second attempt also fails, the package is returned to the origin branch and the sender becomes responsible for covering the cost of any subsequent re-shipment. This two-attempt policy applies across Starken's home delivery network. Recipients who anticipate being unavailable are generally advised to redirect the shipment to a branch or PUDO point before the first delivery attempt occurs, which avoids the risk of a failed attempt and potential return-to-origin.

What should I do if my Starken parcel is lost or damaged?

Starken provides a formal claims process for shipments that are lost, damaged, only partially delivered, or subject to abnormal delays. Claims can be submitted online through the dedicated claim form on the carrier's website or in person at any Starken branch. Regardless of the submission channel chosen, the claimant must supply a defined set of information and documentation to open a file. Starken commits to resolving complete claims within 20 business days of receiving the full supporting documentation from the claimant.

• Freight order number: The 9-digit numeric shipment identifier issued at time of drop-off at a branch, used to locate the shipment in the system
• Contact information: The claimant's email address and telephone number for correspondence throughout the claim process
• Identity documentation: National identification details for both the sender and the recipient of the shipment
• Commercial documentation: For shipments with a declared value exceeding 50,000 Chilean pesos, purchase receipts or invoices must be submitted to support the claimed value
• Photographic evidence: For damage claims, photographs of both the damaged item and its packaging must be included at submission
• Resolution period: 20 business days from receipt of the complete claim file, including all required documentation
• Maximum recognized value without documentation: Shipments without supporting commercial documents are capped at a declared value of 50,000 Chilean pesos, regardless of the actual item value

Compensation for validated claims is calculated as the declared and documented value of the goods plus the freight charge paid for the shipment. The cap applied to undocumented shipments is a significant limitation for claimants who did not retain proof of purchase for the goods that were shipped. Senders who regularly dispatch higher-value items are advised to retain commercial documentation at the time of shipment to preserve their right to full compensation in the event a claim becomes necessary.

If a claim is not resolved to the customer's satisfaction through Starken's internal process, the company directs claimants to escalate the matter through SERNAC, Chile's national consumer protection agency. Customer support is available by phone, with a dedicated option for corporate and current account clients and a separate option for individual customers. Support hours run Monday through Friday from 09:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 09:00 to 14:00. Social media support is also available through the carrier's official accounts under the handle @StarkenCL on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram.

Does Starken handle international shipments and customs formalities?

Starken's international shipping capabilities were formalized with the creation of Starken Internacional in December 2023, a division built in partnership with logistics firm BL Corporations. The division operates across four product lines. Maritime freight is available in LCL, or less-than-container-load, format for smaller cargo volumes and FCL, or full-container-load, format for larger volumes, offered on either a port-to-port or door-to-door basis. Air shipping is structured into express courier for packages up to 50 kg and general cargo for shipments exceeding that threshold, each targeting different transit time and cost profiles.

The Starken Box service provides Chilean consumers with a physical receiving address in Miami, USA. Customers use this address when purchasing from US online retailers, and Starken then consolidates and forwards the packages to a home address or branch in Chile. This arrangement gives Chilean buyers access to US retailers that do not ship internationally or that charge significantly higher rates for international delivery. The service includes traceability from the US address through to the final delivery point in Chile.

• Maritime LCL: Less-than-container-load shipping for smaller international cargo volumes, available port-to-port or door-to-door
• Maritime FCL: Full-container-load shipping for larger freight volumes, available port-to-port or door-to-door
• Air express courier: For international shipments up to 50 kg where faster transit is required
• Air general cargo: For international air shipments exceeding 50 kg
• Starken Box: A Miami-based receiving address for Chilean consumers shopping from US retailers, with forwarding to Chile by home delivery or branch pickup
• Starken Cross-Border: A service for e-commerce companies requiring customs clearance, national logistics, and last-mile delivery in both B2B and B2C formats

The Starken Cross-Border product explicitly includes customs clearance as part of its offering, covering import documentation and regulatory compliance on behalf of the client. This makes it primarily aimed at businesses importing goods into Chile or exporting Chilean products abroad through e-commerce channels. Starken maintains a list of items prohibited across all services regardless of destination. This list covers money and negotiable financial instruments, jewelry and artworks, weapons and ammunition, dangerous substances including explosives and flammables, toxic and infectious materials, live or dead animals, biological and human remains, controlled substances, radioactive materials, and perishable food items requiring cold chain handling such as meats, fish, and shellfish.

Understanding tracking statuses

When you track a Starken shipment online, the system uses a 9-digit numeric code as the shipment identifier, found on the freight order receipt issued at time of drop-off at a branch. This tracking number can be entered on the carrier's tracking page, on the Starken mobile app available for Android and iOS, or through third-party tracking platforms . The status updates at each key stage of the shipment's journey, from initial registration through to final delivery. Below are the main statuses that may appear and what each one means.