To provide a system provided with the intellectual medium of the 'tag' type including a microprocessor in each package in a cargo tracing system so that each package is actually responsible for its routing and the necessity of the central control of each package in the system is reduced or eliminated.

In a cargo tracing and routing system, a tag 100 is physically fitted to each package 10. The tag 100 includes a radio or infrared transceiver, and a microprocessor. A position transceiver 20 transmits the signal to express the position by an important node at the geographical position in the distribution system. The microprocessor transmits the signal to instruct an external device 22 to take out a package and make it stayed at the desired position in response to the reception of the desired destination signal. The tag can be electronically interrogated, and the distress signal can be transmitted when the cargo can not reach the prescribed position in the prescribed time.