The invention provides for systems and methods for location-identification and monitoring of objects, such as shipping containers, at a transit terminal using an automated vision based tracking system. Such a system is ideally suited to provide minimal error rates, low cost implementation, real-time data and automatic merging of data with corresponding object identification systems and terminal operating systems. The systems and methods of the present invention provide for location-tracking of objects without the need to retrofit the objects with a tagging or marker device. The vision-based system incorporates the use of multiple imaging devices and a hand-off method for tracking the location of the objects over extended distances.