Sometimes, it happens that a package is stuck in transit longer than expected. If the package was sent during the COVID-19 outbreak, many carriers and postal services worldwide are overwhelmed with an increased volume of packages. The surge in online shopping has resulted in a significant increase in both the number of people shopping online and the frequency of purchases.
So, what does the status "parcel stuck in transit" mean? It can be a literal status, or it may simply indicate that the package has not moved for an extended period. Often, in such cases, you won't see any new updates in the tracking system.
When your shipment is in transit, it signifies that the courier company has picked up the parcel, and your shipment is on its way to the delivery address. The package remains in transit until the driver or postman delivers it.
When a parcel is stuck in transit, it implies that the package is no longer making progress toward its destination and is either being held in one of the courier company's depots for further checks or is held up in customs.
In general, shipments to/from countries within the US/GB/EU/AU do not require special documentation, unless the shipment involves state monopoly or contains prohibited and restricted items. However, if the package is being shipped to/from a country outside of the US or EU, a customs declaration is typically required. Failure to provide the necessary documentation can lead to your shipment being further delayed in transit.
Solution: Contact the courier company to obtain all the necessary details and documentation required to complete the customs clearance.
This is the most common reason for undeliverable shipments. Always double-check if your address contains all the necessary information for successful transportation. If you discover incomplete or incorrect details on your order, contact the courier company to request necessary corrections.
For packages coming from overseas (other countries), it's reasonable to expect longer delivery times than usual.
It's not uncommon for packages to experience delays during busy periods, such as holidays, or due to adverse weather conditions, such as heavy snow.
If you suspect your package is lost, you can initiate a claims procedure and request a refund.
Some courier companies may weigh and measure packages in their warehouses. If they discover that a package is heavier than stated, they may return it to the sender or charge additional surcharges (this depends on the specific courier company's policies).
Shipping items that are on the list of prohibited and restricted items can lead to problems. Courier companies scan shipments at different depots, so it's advisable to avoid shipping forbidden items. In some cases, these items can be easily detected, and the courier will either destroy the package or return it to the shipper.
Proper packaging is essential for the safety of both the contents and the staff handling your package. If your package shows signs of leaking or sharp objects, the courier will likely halt its transit.
It's never a bad idea to get on the phone and inquire about your USPS package! Call your local post office supervisor and ask them to email the sorting facility where your package is stuck. Mention the city name and use the phrase "NDC Package Inquiry" (remember, be super nice and friendly, as it may encourage them to assist you to the fullest extent they can!). They might hesitate at your request, but remind them that it's protocol.
NDC stands for Network Distribution Center. These are large regional facilities that process most "packages" (they also handle some lettermail work). Mail you drop off at your local post office goes to the NDC, where it gets routed with other packages to the NDC serving the destination zipcode. From there, it goes to your destination zipcode post office. A Network Distribution Center (NDC) is a highly mechanized mail processing plant of the United States Postal Service that distributes standard mail and package services in piece and bulk form.
What has also worked for people in the past when they had a stuck package is to submit a USPS customer service form for a shipment problem. It's possible that within a day, your package will be located and sent on to its destination.
When the USPS tracking system marks a piece of mail as "In Transit to Next Facility," it's actually just a placeholder message that means, "We don't have a more specific scan today, but rest assured, it's en-route." This message typically shows up once a day when there has been no other scanning activity within the last 24 hours.
It most commonly appears on packages sent via Retail Ground (or Parcel Select, the equivalent ground service for commercial shippers). This is because trucks and trains can take several days to cross the country and move parcels from one hub (Processing and Distribution Center [P&DC] or Network Distribution Center [NDC]) to the next. Thus, there can often be a couple of days between scans.
This message can also apply to some Priority Mail shipments, as the USPS contracts with FedEx to fly Priority Mail between P&DC hubs. This can take about 36 hours or so, and FedEx doesn't scan individual USPS packages while transporting USPS bags and containers across the country.
I suspect the USPS added logic to their system to automatically insert an "In Transit to Next Facility" record to reassure customers that their items haven't been lost or delayed and help prevent frantic phone calls or emails to the USPS's customer service line when a new tracking result hasn't shown up for a day or two.
Of course, it can also happen with some mailpieces that get misrouted or lost.
A package might be stuck in transit because it was stopped at a border crossing, involved in a vehicle accident, or delayed due to adverse weather conditions, such as a blizzard. Typically, the tracking system will indicate if the package is stuck in transit. If the parcel hasn't moved for some time, it's likely due to one of the aforementioned reasons.
It's important to note that tracking statuses can sometimes take up to 24-48 hours to be updated, so don't panic if your parcel's status hasn't changed yet.
You can explore various ways to get more information about what caused your shipment to stop moving. Some courier companies offer online access to detailed reports, while in other cases, you may need to contact the company directly.
It's essential to understand that the estimated delivery time is just that—an estimate. It's an average calculated based on the typical time it takes for a given courier company to deliver a package to its destination.
Your package is still within the courier network and, unless otherwise noted, should be delivered. Shipment movement information is captured each time a tracking label is scanned in the USPS, FedEx, UPS delivery system. There may be several days between scans if the shipment is going cross-country or moving between countries or territories.
It can be a little unusual not to see further scans on your parcel, but it should still be in transit and will catch up with scans soon. Once an item is posted, it's on the move, and it might have missed the initial processing track events.
Packages in the FedEx system receive scans at various points between pickup and delivery. It's not unusual for a package to go for more than 24 hours without a scan while in transit—your package may be traveling as intended.
If there are no scans for the tracking number entered, contact your shipper to verify the tracking number's correctness. If you are the shipper, and it has been more than 24 hours since you dropped off the shipment or had it picked up, please contact Customer Service at 0120-003200.
Please note that FedEx.com tracking is not always entirely accurate with its updates. Just so everyone is clear, packages are NOT "out for delivery" on our trucks for several days. The delays are due to the volumes and trailers getting backed up and not being processed as they typically would. If you are shipping or expecting "large" packages, these items are considered "incompatibles" and go through a manual sort and are placed on "incompatible trucks." These types of items are experiencing even greater delays.
If your UPS tracking status says "In Transit: Please check back later for scheduled delivery" or "Your package has been delayed due to events beyond our control" with no further updates, it's easy to become anxious.
However, patience is key. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, UPS is experiencing a rush of packages, leading to delays. All shipping companies are overwhelmed due to the high volume of packages. Trailers are sitting at facilities full of packages, unable to be processed. Give it a day or two and see if the situation improves.
In March 2020, UPS suspended the service guarantee for all shipments from any origin to any destination as part of the company's response to the virus.
Citing UPS.com: "Effective March 26, 2020, and until further notice, we have suspended the UPS Service Guarantee (also referred to as the UPS Money Back Guarantee) for all shipments from any origin to any destination. For all U.S. origin shipments, the Service Guarantee suspension became effective as of March 24, 2020."
It can be frustrating to wait, but your package will eventually be delivered.
Most likely, your parcel is undergoing customs clearance procedures and will soon be released from customs. In rare cases, a parcel may get stuck because the sender didn't provide the correct address on the parcel, resulting in its return to the sender.
Also, due to the pandemic, there are fewer international flights at the moment, as fewer people are traveling globally. This is causing some international mail to take longer than usual.
Parcels that can't be delivered or returned to their sender may end up in our Returned Mail Centre (RMRC or lost and found), where they are opened and cataloged so Australia Post support staff can assist customers in locating their items.
RMRC staff will always try to send the parcel to its intended destination first. However, if there's nowhere for Auspost to send it, they'll upload as much information as possible (description of contents, packaging details, names, etc.) into their database to facilitate searches.
Australia Post can't provide step-by-step tracking of international parcels while they are abroad, as FedEx and DHL do. This is because they are a bulk mail service, not a courier service. They have very different networks, and parcels travel differently when sent through the postal service as opposed to a courier.
Courier companies like FedEx and DHL have their own transport and planes for shipping products. In contrast, international mail travels on commercial airlines. Mail bags don't always follow direct routes and are subject to airline timetables and changes, with priority given to passengers over mail bags.
It's important to understand that when you use postal services to send parcels, there is no guaranteed delivery date. The date/timeframe indicated by postal staff is an approximation and a guideline, not a definitive commitment. The only way to know precisely how long it takes to send something is by sending it yourself and keeping track of the time it takes for future reference.
The tracking provided is adequate for sending mail. When the system shows the last location of the parcel, it doesn't mean it's stuck there. The parcel is likely still in transit, and the tracking will be updated once it reaches its destination.
Here are some other frequently asked questions you might come across on our FAQ page:
How do I track a package?
What to do in case of a damaged package?
What is the customs clearance process?
Be sure to visit our FAQ page for comprehensive answers to these questions and more.