When shipping orders are a part of your business, the ability to track and manage deliveries is critical.
If you need to ship from the U.S. and are looking for affordable domestic and international shipping solutions, a postal solution like the USPS is a good option for many small businesses. the USPS tracking option still does a good job, so many people are considering this solution.
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for providing postal services in the United States. It is one of the few government agencies specifically authorized by the U.S. Constitution to do so.
Although, some people may be confused and skeptical about the frequency and quality of USPS tracking, especially in the case of international shipments. For example, if you are shipping from the United States to China, access to tracking information would be necessary.
So in this article, we will explain to you a series of information about USPS package tracking shipping services. This includes how to track USPS packages, what you can expect from a service that provides tracking, the delivery status you may encounter, what it means and what to do if you lose your USPS tracking number, etc.
1. How to tracking USPS packages?
Using USPS to track an order or package is simple. However, it is important to note that when inquiring how USPS tracking works, you must determine your shipping service, as not every USPS express shipping option has a tracking feature. Therefore, you will receive a USPS package tracking number when the option you select qualifies.
Whenever you ship a package, a postal worker will assign a number to the order, called a USPS tracking number. The USPS tracking number is usually a 22-digit number. The number of digits may vary depending on the service you use. Different services have different types of tracking numbers.
So，where can I find the USPS tracking number?
- Post Office shipping receipts.
- Sales receipts (if you have insurance at the post office).
- Email confirmations (if the order was shipped from USPS.com).
- Retailer’s shipping confirmation email.
- USPS tracks the bottom peel portion of the label.
After receiving the number, you can use one of the following methods to track your USPS shipments：
- Enter your tracking number in the search field on the official USPS.com website.
- Send your tracking number as a text message to 28777.
- Using the official USPS mobile app (available for iOS or Android phones)
- To call customer service to track your package, dial 1-800-222-1811.
It is important to note that customer support representatives do not have access to any information about a shipment other than that provided on USPS.com. Or,You can also turn on automatic text and email notifications with tracking updates on your USPS tracking website profile.
If you are a user of Post Pony, you can also visit the official website of post pony directly to check the package tracking status, which will be updated according to the USPS website.
2. Which USPS services offer tracking?
With regard to USPS package tracking, all USPS services offer tracking; it’s just that some shipping services include it in the shipping price, while others have the option of a tracking feature available. In other words, if you wish to include tracking, you will have to pay an additional fee.
However, keep in mind here that if you’re shipping internationally via USPS, not all packages can be tracked after they leave the U.S., as each country has different scanning features and protocols. So even if you have a convenient tracking number, there is a chance that your package may not be tracked.
The table below shows the services that include tracking and the services that have tracking options.
3.How can I use USPS Tracking?
By entering your item’s tracking number on the official USPS Tracking® website, you can check the current status of your item’s shipment. There are a number of different actions you can take depending on the status of the item, its origin and destination, and the type of item and service, if any.
You can also look up the tracking history of the item and see the types of services and features associated with it. And, you can also request an email and/or text message about the item, or an email with proof of delivery. Alternatively, you can leave instructions for the carrier as to where to place your mail item if no one accepts it.
Seeing this ,you may wonder how long are records kept for tracking? Records of mail categories and services, including access to parcel history and proof of delivery (if any), are stored in the system for the life of the parcel data:
4. USPS tracking statuses and their meanings
You can use the USPS tracking number to check the progress of your shipment at anytime. However, when you log in to the USPS website and want to track and confirm your shipment, you may encounter some of the following possible statuses:
USPS Pre-Shipment
“Pre-Shipment Info Sent to USPS”,this appears about an hour or two after you purchase your shipping label.And this means that USPS was notified of a tracking number being issued(label) but that label has never been scanned into the system.
Essentially, the USPS has not yet physically received the shipment, but knows that the shipper will turn it over to them. Once the shipment is received at the post office, USPS’s package tracking status is updated and an estimated delivery date is provided to the customer.
Acceptance
The scan indicates that a Postal Service employee has accepted the shipment at the post office and/or the carrier has picked up the shipment at the customer’s residence/company.
USPS In Transit to Next Facility
This scan indicates:
“Arrival Unit”: The item has arrived at the local post office and is scheduled for delivery. Typically, if the item arrives before 9:30 a.m., the package will be delivered the same day. If this message is received after 9:30 a.m., it indicates that it will be delivered the next business day.
“Arrived at a USPS facility or departed USPS facility”:
the package is sorted at the processing facility indicated by the city, state, and zip code.
“Clearance”: indicates that your package has cleared U.S. Customs and will be delivered to USPS for final delivery.
“Being shipped to the next factory”:
your package is moving within the USPS shipping network and is expected to be delivered by the expected delivery date.
“In-Transit, Arriving On Time” :
Meaning the package will be delivered on time with an “in transit, late arrival”.
“In-Transit, Arriving Late”
This means that the package will be delivered later than expected.
Out for Delivery
The scan indicates that the package has been given to the carrier for delivery to the final destination or placed in the customer’s PO Box.
Delivered
This scan indicates that the package has been picked up or delivered by the final recipient. The delivery confirmation email can be configured to automatically notify you and your customers that their order has been delivered.
Unknown
The scan indicates that the package tracked to you is not correctly identified.
Forwarded
The scan indicates that the item has been forwarded to a different address. This is due to forwarding instructions or because the address or zip code on the item is incorrect.
Alert
An alert is to indicate some details or any other possible problem in the shipping of a mail item. Please contact customer support for further assistance. If a mail package has been successfully delivered, then please ignore this notification. However, if you have not yet received your package and it is in “alert” status, then be aware: you need to carefully read and analyze the detailed tracking information and contact customer support for assistance.
5. What Happens When USPS Tracking isn’t Updating?
Tracking by the USPS is an end-to-end mechanism. Each shipment has a bar-code that is scanned as the package moves from one location to another. A bar-code is scanned multiple times before it reaches its destination. So when a bar-code is scanned, you will see tracking updates.
If you don’t see the update tracking information for USPS packages on the website, you need to try something else. For example, send a text message to 28777 with your tracking number as a text message; call customer service by phone (1-800-275-8777); or contact USPS customer service by email through the website, and all of which require the USPS package tracking number.
Here are a few reasons why USPS Tracking does not update.
Packages are not being scanned.
The bar-code being scanned is the reason you are seeing tracking updates. But it is possible that the bar-code was not scanned for any reason, and that is why your tracking information is not updated. The tracking information will not be updated until the scan is complete.
Weather conditions.
Weather can also be the reason why your tracking information is not updated. Sometimes a package can get stuck in the middle because of bad weather conditions and inconvenient courier shipping.
Parcels are not scanned at intermediate stations.
As mentioned in the article above, a package will be scanned multiple times before it reaches its destination. Sometimes, due to unavoidable reasons or circumstances, the package may not be scanned at the intermediate stop.
The parcel’s bar-code is broken or cannot be scanned.
If the bar-code is broken or unscannable, it will not scan properly.
Delays caused by the carrier.
There may be a delay on the part of the carrier, which is why your USPS tracking is not updated.
6. How To Track A Package Without USPS Tracking Number?
The tracking number is a unique number or ID assigned to each mail item shipped via USPS. The USPS tracking number is provided on the outer packaging of the shipment and on the sender’s receipt.
The tracking number is used to track the package online at usps.com or by making a phone call; without the tracking number, the package cannot be tracked. That’s why it’s important to keep the tracking number secure.
However, what if you have lost your USPS tracking number for some reason? If you are in this situation, then you must be interested in knowing how to ship without a tracking number, or you may need to recover the missing tracking number.
First, you need to determine if the package tracking number is indeed missing. Here is how you can find your tracking number.
- Check Your Post Office Shipping Receipt
- If you purchased insurance at the post office, check the sales receipt.
- If you are shipping from USPS.com, please refer to the email confirmation.
- The shipping confirmation email you receive from the online retailer
- Check the bottom peel of the USPS tracking label
If the tracking number is not found in any of these areas, then pinpointing the exact location of the package may be a bit tricky and you will need to contact USPS customer service via email or phone. They may ask you to provide the following information:
- Mailing Categories
- Place of delivery of goods (i.e., residence, business address, military post)
- Are registered, signed or insured
- What was in the shipment
- Shipment Value
In any other case, if you lose your tracking number, USPS will most likely not be able to help you. For a large organization, it is virtually impossible to keep a record of all tracking numbers.
So in this case, all you have to do is wait for the shipment to reach its destination. If the customer has received the shipment, you can rest assured. If the customer has not yet received the shipment, you will have to wait further. Each mail service requires a specific day to deliver the goods. For example, an international package will take at least 28 business days to reach its destination.
7.How do I leave delivery instructions?
If your package qualifies for USPS Delivery Instructions™ service, you can tell USPS to drop off your package at the address you want to reserve, ship it to a different address, or have it sent to your post office.
Click “Change Delivery Instructions” on the Tracking Results page to place your request.If you do not see the “Change Delivery Instructions” link, this means that your package does not qualify for the Delivery Instructions service.
If there is no “Delivery Instructions” link displayed
There are several reasons why a package may not meet the delivery instructions:
- Already left the post office for delivery
- Putting Mail Requests on Hold
- Forwarding Email Requests
- A military (APO/FPO) or DPO address.
- An international sender.
- A. Delivery of Signature Requests
- Cash on Delivery (COD) requests
- An Effective USPS Package Intercept® Order
- Insurance of $500 or more
8. Where Can I Find USPS Tracking Number On Receipt?
when you purchase a USPS delivery service at the counter, they will give you a receipt. You can find the USPS tracking number at the bottom of the sales receipt and will be provided with a string of numbers and letters based on the service you purchased.
Or,you can also view your insurance receipts. If your package is worth more than $50, you may have purchased other shipping insurance. If this is the case, you will receive a separate receipt for it.Your USPS tracking number can also be found at the bottom of your insurance receipts.
9. What USPS Tracking Numbers Look Like
Depending on the type of shipment service used, the tracking numbers may look a little different. Below is a list of services offered by USPS and a sample tracking number for each service.
USPS Tracking® 9400 1000 0000 0000 0000 00
Priority Mail® 9205 5000 0000 0000 0000 00
Certified Mail® 9407 3000 0000 0000 0000 00
Collect On Delivery Hold For Pickup 9303 3000 0000 0000 0000 00
Global Express Guaranteed® 82 000 000 00
Priority Mail Express International® EC 000 000 000 US
Priority Mail Express® 9270 1000 0000 0000 0000 00, EA 000 000 000 US
Priority Mail International® CP 000 000 000 US
Registered Mail™ 9208 8000 0000 0000 0000 00
Signature Confirmation™ 9202 1000 0000 0000 0000 00
10. Does USPS Insurance Include Tracking?
Yes, when you purchase USPS insurance, it will include tracking information.
The insurance company will provide up to $5,000 in coverage for merchandise that is lost, or for damage to the contents lost in the custody of the United States Postal Service®.
Customers can purchase insurance at their local post office, or online. To track a package, you will need to enter the tracking number on the USPS website, enter a text or call for an update inquiry.
11. Can I track a USPS Package With My Name?
No, you cannot use only your name or address to track USPS packages. If the package was sent through an e-commerce, you can contact them directly to get a tracking number.
You can also sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, which allows you to preview all packages and letters sent to your address every day.
12. Tracking USPS packages with Post Pony
Post Pony is a one-stop platform provides discounted shipping and oversea warehousing services in United States. Headquartered in Los Angeles, with warehouses in Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey and Portland, and branches in Beijing and Shenzhen. By integrating multiple channels and developing an order management system, an extensive logistics network has been established. Ensure low operating costs and excellent customer experience.
We support freight consolidation and door-to-door pickup services by opening our Los Angeles and New York warehouses. Benefit from our technical team , API docking and logistics functions in the EPP integration.
If you are an online retailer, it is also suitable to use Post Pony to mail your goods, because post pony provide an all-in-one, one-stop solution for e-commerce, including order fulfillment, inventory management through integration with popular platforms and EPR software.
E-commerce Platform
Integrating multiple platforms, with order synchronization, inventory management, online label printing and more, Post Pony enables integrated fulfillment services and efficient, highly discounted, door-to-door local delivery.
Bulk Printing
One click to upload, quote, and manage labels for various logistics channels, more suitable for uniform specifications but with multiple addresses.
API Integration
Helping enterprises connect with all available logistics channels, through API docking and ERP integration, ensures stability, simplicity and efficiency.
And Post Pony establishes overseas warehouses around the world with the aim of providing cost-effective warehousing and distribution services, integrating multiple channels, establishing strong local logistics and developing an efficient WMS system.
Drop-shipping Service
Post Pony supports stocking and delivery services based on your target market, enabling real-time monitoring and cost-efficient yet effective operations.
Virtual Warehousing
Post Pony supports overseas forwarding and label exchange services, and offers three to five days delivery time for customers who do not have stock. The package can be tracked within 24 hours after the label is printed.
FBA Forwarding
Stock up at Post Pony warehouses and support FBA replenishment, along with trucking services to reduce storage costs and increase flexibility.
Here is a summary of the advantages of Post Pony
- One-stop bids platform
- Multi-platform management, efficiency and intelligence
- Multi-scene printing, API, ERP all available
- Professional warehousing team, broad range served
- Bilingual customer service, instantly response
- Top developing team, steady system guaranteed
So ,Viewing tracking information from your PostPony.com account:
- Connect to PostPony.com to track a USPS package
- Select Order Management
- Click Order tracking
- And then follow the prompts to enter information about your package
- Print or email the tracking information
