USPS Tracking®

It also helps to have screenshots of your latest tracking status and any messages you’ve exchanged with the seller or carrier. When asking for help, make sure you have your tracking number, order ID, and shipping address handy. Note that some packages may not be trackable in the destination country until you receive postal or courier notification. It is a unique identifier assigned to each parcel that lets you track package movement from dispatch to delivery. The tracking systems combine AIS vessel data, port terminal scans, and carrier event updates to show where the container is — even when it’s still on the ocean.

Universal parcel tracking Tracking number search

Your change of address request lasts for 12 months, but you can pay to extend it for 6, 12, or 18 more months. After your change of address request is approved, you’ll get confirmation as well as instant access to valuable coupons provided by third-party retailers in your area. Enter a USPS Tracking® number in the search box to check the status of a package. This visual evidence is essential for the claim process and helps carriers determine what happened during transport. If the delay exceeds normal timeframes, reach out to the seller or carrier for an update.

A “delayed in transit” update means the package is still moving through the network but isn’t progressing as quickly as expected. For domestic shipments, it’s usually best to wait 3–5 business days without an update before getting concerned. The first two letters indicate the shipment type, and the last two letters identify the country of origin. You can see the vessel’s real-time position, estimated arrival dates, and container milestones throughout the journey. Some platforms also allow you to track by bill of lading.

What to do if your parcel is lost, late, or damaged

Briefly explain the issue, like no updates for several days or a package stuck at a certain checkpoint. Start by reaching out to the seller or store, as they can confirm your shipment details and contact the carrier if needed. If your tracking remains unchanged beyond these ranges, it’s reasonable to follow up. Economy shipping can take even longer, sometimes with quiet periods up to 2 or 3 weeks.

There are several reasons a package may not be eligible for Delivery Instructions. Then, search for a PO Box near you and use a free USPS.com account to apply online. Need a PO Box for personal or small business mail? Digitally preview your incoming mail. Pay for and print shipping labels. Packages going to certain places (including Alaska, Hawaii, and offshore destinations), or containing hazardous materials or live animals may receive slower service.

Get the free Informed Delivery® feature to track all your incoming packages automatically with email alerts. For the cost of additional postage, you can have your package sent to a different domestic address. If you have your tracking number, you can also schedule Redelivery via USPS Tracking®. Use the tracking barcode for your item and schedule Redelivery on a day that’s more convenient for you. For enhanced security, USPS now requires you to create or sign in to your USPS.com account to verify your identity and current address before submitting a new online USPS Hold Mail request. If you’re going out of town for a while, you can submit a USPS Hold Mail® request online and we’ll keep your mail safely at your local Post Office until you return.

If your package doesn’t fit in your mailbox and you won’t be home to receive it, you can provide USPS Delivery Instructions online and authorize your carrier to leave it in a specified location. If we missed you when we tried to deliver your package or mail, you can get it redelivered by making a request online. From the Informed Delivery® dashboard, you can also sign up for text or email notifications, schedule delivery alerts, request Redelivery, enter USPS Delivery Instructions®, and more.

How can I leave delivery instructions?

• Whether your parcel is missing, delayed, or arrives in poor condition, there are clear steps you can take to resolve the issue quickly.
• Start by reaching out to the seller or store, as they can confirm your shipment details and contact the carrier if needed.
• From the Informed Delivery® dashboard, you can also sign up for text or email notifications, schedule delivery alerts, request Redelivery, enter USPS Delivery Instructions®, and more.
• If you’re going out of town for a while, you can submit a USPS Hold Mail® request online and we’ll keep your mail safely at your local Post Office until you return.
• For the cost of additional postage, you can have your package sent to a different domestic address.

Cargo is documented and scanned using cargo manifests, airway bills, cargo barcodes, and customs declarations. Cargo shipping is typically used for commercial goods shipped internationally, including bulk items, wholesale products, and high-volume eCommerce inventory. It is commonly used by business clients, B2B suppliers, manufacturers, and companies shipping bulk goods. For example, a shipment might start with China Post, move through FedEx or UPS during transit, and be delivered locally by DHL, DPD, or USPS. When a package begins its international journey, it first goes through export processing in the origin country. This allows customers to see statuses like Picked Up, In Transit, Arrived at Facility, Out for Delivery, or Delivered.

The package will be scanned at origin facilities, airports, customs ports, transit hubs, and final sorting centers. The tracking process relies on barcodes printed on the shipping label. This is commonly used for fast, small-parcel deliveries handled by companies like UPS, FedEx, DHL, DPD, Hermes, and other express carriers.

It identifies your parcel within the carrier’s network and should be provided by the sender once the item has shipped. A tracking number is also known as a tracking code or tracking ID. This service is vital for businesses handling large-scale transport, factory shipments, industrial goods, and long-distance supply chains. Tracking begins the moment a carrier creates a freight bill or label. Freight shipping is designed for large, heavy, or palletized shipments moving through road, rail, air, or sea networks. Once you generate the shipping label, its barcode becomes the shared identifier between your store, the carrier, and the customer.

Think of package tracking as a live map for your shipment. Package tracking is a system that enables you to monitor the progress of your parcel at every step of its delivery journey. Track your packages with over 3100+ carriers, including USPS, UPS, DHL, FedEx. Access seamless, stable tracking data from 3100+ carriers (e.g. USPS, UPS, FedEx) via our API. Seamless integration & Stable tracking data from 3100+ carriers

Either way, knowing your shipment whereabouts is essential. Or maybe you are a merchant managing hundreds of shipments? Enhance shopper experiences, reduce support requests, and boost repeat purchase opportunities with our powerful features.

Container tracking focuses on standard 20ft and 40ft shipping containers used for global ocean freight. Many freight forwarders also provide milestone-based updates through online portals or email notifications. You can check delivery progress only with jitago your tracking number — order numbers cannot be used for shipment tracking. Each scan along the way — warehouse sorting, transit hubs, customs, and last-mile delivery — updates the order timeline automatically.

Find the right USPS products and services to mail your tax return. Get Started with Delivery Instructions for your package In select markets, recipients can also schedule Redelivery to a USPS® Smart Locker. Hold For Pickup allows the recipient to collect a package at the local Post Office. You can schedule the service for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 30 days in advance of your date or by 2 AM CST (Mon.–Sat.) on the start date.

And each time the package reaches a new checkpoint, such as pickup, sorting centers, customs, the tracking number will be scanned. At 17TRACK, our universal package tracker integrates shipment tracking info across all major postal services, couriers, freight companies, and logistics providers worldwide. USPS carriers will leave your packages in your mailbox or at your preferred delivery location if they are too large to fit in your mailbox. To track your freight shipment, enter the PRO number, AWB number, bill of lading, or booking reference in the carrier’s freight tracking system.