FedEx Corporation is an American transport company that was founded by Frederick W. Smith and is currently headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a contractor of the United States government and is known to assist the United States Postal Service (USPS) in transporting some packages through their contract regarding air cargo. Let’s learn ‘Why is my FedEx package transferred to USPS tracking?’.
FedEx Ground is an option one would have selected in which FedEx drops your package at the nearest post office to the final destination address and the last mile would be covered by USPS. Please note that this particular service was previously called FedEx Smartpost. Read on to find out other details about the same.
How does FedEx Ground Economy work?
It is a joint delivery system taken up by FedEx and USPS wherein the package is shipped to the nearest post office by FedEx and the final delivery to your doorstep is done by USPS. This way, the charges would be quite low but the delivery might take longer than usual. This particular service is only applicable for small package sizes. The upper limit is 70 lbs. in weight or 130 inches in length.
Do you have to pay any extra charges depending on the destination address or size of the package?
Depending on the distance to be covered, you might have to pay some additional charges. For example, if your destination address is in Alaska or Hawaii, you will have to pay an additional 50 cents per package when compared to the contiguous US. Also, a non-machinable charge may be levied in the following cases.
- If your item exceeds 27 inches in length
- If your item has any two dimensions exceeding 17 inches
- If your item is exceeding 35 lbs. in weight
- If your item is packed in a cylindrical tube.
Why is my FedEx package transferred to USPS tracking?
FedEx is a regular contractor with USPS and handles much of its air cargo for USPS. At the same time, FedEx is trying to increase its efficiency by transferring some packages to USPS as USPS offers delivery service to every US household for six days a week. USPS also earns additional revenue by simply walking the final mile which is well within its usual range. This way, both FedEx and USPS can benefit and at the same time, the efficiency of the shipping network will be improved.
Can I track my FedEx package that has been transferred to USPS?
As long as your package is with FedEx, you can track it by using FedEx tracking number but when it reaches USPS, you will not be able to use the same tracking number to know exactly where your package is. If you try tracking with your FedEx tracking number, it might say that your package is at a USPS facility and nothing more than that. You may try entering your tracking number prefixed by 92 on the USPS tracking site and check the whereabouts of your package but it may not always work. In the case that USPS does not respond to this, you may contact FedEx directly and get your query answered.
Conclusion
FedEx Ground Economy is a low-cost shipping option available for the delivery of small consumer goods but the only catch is that you will be left wondering about the whereabouts of your package when it reaches USPS. FedEx may do better by providing a package tracking facility until it reaches the final destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does UPS (United Parcel Service) offer a similar service to FedEx Smartpost?
Yes, UPS Surepost is one such service run by UPS that follows the same mechanism. It also partners with USPS for the final delivery to the customer’s doorstep. The only difference is that while FedEx Ground (or FedEx Smartpost) delivers the package to the nearest regional hub, UPS Surepost drops it at the nearest office belonging to USPS.
Another difference in the services lies in the ease of tracking your package. UPS Surepost allows you to track your package using the same tracking number after transferring it to USPS while the same option is not available with FedEx Ground.
Other than the above-mentioned features, both the services are almost at par with each other. The delivery time taken is also almost similar.
- Why can’t I use the same tracking number when my package is with USPS?
This problem arises because FedEx uses a 20-digit tracking number while the one used by USPS is a 22-digit number. Adding 92 as a prefix to your FedEx tracking number may work sometimes but one cannot be sure. You can contact FedEx regarding the whereabouts of your package and they may be able to help. Or you can wait for two or three days for your package to be delivered.
