The United States Postal Service(USPS) is one of the largest and most dependable mail service providers in America. They have been around for decades and their customer service and benefits offered to the community are hard to beat by other mail service providers. USPS offers US citizens more services than just delivering the mail. They are a boon to the community. Let’s learn ‘Does USPS Update Tracking?’.
With The USPS being such a trusted mail service provider, there may be some questions about their service that you must want to be answered. For instance, do they update tracking on parcels or letters sent? What happens if you send an urgent item and need to know that it is on the right route? Keep reading to find out more.
The USPS does update tracking on parcels or letters sent. However, they do not have the system to check on live tracking. They can inform you of a package’s whereabouts as it passes through each USPS depot.
Continue reading to find out all there is to the terms and conditions of USPS tracking.
Which items does USPS track?
It is important to note that the USPS does not track every item that comes through. The only items that are automatically tracked are large packages.
To have a letter or small package tracked, the sender must request a tracking order to be provided before
sending it. This is what they call registered mail.
Unfortunately, if your item does not have a tracking number, or isn’t a large parcel, there won’t be any method to keep track of its progress.
How does USPS update tracking on an item?
When you request a tracking order, a unique barcode and tracking number will be added to your parcel or letter.
Each time your parcel is scanned from one USPS depot or stop, the details will be uploaded onto the tracking system.
As your item gets closer to its destination, the scanned stops will alert you of its progress to its delivery address.
How do I Keep track of my parcel after mailing it?
If you mailed a large package or asked for your letter or item to be sent with a tracking order on it, to keep track of it as it moves toward its destination, you can use one of the following methods.
- You could call the USPS customer care line timeously and ask for updates on the progress of your package.
- You could choose to be notified via email or SMS on the progress of your item.
- You could keep tabs on following the updated information online. Input your tracking number on the USPS website and your order’s details will be provided.
What should I do if there are no tracking updates on my parcel?
Despite the USPS being so good at their job, there could be an instance where a parcel or item to be delivered has no tracking information uploaded after the item has been received by the USPS.
In this situation, it is best to wait for 48hours to see if any changes are being made to your status update on the parcel.
If still, there is no information about the parcel, you could either call the helpline, at 1-800-ASK-USPS or send USPS an email about the situation. Ask for help on the specific item and if there is any update on their system.
You could also go online to their help page and select the tab with the issue you are experiencing.
Conclusion
The USPS does update tracking on items. The items that tracking is updated are large parcels or items and letters that senders requested for a tracking order.
To keep track of the progress of the package, you could access the information by calling the customer care line, checking the updates on the website, and also by selecting to be notified via SMS or email.
Some FAQs
Below are some of the most frequent questions on USPS tracking. If there is something that you do not understand or a question that isn’t answered below, it would be best to contact the USPS helpline on 1-800-ASK-USPS.
- What does in transit mean?
This means that the item is being processed and will be out for delivery soon.
- Can I track national and international deliveries?
Yes, you can keep up with the delivery progress of a package both within the U.S. and internationally.
- What happens if you are unable to deliver my parcel today for any reason?
If this happens, USPS policy states that the mailman will try and have your item delivered again, the next working day.
- Will I be notified if my parcel does not get delivered for any reason?
Yes. You will be notified. The message will state either No Access or Receptacle Blocked.
- Will I be notified when my parcel has been delivered?
Yes, you will be notified as soon as your item has been delivered.
