DHL forwarding to 3rd party proxy (what this means + more)
If you’re like me, every time you wait for a package to arrive, your eyes are fixed on your DHL tracking information. Therefore, tracking terms such as “in transit”, “customs clearance” and “delivery” may be familiar to you.
However, there is a DHL tracking term that you may not be familiar with – “forward to 3rd party agent”. This article will tell you what the term means, who the third-party agent is, and what you can expect from your package delivery, so read on!
Why is DHL forwarding to third-party agents in 2022?
“Forward to third-party agent” is a tracking term used by DHL to indicate that a package has been forwarded to another carrier in 2022. When DHL doesn’t have a lot of business in the destination country, or when it’s behind schedule. Third-party agents are local postal operators such as the United States Postal Service.
You may still have a lot of questions about third-party proxies, keep reading this article to learn more!
What does “forward to 3rd party agent” mean in DHL?
“Forward to Third Party Agent” is an update of tracking information used by DHL to indicate that they have forwarded the shipment to another carrier.
The carrier will complete the next step in the package delivery or will complete the final delivery.
Why does DHL forward to a third-party agent?
When you buy shipping through a company, it is usually expected that the company will complete the final delivery.
So seeing your package has been passed to a third-party agent can be confusing, frustrating and worrying, especially if you don’t know what’s going on.
However, rest assured, DHL and other companies like FedEx and UPS often use third-party carriers to complete their deliveries.
Currently, DHL relies on third-party carriers for several reasons.
One reason is that the package needs to be delivered outside the DHL delivery area.
This happens most often with international shipments to countries where DHL does not have an extensive network.
That said, DHL also uses third-party proxies in countries where the delivery network is extensive.
For example, even though DHL has offices in the United States, the company uses the U.S. Postal Service for many of its deliveries, especially in rural areas.
Finally, another reason DHL might use a third-party agent for delivery is that the company is behind schedule and under pressure.
This can happen due to staff shortages or package backlogs, etc.
In these cases, DHL is able to delegate some of its work to other companies, freeing up time to catch up with other deliveries.
Who does DHL use as a third-party carrier?
If you find out that your package has been forwarded to a third-party carrier, it’s normal to wonder who will be responsible for the delivery.
Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this question as DHL has contracts with many local postal operators and companies.
In other words, the delivery location usually determines which third-party agent will be responsible for the delivery.
Here are some examples of DHL’s country-based third-party carriers:
In addition to using local postal carriers as third-party agents, DHL also uses Amazon or small local companies.
Where is my package after being forwarded to a 3rd party agent via DHL?
When you see “Forwarded to a third-party agent,” it means your package is nearing its destination.
This is because the third-party agent usually refers to the local postal operator. Therefore, receiving this update usually means that your package has arrived in the destination country.
Can I track DHL packages forwarded to third-party agents?
In some cases, after DHL has handed over the package to a third-party agent, you will not be able to track the package because DHL is no longer shipping the package.
As a result, tracking information may stop updating.
However, depending on the third-party agent, you may be able to resume tracking through the carrier’s website.
To obtain the tracking number for your local postal provider, visit the DHL tracking web page and find the field labeled “Postal Provider Delivery” on the right side of the screen.
Once you have this number, enter it into your local postal operator’s website. You should be able to continue tracking your package from there.
If that doesn’t work, you can try entering your DHL tracking number into the Universal Tracking Services webpage.
The program will scan all major carriers for details of your shipment.
What if DHL tracking is frozen after forwarding?
As mentioned above, your DHL tracking information may stop updating after your package is handed over to a third-party agent.
If you are unsuccessful in trying to track your package on your local postal operator’s website and using the universal tracking tool, please contact DHL.
You can contact DHL by phone, email or live chat on the website.
After providing details about your shipment, a representative will be able to tell you where your package has been sent and when you can expect delivery.
How long does it take for DHL to deliver to the 3rd party agent?
Unfortunately, after forwarding the goods to a third-party agent, there is no clear answer as to when you will receive the goods.
Some customers mentioned receiving their packages within a day or two of seeing this tracking update, while others said it took more than a week for their packages to arrive.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether DHL is a union, whether DHL is cheaper than USPS, and whether DHL’s estimated deliveries are accurate.
in conclusion
It may seem like a strange concept for DHL to forward a package to a third-party proxy, but it happens quite often. Doing so helps DHL reach more customers faster.
While this practice has its advantages, it can also be frustrating if you can’t track your package or have to wait longer for delivery. In either case, please feel free to contact DHL for updates on your package.