Is USPS tracking it? (all you must know)
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We all know the feeling: checking a highly anticipated package to the USPS, but tracking shows no progress. You checked again a few days later and still nothing.
It’s frustrating, especially when you’re expecting the contents of that package. What does it mean? Has USPS tracked it? Is it possible? I’ve looked into it and found everything you need to know!
Will USPS track in 2022?
It is extremely unlikely that the USPS will track a “shutdown” unless the organization has issued a site-wide notice that entire pages or specific sections will be taken offline, usually for maintenance reasons, as of 2022. Conversely, tracking may slow down or stop for various reasons, even though your package is still on its way.
For more information on why USPS tracking doesn’t seem to be working, why your package isn’t moving, when you should worry, and why your mail seems to be moving slowly, read on for everything you need to know!
Why doesn’t USPS tracking work?
Tracking tools of the US Postal Service usually don’t “work”. In fact, the USPS maintains one of the best tracking systems in the country in terms of accuracy.
That said, it’s not entirely impossible that some features or even the entire website may be taken offline for maintenance.
Also, this usually happens late at night, such as 11 p.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday, the USPS warns on its website.
Also, you can look at sites like DownDetector.com to see if the problem really exists throughout the site.
If USPS tracking is loading but your item is not moving at all, it is more likely due to a different issue (see below).
Why isn’t your USPS shipment moving?
There are many reasons why a USPS shipment can’t be moved, so tracking isn’t updating or it looks like it’s “down.”
For example, some reasons your USPS shipment has not moved might include:
- bad weather
- Major highway accident slows traffic
- Fewer employees (daily tasks take longer)
- Human error (package not being scanned)
- Busier schedule due to high volume of packages moving through the system
- Lost package (The Post Office makes every effort to find the lost item and deliver it to its destination)
Should you worry if the USPS tracking hasn’t been updated in three days?
Don’t worry if your USPS tracking hasn’t been updated within three days.
For the reasons given in the previous section, the tracking may not be updated because no progress has been shown yet. Do you know how the box gets to its destination?
That is, each label has a unique barcode that is scanned as the shipment travels from truck to distribution center to truck and so on.
So these scans are what you see when you look at USPS traces.
Often, your boxes are loaded onto the truck without being scanned – so there are no tracking updates.
Then, it gets to the next distribution center — and sometimes even the delivery destination — and finally gets updated.
So while it looks like it’s heading straight from a far-flung city to your hometown, it may actually stop at a distribution center on the way.
If your package is lost, it will eventually be updated to account for this. If it never has, then it’s probably just delayed, and the USPS may update the tracking to reflect that.
You should actually be concerned if your package is updated to be “delivered”, but after a few days, you still haven’t received it.
Does “late in transit” mean lost?
“Late on the way” doesn’t mean getting lost. Instead, it means what it says: The package is on its way, but may be late.
However, the “reason” behind this is something you may never know, but it could be any of the above reasons why USPS tracking may not be updated.
Major traffic issues, such as severe or even catastrophic weather or major highway collisions, or not having enough staff to meet the demands of the Postal Service, can lead to late arrivals.
What problems does USPS face?
Sadly, the USPS is a self-sufficient government-affiliated entity facing some major financial crises.
As an independent agency of the executive branch, the USPS does not receive orders from the president, but it does not receive government funding.
Instead, its only funding comes from the sale of postage and other goods or services, so like any business, USPS must make tough decisions, often cutting expenses, to stay solvent.
Furthermore, according to the 2021 announcement, this in turn will slow down the overall service speed, whether indirectly or intentionally.
So it seems more likely that USPS Tracking will “shut down” or not work in the future over time, and the agency will do what it can.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why USPS tracking isn’t updating, whether USPS tracking is accurate, and whether USPS tracking numbers expire.
in conclusion
The US Postal Service has a robust and well-respected tracking service that rarely “fails.”
However, when customers check the progress of their packages, what usually happens is that the shipping takes longer than expected.