USPS: tracking your package with this worldwide express carrier

The United States Postal Service, more commonly known as the USPS, is an independent agency branching from the US federal government, offering a postal service throughout the US. Being a large and successful organisation, the USPS pushes for customer satisfaction in its mailing of packages and letters, selling of postal products such as mailing supplies, and sorting and delivering mail. This company aims to offer the nation a reliable and affordable postal service that anyone can use to suit their business or personal needs, making it no surprise that the company has expanded in success over the years. If you want to find out how you can track shipments concerned with this service, read on for more information!

How to track USPS shipments

To some people, it's important to know where their package is and when it's on its way. That's why companies like USPS have made it easy for customers to track their packages at any stage of the delivery process. To track your package, hop online and go to the USPS website, usps.com, and click on the Track and Manage tab. All you have to do is enter your tracking number in the box located directly under 'Track Your Package', then search it. This will allow you to check where your package is. The Tracking History will describe where your package has been scanned and picked up from.

To track an order using Informed Delivery, simply go to the USPS website and hover over the Quick Tools tab where you'll be able to click on Informed Delivery. Sign in to your account and check the status of any of your packages with the Packages tab. You can even go a step further in setting up tracking notifications online to your messages or email account to be extra alert of when your packages will arrive. Furthermore, calling, texting, or using the mobile app are also ways to track your shipment.

Finding the USPS tracking number

There are a few different simple ways to find your USPS tracking number, so don't panic if you can't find it straight away. Your tracking number is available on your Post Office shipping receipt, on a confirmation email if you bought something from usps.com online, or your shipping confirmation email sent from an online retailer. Furthermore, you can also find it on your sales receipt if you purchased insurance at the Post Office, or on the bottom peel-off part of your tracking label.

What does the USPS tracking number look like?

To help you identify your tracking number even further, you might want to know what the tracking number will resemble. USPS tracking numbers are commonly 22-digits long. However, since different types of services have different tracking numbers, the number of digits might change depending on this. An example of a USPS tracking number is 9400 1000 0000 0000 0000 00.

USPS tracking statuses and their meanings

There are a few common tracking statuses that you can look out for when tracking your package, so it might be worth knowing what they actually mean. Take a look below to get a clearer understanding of where your package is located currently.

Pre-shipment: USPS hasn't received the shipment yet, but they have received the electronic transmission of the shipment information.

Customs Clearance: the shipment has been cleared by customs and will be given to USPS for delivery.

Received by US Postal Service from US Customs: your shipment has been received by USPS by US Customs.

In Transit to Next Facility: the shipment is moving within the network and should be delivered by the scheduled delivery date.

Arrived at Unit: the shipment has arrived at one of the facilities and is scheduled for delivery.

Out for Delivery: your shipment has left the delivery office with a driver.

Delivered: the shipment has reached the final destination.

Alert: alerts mean an unexpected event has taken place which is delaying the delivery of your package.

The background of USPS

USPS dates back to as early as 1775 in the Second Continental Congress. At this time, Benjamin Franklin hired the first postmaster general. It was in 1792 that the Post Office Department was actually created. A strike of postal workers in 1970 allowed the government and postal worker unions to negotiate terms which prompted the unions to get most of what they were asking for. The Postal Reorganization Act was signed by President Nixon, ultimately replacing the cabinet-level Post Office Department with the fresh contemporary agency, the United States Postal Service, in 1971.