If you have been using UPS in order to send or receive packages, then most likely, you have wondered at least once, how late the UPS delivers. If you are trying to calculate the delivery time of a particular mail or package, in order to pick the shipping type that fits what you need (ground, air etc,) knowing approximately what time does the UPS wrap up deliveries for the day, will help you with the planning of shipping your packages. 

Generally, speaking, all UPS shipments are delivered between 9:00AM and 7:00PM to residential areas, and within your normal business hours for commercial areas. Keep in mind that UPS will not be able to schedule a particular delivery time within that window. Also, there will only be 3 delivery attempts that are made, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If your package or shipment requires a signature, then just for residential deliveries, you can leave instructions for the UPS driver if no one is at home. A couple examples would be asking the driver to deliver at your side door, or at the porch or even your neighbor when you are not home. If there is a signature that is required for the delivery of the package, but there is no one to sign for it and there is no note about delivering the package to a neighbor, there will be up to 2 more delivery attempts. 

You Have Been Tracking Your Package And It Is Not Moving

If you have been looking over your tracking, but see that there is no movement with your package, don’t get alarmed. Your package is still within the UPS network and should be delivery normally, according to schedule. The only time when shipment movement information is captured and added into the tracking system, is when a tracking label is scanned. So there can be several days between scans in the case where the shipment is going cross country, or moving in between countries. 

If your shipment is expected to be in transit for more than just 1 day in between scans, then the day and time will be displayed of the Next Expected Tracking Event in the Shipment Progress area. This message will not mean that your shipment is behind schedule (or anything like that.) All it means is that the tracking label might not be scanned for a while. The Next Expected Tracking event will always be displayed; this way you can know that your shipment is still moving, even though no new tracking scans may appear for a while.

Vocabulary Of UPS Scans

Arrival Scan: This means that the package has arrived at the UPS facility. 

Delivered: This means that the shipment has reached its final destination and both the date and time of delivery were recorded. In the US and Canada, residential deliveries that do not require a signature can be left at some safe place (as mentioned further below.)

Departure Scan: The shipment has departed a UPS facility and is on its way to the next UPS facility. This means that the package is moving but there may be several days between scans if the shipment is going cross country or in between countries. 

Destination Scan: This means that the shipment has arrived at the local UPS facility that is responsible for the final delivery of the package. 

Exception: Action Required: This notification means that the shipment is still within the UPS network but that more information is required. Basically, the sender needs to provide the correct shipping address to the UPS. 

Export Scan: This means that the shipment has cleared from export procedures in the country of origin. 

Given To The Post Office For Delivery: If there is a request from the sender of the package for a package to be delivered ultimately by the USPS, then that means the UPS will basically give the package to the USPS for delivery. You can expect a 1-2 day delay because of this. 

Import Scan: This means that the shipment has cleared from import procedures in the country where the package is being sent. 

Order Processed; In Transit to UPS: This means that the shipment has been processed by the sender. Once the shipment is within the UPS network then there will be an expected an expected delivery date that is made available.

Order processed; ready for UPS: This means that the UPS has received the electronic transmission of the shipment details and billing information for this shipment from the sender. Once the shipment starts moving within the UPS network, then the tracking status will be updated. 

Origin Scan: This means that the UPS has received the shipment. 

On vehicle for delivery: This means that the shipment has reached the local UPS facility that is responsible for delivery and that it has been dispatched to a UPS driver. 

Your Shipment Has Experienced An Exception

This is a note you may get from time to time, and all that is required from you, is to check the Shipment or Packages Progress section in Tracking or the Quantum View Manage for any details about changes in delivery. An exception can be made when a package or shipment encounters some unexpected event which would result in a change to the expected delivery date. Some examples of exception include an unknown address, some damage to a shipment, or a signature that is not received. 

For Packages That Were Delivered

When a UPS driver completes a delivery, then the tracking status of the package or a delivery notice will indicate where your driver left the package. Any shipments that do not require a signature, can be left in a safe place at the driver’s discretion. Examples would include the front porch, the side door, the back porch or a garage area. If the tracking status indicates that your driver completed a delivery and has obtained a signature, then it is possible that the package was signed for by a neighbor or by someone else residing at your home. If the package was delivered to some other location by the UPS driver, then you should have received a UPS InfoNotice that will indicate where the shipment was left. Examples would be a neighbor’s house or the leasing office. 

It may be a good idea to check with other people at your address and maybe even a neighbor to see if someone else has picked up the package. Make sure to check the entrance of your residence for your the package; in some cases it may have been left at some back porch, bushes, garages etc. UPS drivers try and take precautions to make sure your package is protected by the rain, theft etc. So in some cases, they will add a package within a particular area where they feel like there will be less harm to it. In the case of rainy weather, you may find that your package is all wrapped up in a plastic bag; do not be surprised of that – it is just another measure on behalf of the UPS driver in order to protect your package.