What Does Tendered to Delivery Service Provider Mean?

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Plus, how long it takes to get your package

Co-authored by Fahim and Seema Mojawalla and Aimee Payne, MFA

Last Updated: December 28, 2024 Fact Checked

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Tendered to Delivery Service Provider Tracking Status

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When do you get your package?

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Tendered to Delivery at Other Carriers

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What to Do

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Common Tracking Statuses

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Reducing This Status

Have you ever tracked a package and seen the status “Tendered to Delivery Service Provider”? If so, you probably wondered what it means. This tracking status means the original delivery service has given your package to a partner for final delivery. This article explains what to expect next and when you might need to take action. We’ll also cover similar statuses from different carriers so you understand what’s going on with your package, no matter what company is delivering it.

“Tendered to Delivery Service Provider” Meaning

“Tendered to Delivery Service Provider” means the original carrier has passed your package to a partner – usually the USPS – to make the final delivery to your home. It’s a sign your package is on the last leg of its journey. You’ll usually receive it within 3-7 days of seeing this status.

Section 1 of 6:

Tendered to Delivery Service Provider Tracking Status

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The original carrier has given your package to a partner for delivery. “Tendered to Delivery Service Provider” is a general tracking status that shipping carriers like DHL, FedEx, UPS, and 4PX use to show they’ve given your package to another carrier – usually the United States Postal Service (USPS) – to deliver to your address.^{[1]
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Research source} This carrier is often called the “last-mile” delivery service.
- Original carriers hand your package over to a delivery partner when they’re experiencing delays, need more resources, or don’t cover the package’s destination.^{[2]
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- It’s common for shippers to rely on the USPS to make the final delivery of ground packages especially in rural areas.
- The USPS also occasionally relies on UPS and FedEx to transport packages by air.^{[3]
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Section 2 of 6:

When do you get your package?

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You usually get your package 3-7 days after seeing this status. Once you see the message, the package has already been handed over, and you usually receive it within a few days. Transferring the package to a third party is already factored into the delivery estimate and doesn’t add any extra time.^{[4]
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Research source} Here are a few estimates for how long it may take you to receive your package after it has been transferred to the delivery partner:
- DHL: 2-3 days
- UPS: 2-5 days
- FedEx: 2-5 days
- 4PX: 3-5 business days
- USPS: 3-7 business days

Section 3 of 6:

Tendered to Delivery at Other Carriers

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Major carriers have different statuses to indicate a transfer. They all mean basically the same thing as “Tendered to Delivery Service Provider,” and that your package has been handed off. When checking the status with your tracking number, look for these phrases to indicate your package has been transferred to another shipper and will be delivered shortly.
- DHL uses “Forwarded to a Third-Party Agent.”^{[5]
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- UPS uses “Transferred to Post Office for Delivery.”^{[6]
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- FedEx uses “Tendered to authorized agent for final delivery.”^{[7]
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- 4PX uses “Tendered for delivery” or “Transferred to the local postal service.”^{[8]
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- The USPS uses “Picked Up by Shipping Partner Facility.”^{[9]
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Section 4 of 6:

What to Do When You See This Status

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You don’t have to do anything when you see this status. “Tendered to Delivery Service Provider” is a common tracking status that means your package is making its way to you as planned. In some cases, the carrier delivering your package sends you a different tracking number so you can track its progress after the transfer. ^{[10]
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- If you don’t get a new tracking number from the delivery partner, keep an eye on the package’s progress using the original tracking number.
- Be aware that it may take a couple of days for the tracking to transfer from one carrier to the other.
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If the status is “stuck” for over a week, contact the carrier or Post Office. It’s rare for packages to get lost during the transfer from one carrier to another. However, if you notice your tracking status has been “Tendered to Delivery Service Provider” for over a week. Reach out to the original carrier or your local Post Office.
- DHL: Call customer service at 1-800-225-5345, Monday-Friday 8AM-9PM MST.^{[11]
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- UPS: Contact UPS customer service at 1-800-742-5877, Saturday-Sunday 6AM to 1AM EST.^{[12]
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- FedEx: Contact FedEx customer service at 1-800-GoFedEx (1-800-463-3339), Monday-Friday 7AM to 9PM CST and Saturday 7AM to 3PM CST.^{[13]
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- 4PX: Because 4PX is based in China, the best way for customers in the United States to contact them about a package is by writing an email to customer service at track@4px.com.^{[14]
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- USPS: Contact USPS customer service at 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), Monday-Friday 8AM to 8:30PM EST and Saturday 8AM to 6PM EST.^{[15]
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Section 5 of 6:

Common Tracking Statuses

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Shipment will be Cleared and Delivered by Broker DHL uses this tracking status to let you know your overseas package will be cleared and then delivered by a customs broker when it arrives in the destination country. You’ll see “Broker Has Been Notified to Arrange Clearance” to let you know the shipment has arrived.^{[16]
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- Small business owners most often see these statuses.
FedEx uses this status to let you know there’s been a delay in your shipment. When you see this status, it means the FedEx team is working to address the delay and deliver your package as soon as possible.^{[17]
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Arrived at Delivery Facility & Arrived at Sort Facility DHL is a global shipper. They use “Arrived at Delivery Facility” to let you know the package has reached their facility in the destination country. You may also see “Arrived at Sort Facility.” This status tells you the package reached the sorting center in the location from the previous status.^{[18]
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- When you track a DHL parcel, you may see “Arrived at Sort Facility” several times as your package travels to you. Each time you see it, it means your package is getting closer to delivery.
UPS uses “Exception” whenever they can’t deliver a package. This is the more general status. The reason for the exception appears under “Shipment Progress” when you check your tracking status. If the exception changes your delivery date, the new delivery date appears at the top of the tracking status page.^{[19]
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Section 6 of 6:

Reducing “Tendered to Delivery Service Provider” Statuses

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Choose faster shipping and avoid sending parcels during busy seasons. Packages are more likely to be delivered by a delivery service provider when they’re shipped during the busy season between October and January for shipments to and from the US.^{[20]
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Research source} If you ship during busy times, you may want to consider using express shipping options from carriers with a reputation for on-time deliveries.
- There’s a second busy season in January and February for the Lunar New Year that affects packages coming from China.
- People in China get 7 consecutive days off during this time to celebrate.^{[21]
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