FedEx tracking status
FedEx “Delay”: what it means
The short answer
Keep an eye on itYour package is running behind its original delivery estimate and will likely arrive later than planned. FedEx uses this for weather, local events, address problems, vehicle breakdowns and high volume, and says it keeps working to deliver as soon as possible.
When to act: If your package is at least 1 day late and tracking still shows no new date, file a complaint and we send it to FedEx.
Also shown as: “Delayed” · “Running late” · “Weather delay” · “Operational delay” · “Local delay” · “Delay beyond our control”
What to do now
- 1
Check the FedEx service alerts page for storms or disruptions in your area or along the route.
- 2
Read the travel history for the reason line. If it mentions your address, check the address in your order confirmation, including the apartment number and ZIP code.
- 3
Turn on FedEx tracking alerts or sign up for FedEx Delivery Manager so you see the new date as soon as it is set.
- 4
Compare the new date with the delivery date the seller gave you, and keep screenshots of both. If the item was time-sensitive, note what the delay cost you.
- 5
Still not sorted? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to FedEx, so you do not have to chase it yourself.
What does “Delay” mean?
FedEx shows a delay when it no longer expects to meet the original date. The tracking page often names the type. 'Weather delay' covers snow, hurricanes, fires, tornadoes and storms. 'Local delay' covers events in the delivery area, such as major sporting events or local holidays. 'Operational delay' covers things like a wrong or incomplete address and other events that slow delivery. 'Running late' covers higher volumes than usual, dangerous weather, vehicle breakdowns and local security restrictions.
A delay is not a loss. The package is still in the network and usually keeps moving, just behind schedule. Until FedEx can set a new date, the estimate may show as 'Pending'.
Why does FedEx show it?
- Severe weather such as snow, storms, hurricanes or wildfires
- Higher package volumes than usual, especially before holidays
- A vehicle breakdown or a missed connection between facilities
- Local events or holidays in the delivery area
- A wrong or incomplete address
- The package reached FedEx after the day's cut-off time
- Security restrictions at the delivery location
How long does it last?
Most delayed packages move again with the next scan and get a new estimated date, often within a day or two. Weather and regional disruptions can take longer, and FedEx lists them on its service alerts page. If an address problem caused the delay, the package waits until the address is fixed.
Other FedEx statuses
- Delivery exceptionKeep an eye on it
- Shipment exceptionKeep an eye on it
- Clearance delayKeep an eye on it
- Delivered but not receivedTake action
- PendingKeep an eye on it
- Future delivery requestedKeep an eye on it
- Delivery updatedKeep an eye on it
- Incorrect addressTake action
- On the wayNormal
Who is responsible for a late or missing package from FedEx?
If you bought it online from a business, the seller is usually responsible until the package is delivered to you. The seller chose FedEx, paid for the shipping and is FedEx's customer, so a late, lost or damaged order is in most cases for the seller to put right, with a replacement or a refund.
If you sent the package yourself, your contract is with FedEx, under the terms in the FedEx Service Guide. FedEx's standard liability is $100 per package, included in the shipping rate, unless you declared a higher value and paid extra for it when you created the label.
Questions about “Delay”
Why is my FedEx package delayed?
FedEx's own reasons include weather, local events, higher volumes than usual, vehicle breakdowns, security restrictions and address problems. The line under the status in the travel history usually names the cause.
Will FedEx still deliver a delayed package?
In most cases, yes. A delay means the package is behind schedule, not lost. FedEx says it keeps working to deliver it as soon as possible and updates the estimate when it can.
Why does FedEx say weather delay when the weather is fine here?
The weather that matters may be somewhere else on the route, for example at a hub your package passes through or along a long truck route. A storm far away can still hold your package up.
Why is my FedEx package delayed in Memphis?
Memphis is FedEx's main air hub, and many packages pass through it overnight. Storms or heavy volume there can hold packages for a day or more, even if your package is going somewhere far away.
Can I get a refund for a late FedEx delivery?
Usually not from FedEx. FedEx offers a money-back guarantee only on some services, pays it only to whoever paid for the shipping, and says the guarantee can be suspended, modified or revoked. For an online order that is the seller, who is usually responsible for a late delivery. File a complaint on Complain.biz and we send it to them.
Based on
- FedEx Canada: Weather delay
- FedEx Canada: Local delay
- FedEx Canada: Operational delay
- FedEx: What does my tracking status mean?
- FedEx service alerts
- FedEx: How do I get support for a delayed package?
- FedEx Service Guide
- FedEx: What if my customer's package is lost, damaged or missing items?
- FedEx: Declared value and limits of liability