FedEx tracking status
FedEx “On the way”: what it means
The short answer
NormalFedEx has your package and it is moving toward you, on a truck or plane or at a FedEx facility between legs. This is the normal status for most of the trip, and scans can be more than 24 hours apart.
When to act: If your estimated delivery date passes with no new date, or there is no new scan for 3 business days, file a complaint and we send it to FedEx.
Also shown as: “In transit” · “We have your package” · “Arrived at FedEx location” · “Departed FedEx location” · “At destination sort facility” · “At local FedEx facility”
What to do now
- 1
Check the estimated delivery date. If it has not passed and scans keep coming, you do not need to do anything.
- 2
Look at the travel history for the last city and scan. Packages often skip scans on long truck legs.
- 3
If you would rather collect it, ask for a hold at a FedEx location in FedEx Delivery Manager before midnight the day before delivery.
- 4
If the delivery date passes with no update, save a screenshot of the travel history with the last scan and the original date.
- 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 “On the way” mean?
FedEx says 'On the way' (shown as 'In transit' on some pages) means your package is heading to its final destination. It does not necessarily mean the package is in a moving vehicle: it may be at a FedEx sort facility. It also means the package is not yet available for pickup at a FedEx retail location.
'At local FedEx facility' means the package has reached a FedEx station and is waiting for its next step. When the city shown is near you, this is usually the last stop before delivery and the next step is sorting onto a delivery route. If you asked FedEx to hold the package for pickup, this status does not mean it is ready yet. Wait for 'Ready for pickup'.
Why does FedEx show it?
- Your package is traveling a long distance between hubs
- It is waiting at a hub for the next truck or flight
- It reached the local station after that day's routes left
- Weekends and holidays, when fewer packages move
- Heavy volume at a hub, especially before holidays
How long does it last?
Once the package reaches the FedEx station that serves your address, it usually goes out for delivery on the next delivery day. On longer trips, expect a scan each time the package arrives at or leaves a hub, with gaps of a day or more in between.
Other FedEx statuses
- Delivery exceptionKeep an eye on it
- Shipment exceptionKeep an eye on it
- Clearance delayKeep an eye on it
- 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
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 “On the way”
What is the difference between On the way and Out for delivery?
'On the way' means the package is somewhere in the FedEx network. 'Out for delivery' means it was scanned at your local station and is ready to be loaded onto, or already on, the truck that delivers it that day.
Why does FedEx say On the way when the delivery date is today?
The package may be on its last leg or at the local station waiting to be loaded. It can still arrive today, and the status often changes to 'Out for delivery' in the morning. If the day ends without it, check for a new date.
How long can a package stay at a local FedEx facility?
When the facility is near you, usually only until the next delivery day. If it sits there longer, look for an exception line, such as an address problem, or a hold you or the shipper requested.
Why hasn't my FedEx tracking updated in days?
FedEx says it is not unusual for a package to go more than 24 hours without an update on long trips. Several days without a scan is less normal, especially once the delivery date has passed.
Based on
- FedEx: Tracking and managing your deliveries
- FedEx Canada: At a local FedEx facility
- FedEx: Why isn't my package moving when I check tracking?
- FedEx: Understanding tracking terms and delivery status
- FedEx Delivery Manager and Hold for Pickup FAQs
- FedEx: What if my customer's package is lost, damaged or missing items?
- FedEx Service Guide
- FedEx: Declared value and limits of liability