While expecting FedEx to deliver your package, one of the most common tracking statuses is “On the way.”
What could this mean? Why is my package stuck there?
For those and other finer details, let’s get to it right away.
What Does “On The Way” Mean For FedEx Packages?
When FedEx says that your package is “on the way,” it means that it is moving through the FedEx delivery network to get to you.
Under this update, there are many tracking statuses you will see before the eventual delivery happens.
What Is The Difference Between “On The Way” And “Out For Delivery” FedEx?
When FedEx says that a package is “out for delivery,” they mean that it has been loaded in a vehicle for the final delivery. Ideally, such a package will be delivered the same day or the following day if the driver failed to meet the threshold on the previous day.
When they say that a package is “on the way,” it means that the parcel is moving through the delivery network, and depending on where it was last scanned, it can be delivered in a day or even up to a week after this general update.
When explaining these two tracking statuses, always note that the “out for delivery” update is a tracking status under, “On the way.”
Having clarified that, we can now look at the…
Different Tracking Statuses Under “On The Way” And Their Meanings
What Does “Arrived At FedEx Location” Mean?
This FedEx tracking status indicates that a vehicle carrying a package is already at one of the FedEx facilities.
This tracking status is sent first after FedEx picks up the package from the sender and then they take it to the origin facility.
When they take such a package to another sorting center, they will still provide this status once the delivery vehicle arrives.
Necessarily, you can see this tracking status under “On the way” when your package gets to the different sorting facilities.
What Does “Left Origin Facility” Mean
Here, FedEx means that a vehicle carrying your package has left the center that picked it up from the sender.
You only see this tracking status once.
What Does “Departed FedEx Location” Mean?
When FedEx says that your package “departed FedEx location,” it means that the parcel has been loaded in a vehicle and it is moving toward the next FedEx facility.
Basically, a package that departs a FedEx location doesn’t get delivered right away. Instead, it has to go through further processing in a destination sorting facility near the recipient.
Depending on the distance between the origin facility that received the package and the destination center that will arrange the final delivery, a package can get multiple “departed FedEx location” scans.
What Does, “At FedEx Destination Facility” Mean?
When FedEx says that a package is at its destination facility, it means that it is in the final sorting center responsible for routing the package to the recipient.
For this tracking status, you see it only once, and then delivery happens.
Why Is My Package Stuck On, “On The Way” For Long?
Customs Clearance Delays
If yours is an international package, one of the most common reasons why it is stuck on “On the way” or it receives this scan from a single location is due to customs clearance delays.
Clearance delays usually happen when the facilities are backed up due to peak shopping times, or when there is understaffing.
For international packages, issues to do with delays due to slow customs clearance are beyond FedEx, and as such, we usually recommend that you be more patient.
Backlogs
If you are expecting your package during the peak shopping times such as on Black Fridays or the holiday season, the FedEx staff tend to be overwhelmed at such times.
We have seen the tracking systems developing hitches in such moments, and in other incidents, packages don’t get scanned as frequently as the FedEx staff believe keeping on scanning every other time is more time-consuming.
Due to a lack of scanning when the FedEx staff is backed up, a package that is said to be “on the way” for days might actually end up showing up without any recent update on the tracking page.
What Should I Do When My FedEx Package Is Stuck “On The Way” For Days?
We recommend that you contact the sender when your package is stuck on this status past the estimated delivery date.
Since the sender should ensure that you get the package on time, contacting them is a way to ensure that they get in touch with FedEx to know the status of your package.
Depending on what FedEx says, you can agree with the sender to wait for a few more days, send you a replacement package, or even a refund.
