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USPS Regional Facility – All You Need to Know

What is a USPS Regional Facility? That’s what we’ll answer today.

There are a few USPS tracking updates that occur when your package is at a Regional Facility, so it is helpful to know what one is.

You will also want to know how long your package will remain at a regional “hub”, and ultimately, how far away it is from delivery.

Let’s take a look.

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SUMMARY: USPS Regional Facility

  • USPS Regional Facilities are large regional warehouses where mail is processed and redistributed for onward delivery closer to the recipient.
  • There are over 250 USPS Regional Facilities across the USA
  • You cannot pick up mail items from a regional facility
  • Mail items take anything from a few hours to 1 or 2 days to pass through a USPS Regional Facility

What is a USPS Regional Facility?

USPS Regional Facilities are large regional warehouses where mail is processed and redistributed for onward delivery to facilities that are located closer to the recipient.

They are also known as regional distribution centers, and “Hubs”. USPS currently has 22 National Distributions Centers and over 250 Regional Facilities based across the USA.

How Long Does a Package Stay at the USPS Regional Facility?

How long a package stays at a USPS Regional Facility depends on a number of factors. Very often it will pass through the facility and continue on its journey within a few hours.

However, the time of day it arrives at the facility can impact the speed at which the mail item is redistributed.

For example, if your package arrives at the facility late in the day, is sorted for onward delivery to another facility closer to your location, yet has to wait overnight for the next vehicle, this will clearly take longer.

Holiday period backlog, inclement weather, and even disruption with the sorting machines can also cause hold-ups. All of which can mean your package is stuck at the facility for days rather than hours.

What Does “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility” Mean?

We have created a separate short guide on the “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility” status alert here.

However, it basically means that the mail item has arrived at the regional facility, where it will be sorted and redistributed for onward delivery closer to the recipient.

What Does “Departed USPS Regional Facility” Mean?

This update means that your package has departed a USPS Regional Facility and is now continuing its journey via truck or airplane towards the delivery destination.

This could involve moving to another regional facility closer to the recipient’s address, or if already in the locality, be sent directly to the post office that services the recipient’s area.

Where Does My Package Go After the USPS Regional Facility?

USPS Regional Facility

The onward journey for your package after leaving a regional facility varies.

In some cases, the mail item will be redistributed to another facility that is even closer to your location, (these are called “Destination Facilities” in terms of the status alerts that you receive). 

From there, it will be loaded onto smaller trucks and sent to your local post office.

It will then be delivered to your mailbox via normal USPS delivery.

If the regional center is already within your catchment area, it will be sent to the post office upon leaving the facility.

Can I pick up my package from USPS regional facility?

No, you cannot pick up a package at a USPS Regional Facility. This is because these hubs are essentially warehouses, with no customer-facing facilities.

Furthermore, it would be very difficult for a USPS worker to locate your package among the many hundreds (or even thousands), passing through the sorting process.

However, you still have the option of asking your local post office to intercept the package when it arrives there. They will hold it for you so that you can arrange pick-up direct.

How Long After Leaving the Regional Facility Will My Package Arrive?

USPS Regional Facility

If the tracking update shows that your package has departed from a regional facility close to your location, it means that the package will soon be with you. Very often the following day.

If the regional facility is in another state the package may still have more steps in its journey, (including another regional facility), meaning it is more than a day away.

You also need to factor in the class of delivery service used. 

Why is My Package Stuck at a Regional Facility?

As mentioned above regarding how long a package stays at a regional facility, delays can occur.

If you find that your package is “stuck” at a regional facility and the tracking information is not updating, it could be for one of many reasons.

Everything from bad weather to USPS sorting and tracking system failure can cause your item to be held-up at a facility.

Staffing issues and seasonal demands will also have an impact. In some cases, you just have to be patient.

If, however, it seems as if your package has been stuck for an unreasonable amount of time, you should contact USPS customer services.


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