What does “Destination Service Area” mean when you check the tracking information of a DHL parcel?
Is it going to arrive that day? Is it miles away from your home with lots more steps in the journey?
Let’s take a look.
DHL “Destination Service Area” Meaning
The “Destination Service Area” DHL tracking update means that the package has arrived at the closest DHL Service Center to its final destination. Once the package has been sorted at the facility it will be sent out for delivery via a DHL truck to the local area of the recipient.
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But the “Destination Service Area” is not my Local Area
This is common. DHL has service facilities in various locations in the USA and other countries that the company delivers to.
If you check a DHL Destination Service Area (the location will be provided within the tracking details) and the location seems a long distance from you, it doesn’t mean that the package has been sent to the wrong destination.
For example, the main DHL service hub for international shipments is the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG).
You may not live anywhere near this, however, if the package is making its way to your locale via truck from this hub, you could still receive a “Destination Service Area” update at this point.
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How many DHL Service Centers are there in North America?
As of September 2020, there were 19 DHL distribution centers in the USA and Canada.
As you can see, with 19 main hubs servicing such a large geographical area, the nearest “Destination Service Area” located to you, could easily be several hundred miles away.
This is why it is important not to assume there has been a mistake if you receive a destination service area update at a location that is not near you.
What to do When You Receive a DHL “Destination Service Area” Update?
Essentially, there is nothing you need to do when you see a “Destination Service Area” update. In the majority of cases, this is the normal procedure for a package journey.
The package should still be delivered within the duration specified by the DHL service used.
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What to do if the Package is at the Wrong DHL Destination Service Area?
If you suspect that the package has arrived at the wrong DHL destination service area, it could be that the item was redirected or sent to the hub facility by mistake.
Either way, this will often delay delivery.
The best course of action is to call the DHL customer service number with your tracking number for more information.
The DHL representative should be able to help organize a reroute to the correct hub, or onward to your location in a timely manner.
At the very least, you will be able to get an update on what has happened to the package.
- Related Content: DHL Shipment on Hold: What Should You Do?
Final Words
A DHL Destination Service Area update is telling you that the item has arrived at the nearest DHL distribution center to your location.
There are still more steps of the journey to take place, (i.e truck delivery to your general location), however, you should not expect any delays to the package’s arrival.
If it seems that the package has arrived at the wrong destination service area, you should call DHL customer services to check and confirm.
I’m a 25 year veteran of USPS. I’m retired now, but as the editor of Mailbox Master, I can’t quite remove myself from the carrier industry just yet. 🙂
