You’re expecting a delivery from UPS and have received a “Departed From Facility“ tracking update.
What does this mean exactly? How far is your package from delivery and what do you do if it gets stuck?
Let’s take a look…
Summary: UPS Departed From Facility
“Departed From Facility” means that the shipment has left the carrier sort facility and is now in transit to the next location in the delivery network. This will normally be another sorting facility closer to the recipient’s address.
Departed From Facility – Guide
This is a common status alert used by UPS (and other carriers for that matter), to communicate the fact the package has left a sorting facility and is now in transit to the next step in the delivery network.
As mentioned in the summary above, the next step will normally be a carrier facility or processing center closer to the recipient’s address.
- Related Content: Parcel Left the Carrier Facility – Tracking Guide
That being said, you should not be alarmed if the next update you receive is “arrived at UPS facility” and the location is actually further away from the destination address.
Carriers will not always send a shipment directly to the area of the destination address.
Packages can be sorted, processed, and routed in optimal ways and sometimes the most efficient way will not be the most direct geographically.
Even if the package technically ends up traveling farther, it will follow a route that is essentially faster in terms of processing and available transport.
- Related Content: Does UPS Reuse Tracking Numbers
How Long Until Your Next Tracking Update?
With the above being said, how long should you expect to wait before your next UPS tracking update?
This varies greatly.
It could take just a few hours before the shipment reaches another facility and triggers an update upon arrival.
It could also take several days, (an international shipment may take even longer for example).
One thing to bear in mind is that you will not receive a “Departed From Facility” update once the package reaches a sorting center close to the recipient’s address.
When delivery is imminent, the alert you can expect to see once the package leaves the center is “Out for Delivery”.
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What to do if Tracking is Stuck on “Departed From Facility”
If several days pass and you receive no new updates you will understandably be concerned that something has happened to your package.
I would recommend that you give the carrier the benefit of the doubt in the first instance, however, if the estimated delivery date is imminent (or has passed), you will need to contact customer services.
If yours is a UPS package, you can contact the US number at 1-800-742-5877.
For other carriers, you should consult your tracking page or the relevant website for details.
- Related Content: Why Does UPS Take So Long?
Final Words
Overall, the “Departed From Facility” status alert is a good one to receive.
It means that the package has been sorted inside one facility and is now in transit on its way to the next step in the delivery network.
In other words, the shipment is moving as it should.
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. 🙂
