Are you expecting any package to be delivered by the USPS Network and have received the status of “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility?”
Do you know what it means? Do you have to do something to get your package? Don’t worry if you know nothing about it. Here, I have provided you with a detailed guide that will cover everything related to the “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility” update. So, continue to read on and you will find all your answers.
What is the Meaning of “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility?”
The ‘Arrived at USPS Regional Facility‘ means that the package has reached the required USPS regional distribution center. From there it will be scanned and processed and thereafter it will be released to the required route to another USPS distribution center(close to the recipient). Upon arriving it will be processed further and loaded up in the delivery truck to make the final delivery.
The tracking page shows where the package has arrived and which regional facility is processing it. This helps you know how long you have to wait for delivery. It also gives you details to share when contacting USPS about your package and know why it is taking so long to deliver the package(in some cases).
Depending upon the distance, the package might have to go through different USPS Regional facilities until it arrives at the final distribution. All this might delay the delivery time than expected so be patient for a few days.
In the worst case, scenario your tracking status might get stuck at Departed Shipping Partner Facility, USPS Awaiting Item which is quite frustrating and annoying.
What is a USPS Regional Facility?
A USPS regional facility is a large mail processing and distribution center where they sort, process, and move a large number of packages daily.
They are like transit hubs where packages coming from local post offices get sorted and transported for distribution to the required region. This allows the package to move long distances more efficiently and to get delivered on time.
Currently, there are 21 USPS regional facilities across the USA. All of these are located in major metropolitan areas and named after the region served (e.g. Atlanta Regional Distribution Center)
When a package arrives at a USPS regional facility, based on the destination address, it is sorted and further processed. If the recipient is located in a nearby or close location, the package will be transported to the local post office for the final delivery.
But if the recipient is distant away, the package will be transported to another regional facility where it will be delivered to the final recipient.
Why do Packages Go Through Different USPS facilities after the “Arrive at USPS Regional Facility?”
Heavy Volume of Packages
When the USPS regional facilities are already piled up or experience a high volume of packages then they automatically divert the incoming package to the next regional facility so that they can get processed and delivered on time.
In the worst-case scenario, if the next USPS regional facility is also filled then the delivery partner searches for the next one until they find the one that is not piled up and has adequate staff to process the orders on time.
As the final recipient, you don’t have to worry about anything, once the package is scanned and processed they will again resend it to the nearby facility to get it delivered to the final recipient in the required time.
Delivered to the Wrong USPS Regional Facility
This is another common reason why a lot of packages get misplaced and delivered to the wrong USPS regional facility. Packages are sometimes accidentally scanned and loaded onto the wrong trucks and they end up getting delivered to the wrong regional facilities. This routing error causes delays in the delivery time of the package until the issue the noticed and all the packages are redirected to the proper facility where it is supposed to reach in the first place.
In the worst case, small packages can not get properly scanned as they move through the system. Without being scanned, these untracked packages have no way to return to the right regional distribution centers of USPS and get delivered on time.
Surely, it’s the USPS mismanagement that has caused this issue, and if it goes unnoticed then your Tracking Status will be stuck at “Arrived at USPS Facility” for several weeks until it reaches the required regional center.
Weather Delays
Severe weather conditions like blizzards, hurricanes, floods, or tornados can force USPS to suspend transportation out of affected regional facilities. Being unsafe for trucks and planes to operate in hazardous conditions, these events can seriously disrupt the transpositional facility.
When transportation is halted, packages remain piled up at the origin regional facility of USPS until the weather conditions improve enough to restart outgoing shipments.
To keep other packages moving, USPS reroutes the packages through the non-impacted area where the truckers and planes can operate safely.
This weather re-routing results in packages going through multiple “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility” scans during their journey and ultimately reaching the required facility (near the recipient).
Human Error
Humans are always bound to make errors. A simple error in scanning and sorting can result in packages being delivered to the wrong USPS regional facility.
For example, a wrong ZIP code or misread label can easily cause a package to be delivered to the West Coast instead of the East.
These small routing mistakes go unnoticed until the package arrives at the wrong regional facility and from there the package is again rerouted and delivered to the correct one making delivery time extended by days.
How to Find Out Whether My Package is at a Regional Facility or Not?
The easiest way to Find Out Whether My Package is at a Regional Facility or Not is by using the tracking number provided by the courier service. You just need to enter the tracking number on the carrier’s website (Visit Here) or a third-party tracking website like ParcelsApp or Shipit.com. The tracking information will show you the current location of your package, including whether it’s at a regional facility or not.
How Long Do Packages Stay at USPS Regional Facility?
To be true, there is no definitive answer to how long your package will stay at a USPS regional facility. The processing time of packages depends upon several factors, which include:
Volume: When the regional facility is already experiencing high volumes of packages, then it is obvious that the processing time for your package to get sorted and dispatched will be increased. During Peak seasons and public holidays in between can significantly increase the processing times and delay the expected delivery date.
Destination: If your package is going to a remote location(small village or town) or requires multiple transfers, it might take a few extra days at the regional facility to wait for other (minimum) packages going in the same direction.
Sorting issues: Damaged barcode labels or incorrect addresses can also be one of the reasons why your Packages Stay at the USPS Regional Facility for a longer time. In this scenario, the staff is required to manually check the packages and redirect the packages to the correct regional facility.
However, in most cases, packages typically spend 1-2 days at a regional facility before being transported to the next destination, and from there they are delivered to the final recipient address.
What to Do When My Package is Stuck and shows “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility“?
It can be quite frustrating when your package seems stuck at a USPS regional facility and the tracking status shows you that it “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility” and doesn’t move forward. Here are a few things that you can do till the time the package arrives at your doorstep.
Wait For a While
This might sound a bit odd, but sometimes delays are temporary due to several reasons like sorting errors, mechanical failure, and weather conditions. Give it a day or two after the “Arrived at the USPS Regional Facility” scan and there is a great chance that it will be delivered in the required time frame. Sometimes packages often spend 1-2 days at regional facilities before getting scanned and moving on to the next destination.
Track Regularly
You are required to check the tracking information regularly on the USPS website or a third-party tracking website for the latest update of your package. Even if the tracking status seems to be stalled, a newer timestamp on the same status can indicate your package is being processed.
Contact USPS Customer Service
If there’s no update for several days after the “Arrived at USPS Regional Facility” Tracking Status, then you need to contact USPS customer service. Explain the whole situation in detail and also provide your tracking number so that they can assist you further.
File a Missing Package Inquiry
If the package remains stuck or the tracking status shows Arrived at USPS Regional Facility for a week or more without any updates, then you should file a missing package inquiry with USPS. This helps them officially track down the package and investigate the reason for the delay. You can also file for a refund if your package has not been delivered within the given time frame by the USPS.