Although most of the magic happens behind the scenes, shipping a package is a complex logistical operation. This is especially true if you send a package to an area where your shipping carrier has limited on-the-ground operations. In instances like this, the carrier may hand off your package to USPS or a last-mile delivery service, in which case you’ll receive a “Tendered to delivery service provider” status update.
Learn how different carriers handle their last-mile delivery process and what you can do to reduce shipping delays.
What does “tendered to delivery service provider” mean?
“Tendered to delivery service provider” is a status update shipping carriers give once a shipment passes from the supplier to a localized delivery service for last-mile delivery.
Shipping carriers may partner with subcontractors or other carriers with last-mile delivery capabilities to handle the final delivery of shipments. In this arrangement, a carrier with limited operations in a specific area pays a delivery partner to pick up packages from a warehouse and drop them off at a final delivery address like an office or residence.
Updates like “Tendered to delivery service provider” inform both ecommerce merchants and customers that the package reached one of the last steps in the delivery process. Here is a sequential breakdown of the potential delivery status updates you might receive from a shipping supplier:
1. Order placed
2. Processing
3. Order confirmed
4. Shipped
5. In transit
6. Tendered to delivery service provider
7. Out for delivery
8. Attempted delivery
9. Delivered
Free Shipping and Fulfillment Kit
Simplify your shipping process and ensure your products reach customers on time. This free toolkit provides essential tips and resources to help you manage logistics efficiently.
How different carriers handle last-mile delivery
Shipping carriers handle the final stage of the shipping process with different types of status updates and last-mile delivery capabilities:
USPS
The United States Postal Service typically handles last-mile domestic deliveries since it has a network of post offices throughout the United States. On the rare occasion the USPS needs to pass packages off to a local delivery service for last-mile delivery, it will use “Tendered to delivery service provider” as a status update.
More commonly, other suppliers like UPS or FedEx will drop packages off at a local post office for last-mile delivery, in which case they use the status update “Tendered to USPS.” Through USPS Ground Advantage, deliveries typically take between two to five business days, depending on the size of the package and delivery location.
UPS
United Parcel Service (more commonly known as UPS) is one of the largest shipping and receiving companies in the world, with shipping services in more than 200 countries. UPS uses a standard “Tendered to delivery service provider” status update to indicate when a package has been dropped off with a third-party delivery service for last-mile delivery.
This will typically involve dropping packages off at the nearest post office to a particular delivery address or handing it off to more localized last-mile delivery companies like Roadie or HubBox. Once UPS tenders shipments to a third-party delivery company, it can take between two to five days for those packages to arrive at their intended destination.
FedEx
FedEx is a multinational transportation company, operating in more than 220 countries across the globe. FedEx provides a last-mile delivery status update that reads, “Tendered to authorized agent for final delivery.” This update applies only to shipments in areas where FedEx does not have last-mile delivery vans to handle final delivery.
In these cases, FedEx partners with USPS as well as other companies to provide last-mile delivery. After tendering packages to authorized agents, it typically takes between two to five days for final delivery to be completed.
4PX
4PX Express is a cross-border logistics service provider based in China. 4PX works with various shipping carriers (including UPS, DHL, FedEx, and USPS) to deliver international shipments. Since 4PX has a limited domestic presence in the United States, it depends on other local carriers to handle last-mile delivery.
4PX uses the term “tendered for delivery” to update customers and ecommerce merchants when it has handed off a package to another carrier for the last stage of delivery. Since 4PX handles more complicated international shipments, delivery times can take anywhere between three to seven days—or even longer for larger shipments.
DHL
DHL specializes in international shipping, making it a good option for ecommerce merchants selling products globally. DHL uses the standard phrasing of “tendered to delivery service provider” to indicate when a package has been transferred to a subcontractor for the last step of the process.
DHL has many partners for last-mile delivery, including the United States Postal Service and retail logistics companies like Toshi. After tendering packages to a subcontractor, it can take between two to three days for DHL packages to reach their final destination.
How to reduce tendered for delivery packages
Since it adds an additional step to the delivery process, shipping carriers transferring packages to third-party delivery companies can delay delivery timeframes. This can negatively impact the customer experience with an ecommerce company.
Since nearly two-thirds of global shoppers expect their online orders to be shipped within 24 hours, ecommerce merchants need to optimize their package delivery processes to meet customer expectations. To reduce delivery timelines, you can work with a reliable shipping company boasting a wide range of coverage in the areas where your customers place the most orders.
Shopify customers have a reliable shipping tool provided in the form of Shopify Shipping. It is built-in software that gives shop owners the power to manage their entire order fulfillment process from one dashboard. They can also access discounted shipping rates with major shipping carriers like USPS.
Tendered to delivery service provider FAQ
How long does “tendered to delivery service provider” take?
Once a shipping carrier provides a “Tendered to delivery service provider” status update for a package, it can typically take between two to seven business days for the package to arrive at its final destination.
Does DHL give packages to USPS?
Yes, DHL can give packages to the United States Postal Service to perform last-mile delivery in areas where DHL is unable to perform that last-mile delivery service.
What does “tendered for delivery without success” mean?
“Tendered for delivery without success” is a status update that means a package has been transferred from a shipping carrier to a last-mile delivery service. The delivery service was unable to complete delivery due to factors like poor weather or being unable to get a signature for a package that requires it for proof of delivery.
