Glossary.

Tracking Status Meanings

Decode confusing courier terminology and know exactly where your parcel is.

Common Tracking Terms

Manifested / Shipment Created

The seller or sender has generated a shipping label and logged the parcel in the courier's system. A unique tracking number has been created and assigned to the shipment. However, the physical package has not yet been handed over to the carrier — this is a purely digital event. The courier has no physical custody of the parcel at this stage. This status is very common on e-commerce orders: retailers often create the label as soon as an order is confirmed, sometimes days before the item is actually packed. If your tracking shows Manifested for more than 24–48 hours, the seller may not have handed the parcel to the courier yet. Contact the seller rather than the carrier — the carrier cannot help until they physically receive the package. Once the courier scans the parcel at pickup, the status will update to Picked Up.

Picked Up / Collected

The courier agent has physically visited the sender's location and scanned the parcel at the point of collection. This is the first real physical event in the parcel's journey, and the first time the tracking system reflects an actual location. After pickup, the parcel is loaded onto a vehicle and taken to the nearest collection hub or sorting centre. This transit from pickup to the first hub can take 2–12 hours depending on the carrier's route schedule. India Post pickups are tied to post office collection times. Delhivery and Bluedart pickups are done by dedicated field executives. For e-commerce returns, Picked Up confirms the courier has collected your return. If the status stays on Picked Up for more than 12 hours with no further update, the parcel may be waiting for the next transport batch to the sorting facility.

In Transit

The parcel is actively moving through the courier's logistics network, travelling between sorting hubs or distribution centres. In Transit does not mean the parcel is heading directly to your address — it means it is somewhere in the chain between origin and destination, being sorted or transported between facilities. Depending on the route and carrier, In Transit can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Bluedart and Delhivery metro-to-metro routes typically resolve in 1–2 days. India Post routes between distant tier-2 cities can take 4–7 days. It is normal for tracking to show no new events for 1–3 days during transit — this does not mean the parcel is lost. Events are generated only when the parcel is physically scanned at a facility, and rural routes have fewer scan points. If there are no updates for more than 5 business days, contact the carrier directly.

Arrived at Hub / Reached Destination Hub

The parcel has reached the main sorting facility or delivery hub in your city or district. This is a strong signal that delivery is imminent — typically within 1–2 business days. The destination hub is the last major sorting point before the parcel is assigned to a delivery executive for last-mile delivery. At the hub, your parcel is sorted by pin code or delivery route, grouped with other shipments going to the same area, and placed in a delivery bag for a specific agent. Delhivery calls these service centres, Bluedart calls them hubs or gateway offices, and India Post uses sub-post offices as the final sorting stage. If you live in a metro area, the gap from Arrived at Hub to Out for Delivery is usually same-day or next-morning. For rural or remote locations, it may take an additional 1–2 days while the parcel waits for the next scheduled delivery run on your route.

Out for Delivery

A delivery agent has physically collected your parcel from the local delivery hub and loaded it onto their vehicle for today's delivery run. This is the final active stage before you receive your parcel. In most cases, delivery happens within the same day — typically before 8pm in urban areas. Most carriers send an SMS or push notification when the parcel goes Out for Delivery. Delhivery and Bluedart also send a delivery window estimate in some cities. India Post does not typically send a delivery window alert — the postman arrives at their usual time on their regular route. If you will not be home, arrange for a family member to receive the parcel, or contact the carrier immediately to request rescheduling. If no one is available, the agent will log a Delivery Attempted event and try again the next day. After 2–3 failed attempts, most carriers initiate Return to Origin (RTO).

Delivered

The parcel has successfully completed its journey and is no longer in transit. Delivered typically means one of three things: the parcel was handed directly to the recipient, it was received by another person at the address (a family member, office receptionist, or building security), or it was left at a designated safe spot such as a mailbox or pickup locker. If your tracking shows Delivered but you have not received the parcel, act quickly. First check with anyone else at your address. Then check common areas — mailboxes, reception desks, or with neighbours. India Post items sometimes show Delivered when the item has actually been returned to the post office for pickup. Contact the carrier's helpline with your tracking number and the delivery date. Most carriers retain a proof-of-delivery photo or signature record for disputed deliveries. File a complaint within 24–48 hours for the best chance of resolution.

Delivery Attempted / Failed Attempt

The delivery agent came to your address but was unable to complete the delivery. The most common reasons are: no one was available to receive the parcel, the premises were locked, the address was unclear or incomplete, or the recipient refused delivery. In some cases, an agent may mark Attempted without actually visiting if their route is overloaded — this is a known issue with some carriers. Most couriers attempt delivery 2–3 times before initiating Return to Origin. After a failed attempt, the agent typically leaves a delivery notification slip with a contact number. You can also proactively contact the carrier to reschedule. Delhivery and Bluedart offer rescheduling through their apps or customer support lines. India Post returns undelivered registered post to the local post office, where it is held for 18 days before being sent back to the sender. Contact the carrier immediately after a failed attempt to avoid RTO.

Exception / Delay

An unexpected event has disrupted the normal delivery timeline. Exception is a catch-all status covering a wide range of scenarios: severe weather preventing vehicle movement, a natural disaster blocking road access, a vehicle breakdown, a missed connection between sorting hubs, a misrouted shipment sent to the wrong facility, or a customs hold on an international parcel. Exception does not mean the parcel is lost — it means something delayed normal processing. Most exceptions resolve within 1–5 business days as the carrier reroutes the shipment or resumes operations. If your parcel shows Exception for more than 5 business days with no further updates, contact the carrier's customer support. Bluedart proactively communicates exceptions via SMS in many cases. India Post exceptions — especially weather-related rural delays — can last longer and may not be communicated proactively. Keep your tracking number and the last known location handy when calling support.

RTO (Return to Origin)

The courier is sending your parcel back to the sender. RTO is initiated when delivery could not be completed after the standard number of attempts (typically 2–3), the recipient refused delivery, the address was incomplete or non-existent, the recipient was unreachable by phone, or a Cash on Delivery payment was declined. Once RTO is initiated, the carrier stops trying to deliver to you. If you see RTO initiated and still want the parcel, act immediately — call the carrier's helpline with your tracking number and request that delivery be reattempted before the parcel reaches the origin facility. For e-commerce purchases, contact the seller or platform (Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho) — they will typically reship or issue a refund once the return is processed. COD orders refused by the recipient may result in account restrictions on some platforms, with future COD orders automatically converted to prepaid.

Customs Clearance / Held at Customs

Your international parcel is currently being examined by customs authorities. All international shipments entering or leaving India must pass through customs, where officers verify the declared contents, check for restricted items, and assess whether import duties or taxes apply. This process can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, depending on the declared value, origin country, accuracy of documentation, and current customs workload. Common reasons for a hold include: duties owed by the recipient, incomplete or incorrect documentation, a mismatch between declared and actual value, restricted items, or a random inspection. India Post international parcels (EE, EM, CP prefix numbers) are processed through the International Mail Office in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, or Bengaluru. Bluedart and DHL handle customs clearance on the recipient's behalf for a fee. If duties are owed, you will typically receive a notification before delivery is attempted.

Carrier Status Labels Compared

Each courier uses slightly different wording for the same tracking event. Use this table to match what you see on your carrier's tracking page to the standard term.

Standard Status	India Post	Delhivery	Bluedart	DTDC	Ekart	Xpressbees
Manifested / Shipment Created	Booking	Manifested	Consignment Booked	Shipment Booked	Created	Manifested
Picked Up / Collected	Picked Up	Picked Up	Picked Up at Origin	Picked Up	Picked Up	Pickup Done
In Transit	Dispatched	In Transit	In Transit to Destination	In Transit	In Transit	In Transit
Arrived at Hub	Arrived at Destination Post Office	Reached at Facility	Arrived at Destination Hub	Arrived at Destination Branch	Reached Destination Hub	Arrived at Destination Hub
Out for Delivery	Out for Delivery	Out for Delivery	Shipment out for Delivery	Out for Delivery	Out for Delivery	Out for Delivery
Delivered	Delivered	Delivered	Delivered	Delivered	Delivered	Delivered
Delivery Attempted	Not Delivered	Undelivered	Delivery Not Attempted	Delivery Attempted	Delivery Failed	Delivery Attempt Failed
Exception / Delay	Returned to Office	Delay	On Hold	Shipment on Hold	Exception	On Hold
RTO (Return to Origin)	Return	RTD	RTO Initiated	Return Initiated	Return Initiated	RTO Initiated
Customs Clearance	Customs Hold	—	—	—	—	—