UPS Arrived at Facility: What It Means & What's Next

What It Means

"Arrived at Facility" means a UPS building scanned your package in. It may be a hub along the way or the local center that will deliver it. The scan is part of the 'Shipped / On the Way' stage. UPS says that stage means the package is moving through its network and has a scheduled delivery date.

It is normal to see this scan more than once, at different cities. UPS also notes that packages going long distances may not be scanned again until they reach the destination hub. So a gap between scans does not mean the package has stopped.

What To Do Next

1Look at the facility's city. If it is near you, the next step is usually 'Out for Delivery'.

2Check the scheduled delivery date on tracking. That is the date that counts, not the time between scans.

3If the status changes to 'Exception', read the reason in the Shipment Progress section.

4If the scheduled date passes with no delivery, contact UPS through its Help and Support Center with your tracking number.

5Sign up for UPS My Choice (free) for alerts, and to reroute the package to a UPS Access Point if you won't be home.

Where 'Arrived at Facility' fits in UPS tracking

Label Created: UPS has the shipping details, but not the package yet.
Shipped / On the Way: UPS has the package and it is moving. 'Arrived at Facility' and 'Departed from Facility' scans appear here.
Out for Delivery: the local center gave it to a driver for delivery that day.
Delivered, or Delivered to a UPS Access Point for you to pick up.

ℹ️ 'Exception' can appear at any step. UPS says it means an unexpected problem that may change the delivery date. The reason shows in Shipment Progress.

Arrived at facility several times?

A package often passes through more than one UPS building. You may see the scan at the sending city, at one or more hubs, and at your local center. Each new city closer to you is progress. The same facility scanned twice can mean the package was re-sorted or is waiting for the next truck.

When to contact UPS

Have the tracking number ready. If you are the receiver, the sender can also contact UPS, since they bought the label.

The scheduled delivery date has passed and nothing arrived.
Tracking shows 'Exception' and the reason needs action from you, such as an address problem.
The scheduled date has been removed and no new date appeared.

If you are the sender

A clear label helps every facility scan the package the first time. Print the barcode sharp and flat, with no tape over it. Put the label on the largest side, and remove old labels from reused boxes so the wrong barcode isn't scanned.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'Arrived at Facility' mean on UPS?

A UPS building scanned the package in. It could be a hub on the way or your local delivery center. It is part of the 'On the Way' stage, which UPS says means the package is moving and has a scheduled delivery date.

Arrived at facility but not out for delivery. Why?

Packages are sorted onto the next truck or plane, and local ones wait for the next delivery route. The next scan may be 'Departed', a new facility or 'Out for Delivery'. Watch the scheduled delivery date rather than the hours since the last scan.

Why is my package just sitting at a UPS facility?

Often it isn't. UPS says long-distance packages may not be scanned again until they reach the destination hub, so tracking can look frozen while the package moves. If the scheduled date passes, or tracking shows 'Exception', contact UPS.

Can I pick up my UPS package from the facility?

UPS lets you ask to pick up a package at a UPS Customer Center. UPS must receive the request by 7 p.m. Not every sorting hub is a Customer Center, so check the options on your tracking page first.

When will it be out for delivery?

Once it reaches the local center, the next step is 'Out for Delivery'. UPS delivers to homes typically between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (sometimes later), and to businesses by close of business.

UPS "Arrived at Facility": What This Scan Means