USPS Certified Mail Tracking

USPS Certified Mail tracking is different than other tracking services. Primarily because USPS Certified Mail does not include ‘in-route’ tracking information like Priority Mail or Express Mail, FedEx or UPS.

Using a USPS tracking number you can track your letter or package online at www.usps.com for up to 90 days after mailing. The information reported may include messages like “Arrival at Unit’  Notice Left, Returned To Sender, Refused and Delivered.  Our experience has shown a wide variation of scan information.  Some letter carriers do a better job of recording the attempted deliver attempts than others.    

USPS tracking numbers consist of only numbers such as 01939665695397.  If you mistakenly input a FEDEX tracking number into USPS it smart enough to spit out an error that you put in an invalid USPS tracking number. If USPS tracking is unable to confirm delivery of a package or Certified Mail letter USPS will refund the delivery confirmation or special service fee.

All packages entering the mail stream are first scanned by USPS personnel. USPS only provides tracking service after labels are printed or shipped from an approved USPS third-party supplier.  In general most customers report the USPS tracking system needs improvement.  I have used the USPS’s tracking numbers to track my package on-line but there is no in-transit information on my package like there is from UPS or FedEx.

For USPS Certified Mail the  tracking function only provides information about the letter delivery status.  If you use Express Mail and Priority Mail provides ‘in-route’ tracking and delivery confirmation with your USPS tracking number.  Remember USPS does not scan each Certified Mail  label at every Post Office  like FedEx, UPS or other common carriers. The USPS tracking service is improving slowly but is still being upgraded. Many users report it is much differant than FedEx or UPS and is only helpful to tell whether the letter has been delivered.  It is not uncommon for letters and packages to only display an origin scan then  a delivery scan.   Because USPS Certified Mail requires ever letter be signed for, it can take up to 3 weeks sometimes until a change in the tracking status changes.

If you send the USPS Money Order it is suggested you obtain a tracking confirmation. While en route scans may be provided in the future they are not a feature of Delivery Confirmation service today. 

Delivery confirmation is provided as a part of  Priority Mail and Certified Mail.  If you use Express Mail you will receive a confirmation email with a USPS tracking number. Your postage service includes the Delivery Confirmation and Tracking service fees. Additionally USPS sells Signature Confirmation services that provides a PDF file of the Signature when your item was delivered.

In summary USPS Certified Mail tracking is improving slowly.  USPS tracking is not available for military APO/FPO deliveries.  If USPS Certified Mail delivery confirmation  is unable to confirm delivery of your letter you are entitled to a refund for the Certified Mail special service because it was not properly administered or recorded. 

Remember USPS tracking is really delivery confirmation and may not show up until the letter  is delivered. The USPS system is primarily used to verify that something is sent or been delivered.