Here’s a quick tip: Be Sure the Driver Scans Every Package when they pick up your packages.  Instruct the driver to scan every package first and then the UPS end of day report slip. This will reduce risk on your part and may save you money in the long run. How? Read on …

Many times, the UPS driver will simply load your packages onto their truck and continue on their route. Never even scanning the UPS End of Day. Obviously, this saves some time, but what are the side effects? Turns out, there are many risks, and they will all be borne by you, the shipper.

Origin Scans

Without an origin scan on a package, the carrier has no proof they ever received it in their system. Obviously, the package will be scanned many times once it enters their facilities. Until then, the driver’s route will take it to many places. What if the truck is involved in an accident, and the package is damaged or lost as a result? The carrier has no record of ever having your package, and you may not be reimbursed for your trouble. UPS End of Day report is for your protection. 

If, at another stop on the route, the driver leaves the truck open and unattended for a few seconds, anyone may enter the truck and help themselves to the contents … here again, if there is no origin scan for the package, the carrier has no record of possessing it, and you may not be reimbursed.

In both of these situations, your shipment is gone, which may mean unhappy customers, the extra cost of shipping again, the hassle of dealing with the situation, and the cost of the lost property.

Common UPS Tracking Scans

• Arrival Scan: The shipment is at a UPS facility.
• Delivered: The shipment has reached its destination, and the date and time of delivery have been recorded.
• Departure Scan: The shipment has departed a UPS facility and is on its way to the next UPS facility.
• Destination Scan: The shipment has arrived at the local UPS facility responsible for final delivery.
• Exception: Action Required: The shipment is currently within the UPS network; however, more information regarding the delivery address is needed. The sender must provide the correct shipping address information to UPS.
• Export Scan: The shipment has cleared export procedures in the origin country.
• Given to Post Office for Delivery: At the request of the sender, UPS has given the package to the U.S. Postal Service to make the final delivery.
• Import Scan: The shipment has cleared import procedures in the receiving country.
• Order Processed: On its Way to UPS: The shipment has been processed by the sender. Once the shipment is within the UPS network, an expected delivery date will be made available. 
• Shipment Ready for UPS: UPS has received the electronic transmission of the shipment details and billing information for this shipment from the sender.
• Origin Scan: UPS has received the shipment.
• On Vehicle for Delivery: The shipment has reached the local UPS facility responsible for delivery and has been dispatched to a UPS driver.

Protect your customers

Nobody is accusing the FedEx or UPS of negligence … they manage an amazing logistics system and do it well the majority of the time. That said, issues like those above can happen all too easily. Your best defense as a customer is the origin scan — on every package — when the FedEx or UPS driver picks up from your location. The UPS end-of-day scan is very important. 

Therefore, it’s in your best interest to instruct your warehouse manager or shipping clerk to ensure the driver scans every package before they are loaded onto the truck and the UPS End of Day. Run the UPS end of day when your driver arrives and make sure the package count matches the number of scanned packages.  

Shipping Software you need

Since 2006, Refund Retriever has been on a mission to build software to help business shippers.  Our proprietary software will track all deliveries and prove shipping reports to increase your logistics visibility.