How to Identify Courier Service By Tracking Number
Have you ever gotten a tracking number for a package you’re waiting for, but you didn’t know
which delivery company it was from? It can be hard to figure out which courier service the
tracking number belongs to, especially if you didn’t send the package yourself. But it’s important
to know the delivery company. Different couriers have different delivery speeds, fees, and
timelines. Knowing the courier upfront helps you know when to expect your package.
But how can you tell which company a tracking number is from just by looking at the number? Is
there an easy way to decode those strings of numbers and letters? If you’ve wondered about
these things, this article is for you. We’ll look at tips for figuring out tracking numbers across the
big shipping companies. By the end, you’ll be a pro at spotting Courierapp, USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and
more just from the tracking code.
Understanding Tracking Number Formats
To identify a courier by tracking number, the first step is understanding the common formats
used by different carriers. Most tracking numbers have both numbers and letters, with a special
order that shows which company issued the number.
Tracking numbers are just reference codes that allow the delivery company to locate information
about a shipment’s journey from pickup to delivery. The different numbers and letters match up
to details like the ZIP code it started from, where it’s going, what shipping speed was used, and
what day it was sent.
Courier-Specific Formats The major couriers each have their own format for tracking numbers:
UPS: 18 characters total – 1Z9999X99999999999 (starts with 1Z)
FedEx: 12 or 15 digits – 999999999999999 USPS: 20-22 numbers/letters –
9299999999999999999999
DHL: 10 numbers/letters – 99999999AA
While there can be some small differences, looking at these basic patterns is a good way to
narrow down the courier.
Other Tracking Number Patterns
Beyond just the formats, there are some other patterns in tracking numbers that give away the
courier service:
UPS Codes
● If the number starts with “1Z” followed by six digits, it’s UPS
● UPS Ground shipments usually start with 1Z9
● Numbers starting with 1ZA or 1ZB are for fast UPS services like Next Day Air
FedEx Identifiers
● FedEx numbers always start with a number based on location, like 7 for Memphis
● If it has exactly 12 digits, it’s FedEx Ground
● 15-digit numbers are for faster FedEx services like Overnight
USPS Signatures
● The first two numbers show the USPS delivery speed (like 92 for Priority Mail)
● The first three are the ZIP code prefix where it started
● The “9” at the start means it’s USPS, not a private courier
DHL Marks
● The format is very specific – starting 01-09, ending with two letters
● DHL Express starts with 96, then a destination code
● “JX” at the start can mean premium DHL services
Using an Online Tracker
Leverage Automated Tools While patterns and formats give good clues, trying to decode every
tracking number by hand can get tiring. Luckily, there are online tools just for identifying the
courier based on the tracking code.
These tracker decoders work by having huge databases with all the formats couriers use
around the world. Just type in the whole tracking number and the tool will look at it and tell you
which company issued it, so you don’t have to study the numbers yourself.
Free Decoding Websites Some free websites for decoding tracking numbers include:
● Trackingmore.com
● Packagemapping.com
● Trackingquery.org
● 17track.net
Most of these sites also let you actually track packages once you know the courier. They
support hundreds of delivery companies beyond just the biggest ones like UPS and FedEx.
Some decoding tools try to predict the delivery speed and pickup/dropoff locations too based on
parts of the tracking number. But they’re not always accurate.
For Tricky Cases
When the Format is Unclear In some cases, even using all the format tips and online decoders,
you still might not be able to tell which courier a tracking number belongs to. This can happen
with:
● Strange formats used by smaller regional couriers
● Older tracking numbers that don’t match current formats
● Errors that accidentally changed some digits and scrambled the code
When regular decoding methods fail, or you get conflicting results, the best thing is to ask the
person or company who sent the shipment to clarify the courier details with you.
Manual Tracking Look-up
As a last resort, you can try looking up the number across the different major couriers’ tracking
sites. Most will let you know right away if the number is invalid for their system, so you can rule
them out one by one.
This takes more time and work, so it’s better to use the format tips and online decoder first
before trying to track the number on every single website.
Conclusion
While package tracking numbers may seem like just random letters and digits, they actually
contain hidden data that can reveal which courier service the shipment is from. By
understanding common formats, recognizing patterns used by different carriers, and using
online decoding tools, you can quickly identify companies like UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, and
more just from the tracking code.
Of course, couriers might change up their formats over time, and smaller regional companies
may use formats that are harder to recognize. But the methods here give you a strong basis for
cracking the code on most tracking numbers you come across. The next time you get a random
string of numbers and letters for an incoming delivery, use these tips to decipher which carrier to
track for updates.
Being able to read tracking number formats comes in handy for anyone who regularly ships or
receives packages. It lets you find out details like delivery speed and the regional sorting facility
just from the tracking number itself. With some practice identifying patterns, you’ll soon be a pro
at reading tracking numbers!
Have you ever gotten a tracking number for a package you’re waiting for, but you didn’t know which delivery company it was from? It can be hard to figure out which courier service the tracking number belongs to, especially if you didn’t send the package yourself. But it’s important to know the delivery company. Different…
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