"Delivered to local courier": what it means, plus all the courier jargon

The world of couriers, and of shipping in general, is complex, and the terms used to describe services or procedures in this sector can be complex too. The meaning of expressions like "delivered to local courier", "avviso di giacenza" (delivery-attempt notice), or "exception status" often escapes both the person waiting for the parcel and even the companies that shipped it.

Many of these words have to do with transit-related operations, from customs to shipment status.

Even if these aren't expressions you'll hear in everyday life, if you run an e-commerce business or are interested in logistics it's useful to get to know them. If they sound strange, don't worry: we're here precisely to explain their meaning clearly and thoroughly. That way, the next time you hear one of these concepts mentioned, you'll immediately know what's being talked about.

1. Delivered to local courier

2. Out for delivery

3. Remote area surcharge

4. Fuel surcharge

5. Arrived at facility

6. Delivery-attempt notice

7. Parcel refused

8. "Exception" status

9. Service points / PUDO

10. Tracking number

11. Insured shipping

Delivered to local courier

If your shipment status reads "Delivered to local courier", it means the parcel is being stored at the depot / parcel warehouse and the recipient has to collect it in person. So you need to go to the courier's facility to pick it up.

We recommend contacting the courier first to find out exactly where your parcel has been stored and its opening hours.

Out for delivery

It may seem odd, but "out for delivery" is one of the least clear terms in the courier glossary, even though its meaning is exactly what it sounds like. "Out for delivery" means that the courier is about to deliver the shipment during the day.

Remote area surcharge

The remote area surcharge is the extra charge a courier applies when the delivery or pickup point is in a less accessible area not covered by the courier's own network. These are usually hard-to-reach places, such as small islands or ski resorts.

It's important to remember that many couriers deliver to remote or hard-to-reach areas only on certain specific days, which is why delivery times may get longer. Delays can also be due to bad weather or impassable roads, so it's advisable to plan your shipment in advance.

Fuel surcharge

The fuel surcharge is a variable additional cost that couriers apply to domestic shipments to cope with fluctuations in the price of diesel.

It's a way to adjust shipping costs to the trend in fuel prices, based on the parameters provided by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.

It also applies to individual shipments and not to ancillary services. The surcharge is calculated as a percentage, taking into account the fuel price of the second month before the month it's applied (monthly average of the weekly price in Italy).

There's also an international fuel surcharge, calculated on the price of U.S. Gulf Coast (USGC) kerosene-type jet fuel. In this case, the variation is weekly.

Each courier applies this surcharge in its own way, so our advice is always to check the percentages published by individual carriers for deliveries made both domestically and internationally.

Arrived at facility

If you use a tracking service, you may receive several updates telling you the shipment status.

The wording "shipment arrived at facility" indicates that the goods have been received at the courier facility closest to the delivery address and will be delivered shortly, usually within two working days.

Delivery-attempt notice

The delivery-attempt notice (in Italian, "avviso di giacenza") is the slip the delivery service leaves in your mailbox after a first delivery attempt fails to find the recipient. This slip contains all the useful information about where the goods are, for example the nearest branch or post office.

To collect the goods, it's important to bring the notice along with an ID document. If you can't collect it in person, you can delegate a third party.

Each courier has its own rules about the maximum storage period, after which the goods are usually returned to the sender. In addition, some couriers offer the option to reattempt delivery at a time and date to be agreed.

Parcel refused

This type of shipment status warns that there was a problem with delivery because the recipient refused the parcel. Refusing delivery is a consumer right; they may choose not to accept it, for example because the parcel looks damaged or because they're asked to pay customs duties they weren't aware of.

Or it may be the case of an order to be paid by cash on delivery: the courier cannot force the recipient to pay for the order or the postage, nor can it force them to accept the order for free.

In cases like this, the courier will have the recipient sign a document certifying the refusal of the shipment, which can then be returned to the sender.

"Exception" status

If the shipment status is marked as "exception", it means delivery won't be able to happen on time due to unforeseen events, such as a missing customs document, a damaged shipment, the recipient being unavailable, or national holidays.

The best thing to do in these cases is to contact the courier to understand the reason for the delivery delay and find a solution together.

Service points / PUDO

Service points, known in English as PUDO (short for "Pick Up, Drop Off"), are collection points affiliated with delivery services. They can be newsstands, tobacconists, supermarkets, gas stations, or various kinds of shops that make their space available to store parcels waiting to be collected or returned.

This option is a big advantage especially for the end customer, who can choose the collection point closest to home and the hours to go and pick up the parcel, knowing that until then the shipment is kept safe.

This way, even people with busy schedules who spend almost the whole day out can be sure they'll be able to collect their orders at their convenience. This system also offers maximum flexibility when it comes to any returns: the goods can be brought back to the most convenient drop-off point, avoiding long lines at the post office.

Examples of this type of service are UPS Access Points or Amazon Lockers. 

Tracking number

The tracking number is the online tracking system used by all couriers. It's a unique alphanumeric code assigned to a shipment in order to identify it uniquely.

It lets the customer check the shipment status at any time. This service is available via SMS, apps, websites, email with personalized updates, or often even by calling the courier's toll-free number.

Each courier has its own tracking system, used to monitor the various stages of the shipment until delivery is completed.

Usually, after making an online purchase the customer receives the tracking number by email; this should not be confused with the order number, which instead identifies the purchase.

Are there other words from the world of logistics and shipping you have doubts about? Let us know in the comments and we'll explain what they mean.