Every day, millions of retail and commercial package recipients wonder what happened to their deliveries. It's no secret that countless items end up in spots other than where they should be. Sometimes, the reasons are related to simple human error, while other instances of missing packages are due to legal snafus. Indeed, international cargo can easily suffer delays related to customs regulations.
Even domestic deliveries are subject to the vagaries of environmental laws, US Postal Service contraband rules, incorrect addresses, weather-induced slowdowns, and mistakes by end-point delivery agents. Whether you're a business owner, retail customer, or a member of the shipping supply chain, it's important to gain a wider perspective on how legalities and logistical problems can cause simple and serious delays in getting physical goods from Point A to Point B. Consider the following reasons for deliveries that fall behind schedule.
Customs
One of the oldest components of the international shipping quagmire is the US Customs Service. Agents examine millions of goods and shipments every day, with the goal of finding contraband and outright illegal items on their way into the country. When planes and ships arrive, agents select a small fraction for extensive inspection. If consumer goods are part of those groupings of goods, the end recipients stand to face significant delivery delays, depending on how long the Customs agents spend inspecting the items. In some cases, entire shipments of cargo are sent back to their owners, which means consumers in the US might never receive products they ordered online.
Environmental Regulations for Trucking Companies
Fleet managers are aware of the patchwork of federal and state regulations within US markets. Some laws apply everywhere, while others only pertain to certain states or regions. One situation that can lead to late deliveries is law enforcement inspections. Transport companies that make deliveries in California or move cargo through the state must adhere to emissions standards. The primary example is California's smog check requirements. Falling out of compliance with those rules can mean facing stiff fines and inspection delays.
Luckily, fleet supervisors can employ telematics systems to minimize the amount of time it takes to go through routine smog checks. That translates into more vehicle uptime and lower overall transportation expenses. Trucking firms face dozens of similar regulations and state laws elsewhere, but California's pollution-related laws can cause substantial delays for transport companies that don't use telematics.
Illegal Shipments
Domestically, the US Postal Service uncovers millions of illegal shipments every year, many of which are commercial mailings that include consumer products on their way to buyers. Sometimes, the illegality is related to the product in transit. Ammunition and live animals are two items that can lead to direct intervention and potential fines or criminal penalties by the authorities. Other sources of slowdowns include improperly stamped packages, damaged goods that must be taken out of the delivery cycle, and drugs or similar illegal substances.
Incorrect Addresses
Human error plays a role in delayed deliveries. Whether on the part of a commercial or individual sender, something as simple as an incorrect address or illegible writing can mean that deliveries are many days later than expected. The US Postal Service uses computerized digital scanners to read addresses on nearly all letter-sized items and packages in transit. When handwriting or printing is not clear enough for the scanners, postal agents pull the items and affix corrective labels when necessary.
Faulty Delivery and Weather
Even when all goes well at the point of origin and in transit, sometimes the final leg of the journey is where trouble occurs. Agents who perform door delivery via trucks can misread labels, misplace items, or lose packages. While only a small number of snafus happen at this stage of the process, consumers should always check with parcel services before assuming that a lost item is irretrievable. Likewise, inclement weather, like hurricanes and tornadoes, can slow down shipments by days or weeks during storm season.
