Any Day NowDHL tracking statuses explained
DHL tracking is detailed, but it mixes warehouse, customs and courier terms. Here is what each one means for you.
What a DHL tracking number looks like
- DHL Express: 10 digits, for example 1234567890. These are fast international shipments with a courier at the door.
- DHL eCommerce and DHL Parcel: usually start with letters such as GM, LX, RX or JJD and are longer. These are cheaper services, and in the US the last step is often handed to USPS.
Not sure which you have? See which carrier a tracking number belongs to.
The statuses you'll see most
- Shipment information received: the sender created the label. DHL doesn't have the package yet.
- Shipment picked up: a DHL courier collected it.
- Processed at / Departed facility: moving through DHL hubs, often several in one day for Express.
- Arrived at DHL Sort Facility / Transferred through: it's at a hub on the way, sometimes in another country.
- Customs status updated / Clearance event: the package is with customs in the destination country. See what “in customs” means.
- Clearance processing complete: customs released it.
- With delivery courier: out for delivery today.
- Delivery attempted / Awaiting collection: nobody could receive it. DHL usually tries again or holds it at a service point; the notice says which.
- Delivered: often with the name of the person who signed.
Duties and taxes
For DHL Express imports, any duties and taxes are usually paid before delivery. DHL may email or text a payment link. Only pay through dhl.com or the official DHL app: fake “customs fee” messages are a common scam.
DHL eCommerce and USPS
When tracking says the package was handed to a partner or to the post office, USPS delivers it. The same number usually keeps working, and Any Day Now follows both carriers in one timeline.
When to do something
- Express: no new scan for two business days, or a customs hold asking for documents. Contact DHL with the tracking number.
- eCommerce: no scan for a week between countries is common; after two weeks, ask the seller.
- Delivered but missing: check the signature name and neighbours, then contact the seller.