Sometimes it can feel like the mail takes forever to arrive, especially when you’re waiting for something you’ve had your eye on for a while. Therefore, it’s only natural to wonder if FedEx ever delivers early.
It turns out that the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. But don’t worry, we’ve got all of the answers about FedEx’s early deliveries in this article, so be sure to read to the end!
Does FedEx Ever Deliver Early In 2024?
FedEx occasionally delivers early, however it depends on the service, the package volume, and the local office in 2024. According to FedEx employees, Ground, Home Delivery, and Ground Economy are the most likely to go out early. Conversely, Express packages only go out early if there is extra room on the truck and a lower-than-average package volume.
This question can be a bit tricky to answer, so be sure to check out the rest of this article for more useful facts, tips, and information!
Can a FedEx Package Come Early?
It is possible for a FedEx package to come early. After all, for guaranteed services, the delivery date is a deadline, not a delivery time. Therefore, a package could very well be delivered earlier.
Why Do Some FedEx Packages Arrive Early?
There are a few reasons why FedEx packages arrive early.
One is that sorting centers will always try to fill cargo containers because wasted space means wasted fuel.
Therefore, your package may end up getting dispatched sooner than expected based on shipping volumes.
When packages arrive sooner, there’s a good chance that delivery drivers will also take them out sooner.
Another reason a FedEx package may arrive early is because of where a customer lives.
If a customer lives in the same local service area, the package may go straight out for delivery instead of heading to a hub for sorting and processing.
Does FedEx 2Day Come Early?
In most cases, you’ll almost never receive a 2Day package early.
Because of the strict deadlines for these services, it’s usually enough of a challenge to deliver them on time, let alone early.
That being said, if a package was sent with 2Day service on Friday for a Tuesday delivery, there is a good chance that you’ll receive it on Monday.
Other, non-express services, like FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, and FedEx Ground Economy are much more likely to be delivered early.
Why Does FedEx Refuse to Deliver Early?
Some FedEx customers are under the impression that FedEx refuses to deliver early. While this is understandable, it’s not true.
Plenty of customers have reported receiving their FedEx packages earlier than expected.
There are even delivery drivers who discuss delivering packages early for customers they know (time permitting).
Still, there are plenty of reasons why packages don’t go out early.
Mainly, this is due to tracking information.
FedEx’s tracking information will often notify customers that their package has reached the destination city, but it won’t go out for delivery for a day or more.
Understandably, this can be frustrating. But it’s not the result of FedEx deliberately holding packages. Rather, your package might still need to be sorted.
It’s also possible that your parcel is buried in a truck with a lot of items.
In that case, FedEx workers may struggle to accommodate the shipping volume by holding packages until their intended delivery dates.
Similarly, drivers won’t deliver packages early because they already have too many other packages to worry about.
Drivers must prioritize items based on their delivery dates, so early packages aren’t the first to go out.
It also happens that some managers discourage drivers from delivering early, claiming that it takes away the customer’s incentive to pay for overnight services.
What Does FedEx’s “Shipment Arriving Early” Mean?
Seeing the tracking update “Shipment Arriving Early” can be exciting if you’re eager to get your hands on your order.
However, from the sounds of it, this update doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get your package any earlier than normal.
Indeed, you may see this update several times throughout the tracking process. In most cases, it just means your package is ahead of schedule.
Whether or not it gets delivered early depends on package volumes, weather, and staffing.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why is FedEx so slow, what is FedEx Express, and why is FedEx so expensive.
Conclusion
While it’s definitely possible to receive FedEx packages before their delivery date, this is more the exception than the rule. So, if you’re impatient to get your package, we recommend opting for a faster service rather than hoping for early delivery.