While the tracking feature UPS and many other shipping companies offer is super convenient, it can also be confusing to try and keep up with the dozens of different updates it gives you.
One such update the UPS tool uses is a “destination scan,” but what does that mean, and what does it mean for your delivery window? I was curious about the same thing, so I researched UPS’s tracking notifications. Here’s what I found out!
What Does A UPS “Destination Scan” Mean In 2024?
A destination scan is an update when your package is scanned at your local UPS facility, which is responsible for sorting and sending it out for delivery as of 2024. A destination scan is one of the last steps before your package is delivered and typically means it will be delivered within one to two business days.
If you want to know more about what a destination scan is and how it differs from the other updates you get, as well as what this scan means for your delivery time, read on!
Can I Pick Up A UPS Package If The Update Says “Destination Scan”?
A destination scan usually means your package is nearby and getting prepped for delivery, so it makes sense to wonder if you can pick it up yourself!
Unfortunately, you typically can’t pick up a package from a UPS facility after it’s scanned under a destination scan.
Further, this is because a destination scan means that your package has arrived at the facility responsible for sorting it and sending it out for delivery.
So, just because your package has arrived at the destination facility doesn’t mean it has been removed and sorted from the trailers that hold packages.
Simply put, you receive a destination scan once your package arrives at the facility.
From there, it has to go through several steps before it is ready to be delivered, including being sorted and categorized correctly so employees can load it on the truck for delivery.
Even though your package is in your area, UPS employees may not yet be ready to hand it over to you!
Moreover, the only way you can pick up a package from a destination scan facility is if you were placed on a “will call” list with UPS when the package was being shipped.
If you’re on a “will call” list, it means UPS has advanced notice of your intent to pick it up early and can plan accordingly.
What Is The Difference Between A UPS Arrival Scan And A Destination Scan?
Arrival scans and destination scans are very similar but can mean very different things regarding when your package is being delivered.
For example, arrival scans occur when your package arrives at any UPS facility. With that, there can be several arrival scans for your package while it makes its way to its final destination.
In comparison, a destination scan indicates that your package has arrived at a UPS facility.
However, the major difference is that a destination scan means your parcel has arrived at its last facility, the facility responsible for sending it out for delivery.
Additionally, there’s only ever one destination scan for any given package (99% of the time, at least), whereas there are regularly multiple arrival scans per package.
Moreover, another way you can think of this is that a destination scan is a specific type of arrival scan and is always the last arrival scan you will receive.
Does A UPS “Destination Scan” Mean I Will Get My Package Today?
If a destination scan means that your package has arrived in your area, it means it will be delivered soon.
However, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get your package that day.
Further, destination scan facilities typically handle a lot of packages in a day, especially if you live in a highly-populated area.
So, if there are more facilities, it means there are a lot of boxes to sort, categorize, and load onto trucks at the correct time!
In some instances, seeing a destination scan in a small town might mean that you’ll receive your package by the end of the day, but that isn’t always the case.
That said, seeing a destination scan typically does mean you can expect to see your package labeled as out for delivery in the next one to two days.
What Comes After A UPS Destination Scan?
A destination scan means that your package is now in your area and ready to be sorted.
Therefore, the next notification you should see is the “out for delivery” notification, meaning your package is loaded onto a truck that has your address as part of its route.
Suppose you receive any other notification, such as in transit or delivery exception.
In that case, it means that although your package is in the area, UPS is having a hard time delivering it for some reason or another.
Typically, these issues are resolved in 48 hours or less.
But, if you’ve found yourself waiting a week or more for a package that got a destination scan, feel free to call the UPS customer service line or chat with an employee online here.
To know more, you can also see our posts on UPS dry ice shipping, what does “exception” mean at UPS, and what does “in transit” mean at UPS.
Conclusion
A destination scan is a type of scan that indicates that your package has arrived at the local UPS facility that’s responsible for sorting it and placing it on the truck to be delivered to you.
Also, a destination scan is similar to an arrival scan in that it indicates your package has arrived at a UPS facility.
Still, there’s only one destination scan per package, whereas there can be multiple arrival scans per package.
Moreover, a destination scan is an arrival scan that’s always the last arrival scan for any package.
After you receive a destination scan, your package will be loaded onto a truck and scanned, which will send you an “out for delivery” notification.