If you’ve got something to ship and are looking to prioritize saving money over fast delivery, then FedEx Ground might be the right way to go.
That being said, in this article, you’ll learn about all of the Ground services, including Home Delivery and Ground Economy. You’ll also learn about delivery times, pricing, reliability, and more, so keep reading!
What Is FedEx Ground in [currentyear]?
FedEx Ground is an American ground package delivery company that’s a subsidiary of the FedEx Corporation in [currentyear]. It includes commercial delivery services, residential delivery services (Home Delivery), and a parcel consolidation service (Ground Economy). Packages are delivered 7 days a week and arrive in 1 to 5 business days depending on shipping distances.
There’s much more to learn about FedEx Ground, so if you’re interested in learning more, you’ll want to check out this article for more useful information!
What Is FedEx Ground?
FedEx Ground is an American ground package delivery company headquartered in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
Ground is a subsidiary of the FedEx Corporation and provides domestic services within the United States and Canada.
As well, Ground also provides international services between the two countries through a service called FedEx International Ground.
Ground services are cheaper and slower than the time-definite services offered by FedEx Express.
Most packages arrive in 1 to 5 business days within the contiguous United States and in 3 to 7 days in Alaska and Hawaii.
Unlike FedEx Express drivers, Ground drivers are primarily owners/operators. That means drivers are independent contractors who control individual delivery routes and territories.
Commercial package services are at the core of FedEx Ground’s offerings.
In addition to commercial services, the company also offers FedEx Home Delivery, a US residential delivery service, and FedEx Ground Economy, a low-cost consolidation service.
When Was FedEx Ground Founded?
From 1971 to 1998, FedEx operated as an express delivery service. In fact, the company’s original name was Federal Express.
However, that changed in 1998 when FedEx acquired Caliber System, a transportation company. FedEx rebranded Caliber’s package delivery service as FedEx Ground in 2000.
Acquiring this service meant more low-cost ground shipping options for customers looking to benefit from FedEx’s reliable shipping network at a lower cost.
What Is the Difference Between FedEx Express and FedEx Ground?
FedEx Express focuses on delivering packages by a certain time (also known as time-definite delivery).
Most packages sent through Express come with a money-back guarantee, meaning that shippers get their money back if FedEx fails to deliver by a given day and time.
FedEx Ground focuses on delivering packages by a certain day and doesn’t come with a money-back guarantee, meaning delivery dates are estimates and are liable to change.
In general, Express packages are transported primarily by plane, while Ground packages move around via truck.
Therefore, it’s no surprise that Express packages usually arrive faster than Ground packages.
When it comes to employees, those who work for Express are employed by the FedEx corporation and receive full benefits like health insurance, paid time off, and a 401K.
However, Ground employees are mostly independent contractors and do not receive benefits from FedEx.
How Long Will It Take FedEx Ground to Deliver?
FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery packages usually arrive in 1 to 5 business days when shipped within the contiguous United States.
Shipments going to or coming from Alaska and Hawaii take an average of 3 to 7 business days.
Ground Economy shipments usually take 2 to 7 days to arrive.
However, note that exact delivery times depend on where the package is being shipped from and the distance to the destination.
For example, packages sent from New York City to Boston usually take 2 days to arrive, whereas packages sent from New York City to Los Angeles take around 5 days.
If you already know the origin and delivery addresses, you can use the Ground Service map tool to estimate shipping times.
Why Does FedEx Ground Take So Long?
One reason why it may seem like FedEx Ground packages travel more slowly than Express packages is because they’re transported via truck rather than airplane.
Aside from this obvious difference, it’s worth mentioning that whether a package takes a long time to arrive is largely subjective.
So, if you purchase shipping through FedEx Ground, knowing average delivery times range from 1 to 5 days, then you won’t be surprised.
On the other hand, if you’re used to using Express, you may find Ground shipping too slow for your needs.
That being said, if your package still hasn’t arrived after a week or so, there’s a chance that it was delayed due to inclement weather, an incorrect address, or a missed delivery attempt.
When Does FedEx Ground Deliver?
FedEx Ground, FedEx Home Delivery, and FedEx Ground Economy packages get delivered 7 days a week in most cases.
Indeed, Home Delivery is able to deliver to 98% of US addresses on Saturdays and to 95% of US addresses on Sundays.
Does FedEx Ground Give You a Tracking Number?
All FedEx Ground services come with a tracking number, which you can track on this page.
For even more details and visibility on your Ground shipments, use FedEx’s Advanced Tracking tool.
When you create an account, you’ll be able to track multiple shipments, run reports, and get access to documents on your personalized tracking dashboard.
Is FedEx Ground Always by Truck?
Packages sent through FedEx’s Ground network are transported via over-the-road trucks and local delivery vans.
Transporting packages via truck (rather than by plane) is how FedEx keeps prices lower on Ground shipments.
How Big Can FedEx Ground Packages Be?
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery packages can weigh up to 150 lbs and have dimensions of up to 130” in length plus girth.
As well, Ground Economy packages can measure up to 130” in length plus girth but have a maximum weight of 70 lbs.
Is FedEx Ground Reliable?
In general, FedEx Ground is considered reliable, thanks to its up-to-the-minute tracking and responsive customer service.
When it comes to on-time deliveries, FedEx usually hovers between 84.8% and 93.9%. It’s not perfect but it’s still quite high and points to the company’s reliability.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on FedEx package going wrong say, how to refuse a package FedEx, and FedEx sort facility.
Conclusion
FedEx Ground, Home Delivery, and Ground Economy are all reliable shipping services that will provide you with tracking information and predictable shipping times, all for a much lower price than you’d pay to ship via Express.
