What Does “Parcel Handed to DPD” Mean for Your Shipment?

When tracking a package, seeing the status update “parcel handed to DPD” can raise some questions. In this post, we’ll explain what this status really means, where it fits in DPD’s delivery process, and what to expect next for your shipment.

Have you ever ordered something online and obsessively tracked your parcel, only to be confused by the shipping updates? You’re not alone – Many people struggle to decipher the lingo used by courier services like DPD.

The short answer to “What does ‘parcel handed to DPD’ mean?” is that your package has been provided to DPD for delivery – but there’s more to understand. Knowing where this status fits in the bigger picture can give you peace of mind and help set realistic expectations.

This thorough guide will cover:

• An overview of DPD and how their delivery network operates
• Exactly what the “handed to DPD” status indicates
• Typical next steps once DPD receives your parcel
• Reasons why a package may be held at their depot
• How DPD’s transit times compare to other major couriers
• Leveraging DPD’s services for your business needs

Whether you’re a first-time DPD customer or a frequent shipper, this information will help you fully comprehend an important milestone in the journey of your parcel. Let’s dive in!

Understanding DPD and Their Delivery Process

DPD (Dynamic Parcel Distribution) is one of the largest courier services in Europe. While most recognize the name from seeing it on shipping updates, there’s more to know about this major logistics company.

Founded in 1976, DPD’s network now spans over 230 countries and territories worldwide. They handle both domestic and international parcel shipping through a combination of ground-based and air transport.

For domestic shipments within Europe, DPD typically relies on a road-based network. This involves shipments being sorted and transported between regional depots by van and truck. However, for longer distances or overseas parcels, they utilize air freight services as well.

DPD offers several different shipping options, each suited for particular needs:

Domestic Shipping Services

• Shop to Shop: Drop off at a DPD retail partner and recipient picks up from another shop (max 20kg, 120cm length)
• Drop Off at Shop: Drop parcel at retail partner and DPD delivers to recipient’s address
• Door to Door: DPD collects parcel from sender’s address and delivers to recipient’s door

International Shipping Services

• DPD Classic: Standard road-based service for Europe and surrounding regions
• DPD Air Classic: Air freight service for non-European destinations
• DPD Air Express: Expedited air service globally (230+ countries)

No matter which service you select, all DPD shipments go through a similar process of collection, sorting, transport, and final delivery to the recipient’s address or chosen pickup point.

Decoding the “Parcel Handed to DPD” Status

So just what does “parcel handed to DPD” mean exactly? This status indicates that your shipment has been provided to DPD’s network and is now in their hands for delivery.

More specifically, it means the parcel has either:

1. Been dropped off by the sender at a DPD retail partner location
2. Or been picked up directly from the sender by a DPD driver

Either way, once you see this status, DPD now has possession of your parcel within their sorting and transportation system.

Up until this point, your shipment tracking may have shown updates from the sender, such as “order processed” or “parcel awaiting collection.” But once officially “handed to DPD,” you’ll start seeing their standard scan updates moving forward.

“With courier” differs from updates like “handed to DPD.” It may indicate the package is still with the original sender’s courier, not yet physically with DPD.

What Happens After Your Parcel is Handed to DPD?

After your parcel gets scanned as “handed to DPD,” it will then go through several steps in DPD’s standard delivery process:

1. Sorting at a local depot: The shipment will first arrive at one of DPD’s regional sort facilities, where machines and workers will sort it by its destination address. This ensures all parcels headed to the same general area are grouped for efficient transport.
2. Transportation to the delivery depot: Depending on the destination, the parcel will either be directly routed to the nearest location serving that address, or it may go through additional sort hubs first. DPD utilizes road and air transport modes as needed.
3. Final delivery dispatch: Once at the delivery depot serving the recipient’s area, the parcel will be loaded onto one of DPD’s iconic yellow delivery vans or trucks. Their drivers will then attempt to complete final delivery or have the shipment ready for customer pickup.

The total transit time can vary based on a few key factors:

Shipping Domestic with DPD

• For domestic shipments within the same country, DPD typically aims for next-day or 2-day delivery once the parcel is in their system
• Deliveries between bordering countries may take 2-3 days on average

Shipping Internationally with DPD

• For non-European destinations, DPD estimates a 3-7 day transit time from hand-off via their Air Classic service
• Express Air shipments have slightly reduced 3-5 day expectations

Delays can happen because of high volumes, customs requirements, wrong addresses, or other issues. DPD tries multiple delivery attempts over several days before returning an undeliverable package.

Tracking Your DPD Shipment

One of the advantages of shipping with a major carrier like DPD is their robust parcel tracking system. With your DPD tracking number, you can view detailed movement scans and estimated delivery dates.

After the initial “parcel handed to DPD” status, here are some common scan updates to watch for:

• “Parcel received at DPD depot” or mentioning the city name once loaded into their system
• “Parcel sent” or “Parcel in transit” when the shipment leaves that original depot
• “Out for delivery today” meaning successfully loaded onto a local delivery van that day
• “Delivery attempted” noting if the recipient wasn’t available to accept the parcel
• “Parcel arrived at DPD Pickup point” if sending via the Shop delivery option

DPD’s tracking system also provides a handy “Prediction” feature, adjusting the expected delivery date as the parcel advances through the network.

You can track DPD parcels easily by entering the tracking number on their website or using their mobile app. Their tracking is also integrated within many major ecommerce and shipping platforms.

Reasons Why a Parcel May Be Held at DPD’s Depot

In some cases, DPD may temporarily hold onto a parcel at one of their depot sort facilities rather than immediately sending it out for final delivery. There can be several reasons for this:

Incomplete or Incorrect Address

If DPD cannot clearly identify the full delivery address, they will hold the parcel until clarification can be received from the sender. Inaccurate or missing suite numbers, postal codes, etc. often trigger this.

Paid Delivery Fees Required

For shipments like duties and taxes due, DPD may holds the parcel until those import fees are arranged and paid by the recipient.

Customs Clearance Delays for International Orders

When shipping internationally, parcels need to be properly cleared through the destination country’s customs procedures first. Delays in receiving proper documentation can lead to short holding periods.

Customer Request Hold at Depot

Recipients can choose to have their delivery held at the local DPD depot for later pickup instead of leaving it unattended.

DPD will send a notification with information and directions for retrieving a held shipment. They typically hold packages for no more than 6 business days.

DPD Holding Times and Attempted Redelivery

For parcels with failed delivery attempts where the recipient wasn’t available, DPD’s policy is to:

• Leave a “Sorry we missed you” card with next steps
• Hold the parcel at the local depot for 6 calendar days
• Make at least one more delivery attempt if no action taken
• After 6 days with no pickup, they’ll return the parcel to the sender

So even if you miss that first “out for delivery” notice, you have about a week’s grace period to coordinate holding the package for your pickup at a DPD depot or parcel shop.

DPD Shipping Speed and Performance

When customers select a courier for shipping, transit speed and reliable on-time performance are naturally two of the biggest considerations. So how does DPD stack up against other major carriers?

On the whole, DPD maintains a strong reputation for adhering to their stated delivery windows and timeframes. Their domestic services within the UK and Europe consistently achieve next-day or 2-day deliveries in most cases.

For international shipping outside of Europe, DPD’s Air Classic service averages about 3-7 business days transit time for most worldwide destinations. Their global Air Express option is even faster at 3-5 days typical speed.

These compare quite favorably to other leading express and expedited international services from UPS, FedEx, DHL and others which tend to have 5-7 day expectations on average.

Independent studies also show DPD rates highly in terms of successful first-time delivery rates. Across their network, only around 10-15% of parcels require follow-up attempts due to issues like recipient unavailability.

DPD has implemented several programs like their Predict service and notification updates to be proactive about arranging deliveries when customers will be present. This minimizes delays and saves on additional transportation costs.

Customer satisfaction with DPD is around 67.9% based on their own data. Delays and missing delivery notifications are among the more frequent complaints when they happen.

Like any carrier, severe weather, customs delays, or other unanticipated disruptions can negatively impact DPD’s usual performance from time to time. But for reliable, cost-effective European and international shipping services, they rate very positively compared to other major couriers.

Leveraging DPD’s Services for Your Business

For businesses with shipping needs – whether ecommerce retailers, manufacturers, or services companies – DPD represents a great potential logistics partner. Their extensive European coverage paired with global air networks means comprehensive delivery capabilities.

DPD provides special shipping tools, integrations, and pricing programs tailored for businesses. This includes seamless multi-carrier shipping software integrations, desktop shipping applications, and APIs for automating processes.

Volume-based and contracted pricing incentives are also available for larger shippers looking to leverage DPD’s services. These negotiated rates can produce significant savings over standard daily rates when doing substantial shipping.

DPD also specializes in customized logistics solutions beyond just basic parcel delivery. They offer specialized services for unique freight needs, supply chain consulting, and even innovative delivery methods like using drones or autonomous robotic vehicles in some markets.

For ecommerce merchants, manufacturers, or freight shippers, exploring a partnership with DPD could enhance shipping operations and customer experience. Their modern networks, range of services, and business focus make DPD an appealing carrier option.