I don’t think they track packages like an Uber eats pizza where Google is showing you turn by turn directions where the box is.
At best, it is bulk processing. The packages get scanned as they get loaded on a truck, and then they get scanned when they leave the truck. For all anyone knows, the contractor’s truck was listed as in, but wasn’t fully unloaded yet because somebody went to the dentist.
For USPS only!
1) Individual packages are NOT scanned during their entire journey through the(USPS) system.
2) Scanned when dropped off. Placed in bin with other packages going to the next destination. THE BIN HAS A BARCODE and all packages in that bin get updated by that one scan.
3) At hub, moved to another bin with its own barcode.
4) This process continues until a bin is at the destination post office where package will go out for delivery. Small box, flat rate, big ol' long box with gun in it? Doesn't matter, the bin gets scanned, not the individual package.
What happens if your package is put in the wrong bin? If you are lucky, it was incorrectly scanned to the wrong bin and you will get updates as it travels incorrectly around the country.
If scanned but placed in the wrong bin? It will "disappear" into the tracking void. Bin is getting scanned but the system does not know your package is in that bin.
If an entire bin goes to the wrong destination. Ex: Kansas City instead of Chicago?
It may sit for days, as the (chronically understaffed) hub has to process their local mail and that bin "over there" will get handled when it gets handled. (Scan off truck told them it was at wrong hub.)
You can fill in all the possible versions of this that can lead to slow delivery and or lost packages without any purposeful human actions.
Why do I know this?
Last year for the first time in fifteen years (and over 4000 guns shipped) I had one go missing in the USPS system.
After 30 days the ATF had me do the following:
1) Report it missing/stolen to my local sheriff. They didn't care in the slightest but gave me a report number.
2) Contact ATF with the report number who started an "Investigation"
3) Contact Postal Inspector w/ report number and ATF Investigator contact information.
With the "weight" of the police report and ATF involvement I was given the cell number for the PI instead of having to wade through the automated system and leave a message.
Postal Inspector seemed diligent but I suspect his efforts were mostly making phone calls.
Over the next week or so I had several updates as attempts were made to track/find the box in the system as described to me above.
Before it was found, #4 above happened. Early in the morning scanned into local Kentucky post office, then "Out for Delivery" and signed for by 10AM.
FWIW - It was also described to me how workers can and do purposefully create these errors.
Ex: Loading trucks, "accidentally" put the Kansas City bin on the Chicago truck.
NONE OF THIS APPLIES TO REGISTERED MAIL!
Those are scanned and signed for throughout the system. I rarely use Registered as customers don't want to pay for it, even on expensive guns. >>>Shrug<<<
EDIT: Didn't explain how it was missing but still made it to its destination post office.
That take conscientious employees.
They find a package that should not be in their location. They can't,
due to automated system limitations, scan it in because it is tied to bin barcode THEY DO NOT HAVE.
They do put it in a bin headed in the correct direction.
At next location another conscientious employee does the same.
Repeat as needed.
Destination post office CAN SCAN and it pops back up on your tracking history and goes out for delivery.
WORD OF CAUTION, this was described to me over several phone calls and I have no way to validate it.
