The term signifies the period during which a package or mailpiece is actively moving within the United States Postal Service’s network. It represents the stages of handling between the origin acceptance and the final delivery to the intended recipient. An example would be a package scanned at a regional distribution center en route to a local post office; this package is considered to be in this particular state.
Understanding the movement of items is crucial for both senders and recipients. Knowing the package is actively progressing through the system offers reassurance and allows for reasonable estimations of arrival. Furthermore, the ability to track items gives visibility that was historically unavailable, providing valuable information about the progress and potential delays in the delivery process. This information helps manage expectations and plan accordingly.
