What do freight tracking statuses actually mean?

Tendered The shipment has been offered to a carrier or entered for carrier acceptance. It does not always mean a truck has been assigned or freight has been picked up.

Accepted The carrier or provider has accepted the shipment or booking. It does not necessarily mean dispatch has occurred.

Dispatched A driver, truck or operating plan has been assigned and sent toward the shipment. It does not mean pickup is complete.

Arrived at pickup The driver or equipment has reached the pickup location. It does not mean the freight is loaded.

Picked up The carrier has taken possession of the shipment. It does not guarantee that the freight has left the origin market immediately.

Received The carrier or facility has recorded receipt of the freight. Some carriers use this for a terminal or delivery-network milestone.

In transit The shipment has not reached final delivery and is moving through the carrier's network or operating plan. It does not necessarily mean the truck is physically moving at that moment, and it does not mean the shipment is on schedule.

Arrived at terminal The shipment has reached a carrier facility. It may wait there for transfer, routing, appointment scheduling or local delivery.

Departed terminal The shipment has left a carrier facility for another terminal or delivery operation. It is not the same as out for delivery unless the carrier says so.

Available for delivery The shipment is at or near the destination operation and can move into local delivery once appointment and operating conditions are satisfied.

Appointment pending Delivery or pickup requires scheduling and a confirmed time has not yet been recorded.

Appointment set A delivery or pickup appointment has been scheduled. It does not mean the truck has arrived.

Delivery appointment scheduled Another common carrier wording for an appointment that has been confirmed.

Out for delivery The shipment has entered the local delivery route or has been prepared for that route. It is stronger than "in transit," but it still does not guarantee a specific arrival minute.

Attempted delivery The carrier reached or attempted the delivery but could not complete it.

Delivery exception A condition has interrupted normal delivery or requires attention. The exact cause can include weather, facility issues, missed delivery, customer instructions or other carrier-specific reasons.

Held The shipment has been stopped from normal movement pending instructions, appointment, payment, documentation or another issue.

Reconsigned The destination or delivery instruction has changed after shipment.

Delivered The carrier has recorded delivery completion. Check the POD or delivery receipt if you need who signed, when it delivered or whether exceptions were noted.

POD available Proof-of-delivery documentation is available for retrieval. It is documentation of delivery, not a separate movement status.

Returned to shipper The shipment is being or has been routed back to origin rather than completing normal delivery.