How Many Delivery Attempts Does FedEx Make? (2023 Update)
As a 25-year veteran of the logistics industry, few things are more disruptive than missing a long-awaited delivery. When a failed attempt occurs, recipients immediately wonder—how many more tries will I get?
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain FedEx‘s delivery attempt rules in detail, including differences across Express, Ground, and Home Delivery services. Whether you’ve had trouble receiving shipments lately or just want peace of mind, read on for insights to master FedEx delivery attempts in 2024 and beyond!
A Historical Look at FedEx Attempt Limits
FedEx has provided consistent U.S. coverage since the 2000s, but its delivery attempt rules have evolved:
- Pre-2011: 1 attempt across all services
- 2011-2021: Up to 3 attempts for deliveries needing a signature
- 2022 Onward: Up to 3 attempts on residential packages (no changes)
The expansion to 3 attempts increased the rate of successful deliveries on the first try. As per FedEx‘s 2021 statistics, they completed 96% of deliveries on attempt one.
Nonetheless, recipients can still experience delays when signatures are required or due to other roadblocks like locked locations, dogs, and access issues.
Variances Between FedEx Express, Ground & Home Delivery
While 3 attempts are standard for residential packages needing signatures, FedEx’s timeframes and handling process afterwards varies based on whether you shipped via:
FedEx Express
- Delivery Window: Next business day delivery by 8, 10, or 12 PM based on origin/destination
- Post-Attempt Hold Time: 5 days at a FedEx Express location
FedEx Ground & Home Delivery
- Delivery Window: 1-5 business days
- Post-Attempt Hold Time: 10 days at a FedEx Ground location
The quicker delivery window and hold duration for Express show why it costs more. However, Ground and Home Delivery also allow generous attempt periods compared to competitors—even if slower overall.
What Happens Once Max Delivery Attempts Are Reached?
Once three delivery attempts occur without success, recipients have two potential outcomes:
The package gets returned to the shipper: If the post-attempt hold time elapses at 5 or 10 days without intervention, FedEx will process the package back to the sender. Returns predominantly occur when recipients are away on vacation.
The package redirects to a hold location: More commonly, FedEx changes the delivery path after maximum attempts to a nearby staffed location or third-party retailer for retrieval. Retailers serving as temporary pickup points include major chains like Walgreens, Dollar General, and Kroger.
I estimate over 70% of packages go to hold locations versus immediate return following the three attempt limit. These retrievals simply require the tracking number and valid identification.
Advice For Recipients Missing Deliveries
Lucky recipients have friends or neighbors that can sign or take in packages. But you can’t always rely on their availability. So what should you do when faced with exhausted delivery attempts?
Use FedEx Delivery Manager
FedEx provides a free Delivery Manager tool that all recipients should utilize. It allows you to customize delivery by:
- Redirecting to other addresses
- Rerouting packages to holds for pickup
- Giving drivers door code access
- Providing delivery instructions
Think of Delivery Manager as your command center to take control when hit with “delivery exception” notices.
Plan Ahead For Holds When Away
If planning a trip, leveraging Delivery Manager to instantly set vacation holds across all services is wise. This automatically redirects deliveries to locations you select until releasing the request when back in town. No more coming home to missed attempts and hassles trying to locate your items.
Authorize Indirect Signature Release
Couldn’t make it home in time? A handy option is signing the “Driver release” line on the back of paper door tags left after attempts by FedEx. This permits them to complete delivery to someone else nearby without you present to sign. Just recognize this indirect signature authorization does involve risk in rare cases of theft or fraud. But it usually works great for trusted environments like apartments.
Here is a summary view of the variances across FedEx delivery services:
| Delivery Service | Max Attempts | Hold Time | Example Pickup Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Express | 3 attempts | 5 days | FedEx Express sites |
| FedEx Ground | 3 attempts | 10 days | FedEx Ground sites, Walgreens, Dollar General |
| FedEx Home Delivery | 3 attempts | 10 days | FedEx Home Delivery sites, Kroger, Walgreens |
Conclusion: Master FedEx Delivery Attempts
Missing a shipment can ruin anyone’s week. While FedEx allows three generous reattempts across all residential services, staying ahead of the process is key.
I advise all recipients utilize Delivery Manager for customization and planning visibility. Get vacation holds set proactively when traveling to avoid return-to-sender resolutions.
And above all—leverage self-service tools to redirect packages on your own terms based on the delivery attempt rules outlined here. Now you can stay in control and make the most of FedEx’s three delivery attempt policy going into 2023.
