Shipment status glossary
Carriers use different words for similar milestones. This glossary explains common airline cargo and courier phrases you will see on AWBTracking.net, including statuses that look like delivery but are not.
Always read the carrier’s full event text. For empty or stuck results, see troubleshooting. For formats and prefixes, start with the AWB tracking guide.
Booked / Accepted
Airline cargo
The airline has the shipment on file. Physical uplift may not have happened yet.
Departed
Airline cargo
Cargo left an origin or transfer station on a flight. Destination arrival still pending.
Arrived
Airline cargo
Cargo arrived at a station. Confirm whether that station is the final destination or a hub.
Expected to arrive
Airline cargo
A projected milestone only. It is not a confirmed arrival scan and should not close tracking.
Documentation delivered / Notified
Airline cargo
Paperwork or consignee notification steps. Operational cargo may still be in warehouse handling.
Delivered (airline)
Airline cargo
Airline indicates release/delivery to the consignee or agent for that AWB.
Label created / Information sent
Courier
Electronic label exists. The parcel may not have been physically picked up yet.
Picked up / Posted
Courier
First physical scan: collected from sender or accepted at a retail/parcel point.
In transit / Processed in parcel center
Courier
Sorting or line-haul movement. The shipment is still travelling.
Handed over to the delivery organization
Courier (DHL)
Export/handoff wording common on DHL Parcel DE international pieces. Still in transit — not final delivery.
Out for delivery
Courier
On a local delivery route today. Completion requires a later delivered scan.
Delivered / Zugestellt
Courier
Completed delivery according to the carrier. This is when monitoring can stop.
Exception / Attempted delivery
Courier
A problem or failed attempt. Read the carrier text for the next action; not delivered.
Airline cargo vs courier wording
Airline AWBs emphasise flights and stations (booked, departed, arrived). Couriers emphasise parcel scans (posted, in transit, out for delivery). Mixing those vocabularies is a common source of confusion — especially when DHL mentions a “delivery organization” while the parcel is still abroad.