What does "ORD" mean in tracking?

"ORD" can mean three different things, and where it appears tells you which one you're looking at. Next to a city, airport, flight or customs step in a tracking event, ORD is the airport code for Chicago O'Hare International Airport. At the start of an order number (like ORD-10482) it's the store's shorthand for "order," and as a status on a store's order page it means the order was received but hasn't shipped yet.

How to tell which ORD you're seeing

• A tracking event with a place or flight ("Arrived at ORD," "ORD flight arrived"): your package is at or passing through Chicago O'Hare. Wait for the next scan, which usually shows customs clearance or a hand-off to a U.S. carrier.
• The start of an order number (ORD-10482): this is the store's order reference, not a location or a status. Use it when you contact the seller. A carrier's tracking site won't recognize it.
• The status of your order on a store or order page: the order is in the system and hasn't shipped. It changes once the seller starts processing the order.

ORD in a tracking event: Chicago O'Hare

ORD is the official code for Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Carriers and cargo airlines label scans with airport codes, so "Arrived at ORD" means your package landed in Chicago or is moving through the airport there. It doesn't necessarily mean the package is staying in Chicago. Airports like O'Hare are transfer points, and the package moves on from there toward your address.

The Chicago Department of Aviation describes O'Hare as one of the largest air cargo gateways in the world, and says many foreign cargo airlines treat Chicago as their main connection to the United States. That's why an order from an overseas seller or marketplace can show an ORD scan when it first lands in the U.S.

After it lands, a package from abroad has to clear U.S. customs. Items sent through the international postal system go to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection mail facility for clearance, and packages sent by express or courier services are usually cleared by a customs broker working for that carrier. Then the package is handed to a U.S. carrier or local courier for the last leg. Some cross-border trackers show a status like "delivered to local courier" at this point. That means the package has moved to the company that will deliver it in the U.S., not that it has reached your door. You may also get a new tracking number from USPS, UPS or another U.S. carrier.

If the seller's tracker shows other release or port messages you don't recognize, ask the seller what that status means on their system. Wording varies from one tracker to the next.

Why is my package stuck at ORD?

If tracking stops at an ORD airport scan, the package is usually waiting to clear customs or waiting to be picked up by the U.S. carrier. Here's what to do:

1. Check whether the tracking page now lists a U.S. carrier tracking number. If it does, track the package on that carrier's site. If the carrier is USPS, our guide to what USPS tracking status updates mean explains each step.
2. If there's still no new scan once the package is past the delivery estimate the seller gave you, contact the seller. They hold the shipment record and can ask the shipping company to trace it.
3. Contact the U.S. carrier directly once you have its tracking number. Without that number, the carrier may not be able to find your package.

ORD at the start of an order number

Some online stores put ORD- (short for "order") in front of their order numbers, such as ORD-10482. It's the store's own reference, so it isn't a location and it isn't a shipping status. Carrier websites won't find it. Use it to look up the order in your account or confirmation email, or include it when you contact the seller. Once the order ships, the seller can give you the carrier tracking number.

ORD as an order status

On some store and fulfillment order pages, "ORD" is a status label short for "Order." It means your order has been received and logged by the seller or their fulfillment provider. It hasn't shipped yet; it's in the system and waiting to be processed.

How long it stays there depends on how quickly the seller processes orders. If you're seeing it for longer than the processing time the seller quoted, something might be holding things up.

What happens after "ORD" status

Once your order moves past "ORD," here's the general sequence:

1. Processing: your items are being picked from shelves and packed in the warehouse.
2. Shipped: the package has a label and has been handed to a carrier like UPS, USPS, or FedEx. You'll usually get a carrier tracking number at this point.
3. In transit: your package is moving between carrier facilities.
4. Out for delivery: it's on the truck.
5. Delivered.

How fast this all happens depends on the shipping speed you chose and how quickly the seller's warehouse turns orders around. Some fulfillment operations ship same-day for orders placed before a cutoff time (usually early afternoon). Others take 1-2 days to process before the carrier even picks it up.

Why your order is stuck on "ORD" status

If it's been more than a day or two and nothing's changed, a few things could be going on.

A backorder is one possibility. If something you ordered is out of stock, the whole order can sit in "ORD" status until the item comes back in. A payment hold can also stop it, where the charge hasn't fully cleared or there's a flag on the transaction. Sometimes it's an address issue, like a missing apartment number, that needs the seller to reach out and confirm.

Also check when you placed the order. Most warehouses have a daily cutoff, and orders that come in after it won't start processing until the next business day, so a Friday evening order might not move until Monday.

If it's been more than 2-3 business days with no update, contact the seller directly. They can check with their warehouse to see what's going on.

For other tracking terms, see our guide to decoding delivery tracking statuses.

If you run an online store and answer a lot of "what does my tracking mean?" emails, Simpl's ecommerce fulfillment ships every order with UPS, USPS, or FedEx and syncs the tracking number back to the order in your store.

FAQ

What does "ORD" stand for in shipping?

It depends on where you see it. In a tracking event with a place or flight, ORD is the airport code for Chicago O'Hare International Airport. At the start of an order number, it's short for "order." As a status on a store's order page, it means the order was received but hasn't shipped yet.

What does it mean if my package is in ORD?

Your package has reached Chicago O'Hare International Airport or is moving through it. For an order shipped from overseas, this can be where it lands in the U.S. and waits to clear customs before a U.S. carrier takes over.

What does "ORD flight arrived" mean?

The flight carrying your package has landed at Chicago O'Hare. The next scans usually show customs clearance or a hand-off to a U.S. carrier.

Why is my package stuck at ORD?

It's usually waiting to clear customs or waiting for the hand-off to a U.S. carrier. If there's still no new scan once the package is past the seller's delivery estimate, contact the seller, who can ask the shipping company to trace it.

How long does "ORD" order status normally last?

It lasts until the warehouse starts processing the order, so the time varies by store. If it hasn't changed after the processing time the seller quoted, contact the seller.

Is "ORD" the same as "Shipped"?

No. As an order status, "ORD" means the order exists in the system. "Shipped" means it's been packed and picked up by a carrier.