Understand delivery terms before you book
If your customer has to guess what a delivery update means, they will call. Learn the words, ask clearer questions and get your parcel ready to go. Moveka is Kenya’s largest courier and one of Kenya’s most deeply connected courier networks.
Ready to compare the available options for your parcel and see the prices that apply?
What do common delivery statuses mean?
Status wording varies by courier. Treat each label as an update, not a promise of a particular delivery time or handover condition. If an update is unclear, check the carrier’s own definition and the service terms.
Waybill or tracking number
Plain definition: A reference used to identify a shipment and follow its updates. Why it matters: You can use it to look up progress or share the right parcel reference when asking for help. Example: Keep the number somewhere easy to find after booking. Often confused with: “Shipment information received”—that can mean shipment details were entered, not that the parcel was physically handed over.
Picked up
Plain definition: A status that may indicate the parcel has been collected or handed over, depending on the carrier’s terminology. Why it matters: It helps distinguish a parcel in a carrier’s possession from shipment details created ahead of handover. Example: Check the carrier’s definition if you see this status but are unsure whether collection has happened. Often confused with: “Shipment information received,” which may refer only to shipment details being recorded.
In transit
Plain definition: A general update that a parcel is moving through the delivery process. Why it matters: It tells you the shipment is progressing, but the label alone may not explain its exact location or next step. Example: If you need to plan for receipt, check the latest update and the applicable delivery terms. Often confused with: “Out for delivery,” which usually signals a more specific final delivery stage.
Out for delivery
Plain definition: A status commonly used when a parcel is heading toward its final delivery point. Why it matters: It can help you prepare to receive the parcel, but it is not by itself a guaranteed arrival time. Example: Make sure the intended recipient can be reached and knows the agreed handover instructions. Often confused with: “Delivered,” which indicates a delivery outcome has been recorded.
Delivery attempted
Plain definition: A status that may mean a delivery attempt was made but the handover was not completed. Why it matters: You need to know what the next step is rather than assume the parcel will be tried again automatically. Example: Check the update and applicable terms for how to arrange the next step. Often confused with: “Exception,” a broader label for an issue or change in the delivery process.
Delivered
Plain definition: A status indicating that delivery has been recorded as completed. Why it matters: Before booking, understand who may receive the parcel and how the handover is recorded. Example: Tell the recipient what to expect and how to contact you if they have a question. Often confused with: “Out for delivery,” which describes a delivery stage, not a completed handover.
Exception
Plain definition: A broad status that may flag an issue or change affecting normal progress. Why it matters: The label may not explain what action is needed. Example: Read the accompanying detail and ask what the next step is if it is not clear. Often confused with: “Delivery attempted,” which points more specifically to an unsuccessful handover attempt when the carrier uses it that way.
What should you ask before sending a parcel?
Choose with the conditions in view—not just a status label or service name. Before you book, ask what the selected service includes, what its tracking updates mean, who may receive the parcel, what details are needed at handover and what happens if delivery cannot be completed. Check the applicable terms so you do not have to guess.
How do you prepare a parcel and avoid common mistakes?
Make the handover clearer with accurate sender and recipient names, contact details and addresses. Have the item description, parcel count, weight and dimensions ready when requested. Pack the contents securely, fill empty spaces so items do not shift, and keep labels and barcodes clear and easy to scan.
Dense instructions are easier to follow when you pair short steps with a simple annotated picture. Label the sender, recipient, contact details, tracking reference and handover point. Use the picture to clarify the process—not to replace important conditions or payment terms.
How do you compare Express and Same-Day options?
Start with what matters for your parcel: the service details, conditions, tracking information and handover requirements. Compare the available Express and Same-Day options on the Send page; the options and prices shown there apply to your parcel. Don’t infer a delivery time or a condition from the service name alone.
Skip the guesswork and check the options and prices that apply to your parcel on the Send page.
