Demystifying the “En Route” IMb Scan: Your Mail’s Journey Revealed

By Lee Garvey

Have you ever dropped a letter at the post office and wondered about its journey to the recipient? The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a sophisticated tracking system called Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) that lets you peek behind the curtain. This remarkable technology, though seemingly simple with its 65 bars, is your window into the postal system’s inner workings.

The Power of IMb Technology

While the IMb may look like a simple barcode, it’s actually a sophisticated data carrier containing crucial information about:

• The mailer who sent the piece
• The intended recipient
• Specific details about the mailpiece itself

This information enables the USPS to efficiently sort and route mail while providing valuable tracking insights to mailers.

Understanding IMb Tracing

Every mailpiece bearing an IMb gets automatically scanned at various checkpoints throughout its journey. These scans create a digital breadcrumb trail that helps both the USPS and mailers monitor progress. Here are the key scan events you’ll encounter:

Key Tracking Events

1. Acceptance – The USPS has officially received your mailpiece and entered it into their system.
2. En Route – Your mail is actively moving through the postal network. The final En Route scan is particularly significant—it indicates arrival at the processing and distribution center serving your recipient’s address.
3. Arrived at Unit – The mailpiece has reached its destination post office, ready for final delivery.
4. USPS Indicated Delivery – This is a virtual scan based on GPS tracking of delivery vehicles. While not a physical scan of your mail, it indicates that the carrier likely delivered your piece when they were at the delivery address.

Why Don’t I See a “Delivered” Scan?

Many mailers worry when tracking stops at “Arrived at Unit” or “En Route.” This is perfectly normal for First-Class Mail. Letter carriers don’t scan individual letters upon delivery—it would be impractical given the volume of mail they handle. The USPS Indicated Delivery status is only available in areas where carriers or delivery vehicles are equipped with GPS tracking capabilities.

How to Access IMb Tracing

While the USPS doesn’t offer IMb tracking data directly to consumers, and bulk mailers face strict requirements to access this service, Click2Mail makes it simple. Here’s how our streamlined process works:

1. Submit your mailing job through our user-friendly online platform
2. We handle the printing and mailing logistics
3. Access your IMb scan data directly through your Click2Mail account

Need Guaranteed Proof of Delivery?

If delivery confirmation is crucial for your mailing, First-Class Mail with IMb tracking alone won’t suffice. Consider these alternatives:

• Priority Mail or Priority Mail Express – These premium services include detailed tracking and delivery confirmation.
• Certified Mail Service – Provides official confirmation of delivery and an optional return receipt with the recipient’s signature and delivery date.

Important Distinction

Remember that IMb tracing differs from package tracking. While package tracking provides real-time location updates, IMb tracing focuses on processing milestones within the postal network.

The Bottom Line

IMb tracing technology offers valuable visibility into your mail’s journey through the postal system. While it may not track every moment until final delivery, understanding these scan events helps set appropriate expectations and provides reassurance about your mail’s progress. With Click2Mail’s simplified access to IMb tracing, you can easily monitor your mailings and ensure they’re moving efficiently toward their destinations.

About Lee

Lee Garvey is the founder of Click2Mail, a pioneering platform in cloud-based direct mail automation since 2003. Under his leadership, Click2Mail has become a trusted USPS partner, helping thousands of businesses streamline their mailing processes and effectively bridge the gap between digital and physical marketing.