CTT Express tracking

Express delivery in the Iberian Peninsula for five centuries

CTT Express is the express parcel delivery branch of the CTT group (Correios de Portugal, the historical postal operator of Portugal. This company relies on more than five centuries of postal experience, as the CTT group was founded in 1520 by King Manuel I of Portugal, making it one of the oldest companies still in operation in the country. The acronym CTT comes from the former name *Correios, Telégrafos e Telefones*, which means "Post, Telegraph and Telephone" in English and reflects the historical services of the group. CTT Express has established itself as a major player in fast messaging in the Iberian Peninsula, offering fast and reliable delivery services both nationally and internationally.

The company offers an urgent parcel and document transport service, intended for both businesses (notably e-commerce in B2C and B2B) and individuals wishing to quickly send important shipments. CTT Express ensures the delivery of parcels throughout Portugal and Spain, while connecting these countries to the rest of the world through an extensive logistics network. The focus is on delivery reliability and speed of execution, aligning with the standards of major international express delivery operators.

History and development of CTT Express

The CTT Express brand was launched in the 1990s to structure CTT's fast delivery services. The express subsidiary was officially created in 1996 to expand CTT's offer to urgent parcels. To strengthen its international presence, the CTT group established itself in Spain in 2005 by acquiring the courier company Tourline Express (founded in 1996). This operation marked the starting point of CTT's Iberian expansion in the fast delivery market.

In 2019, Tourline Express was renamed CTT Express to harmonize the brand identity between Spain and Portugal. This rebranding reaffirmed the Portuguese group's commitment to the Iberian parcel delivery market, unifying the name of its express services in both countries. Since then, CTT Express has positioned itself as a powerful Iberian entity, leveraging the reputation for reliability acquired in Portugal to conquer the Spanish market.

In recent years, CTT Express has heavily invested to modernize and expand its capabilities. For example, in 2020, the company allocated a significant budget (several million euros) to improve its infrastructure in Spain, funding new facilities, automated sorting technologies, and digital resources. These investments aimed to increase operational capacity and productivity to meet rising demand, particularly due to the growth of e-commerce.

CTT Express's growth strategy focuses on the organic development of the Iberian market. The company targets both the business segment (B2B), through a network of local franchises, and the individual/online merchant segment (B2C), with the ambition to become the leading express delivery operator for businesses in Portugal and Spain. The year 2020, although marked by the unprecedented context of the pandemic, saw a strong increase in the volume of shipments handled by CTT Express in Iberia, driven by the rise in online orders. The company thus consolidated its position and achieved some of its growth objectives earlier than expected, encouraging its desire to establish itself as the Iberian leader in express parcel delivery.

Delivery services offered by CTT Express

CTT Express offers a range of shipping solutions tailored to the urgency and nature of the shipments:

• Standard delivery: An economical option for sending non-urgent parcels, with longer delivery times. This service is suitable for less urgent shipments, offering a cost advantage compared to the express option.
• Express delivery (The flagship formula of CTT Express, guaranteeing accelerated distribution of parcels. Nationally, an express shipment is generally delivered the next business day after dispatch, demonstrating the service's ability to deliver a parcel in a very short time. For international destinations, express delivery also ensures reduced times (of the order of a few business days) thanks to priority processing and fast connections.
• Same-day delivery (CTT Now): An ultra-fast service available in certain areas, allowing a parcel to be delivered on the day of its dispatch. CTT Now offers the possibility, for local shipments, of pickup and delivery within just a few hours. This service is notably offered for parcels of significant weight (up to about 30 kg) when distance and local organization allow.
• “Media Delivery” Service (A specialized option for shipping media items (books, CDs, DVDs, and other media). This dedicated service offers economical pricing conditions and appropriate handling for this type of product, providing a reliable low-cost shipping solution for cultural goods.

Logistics network and coverage of CTT Express

Well established in Portugal and Spain, CTT Express relies on an efficient logistics network to deliver parcels throughout the Iberian territory and abroad. The company serves a large number of destinations worldwide by integrating into global transport networks, allowing it to connect Portugal and Spain to most countries. This extensive geographical coverage makes CTT Express an important link for parcel exchanges between the Iberian Peninsula and other regions of the globe.

CTT Express's organizational mode is distinguished by a partnership approach to logistics. Unlike some competitors, the company does not own a multitude of warehouses or vehicles. It favors collaboration with other transport players and local providers, relying on their existing infrastructures to ensure final delivery. This strategy allows CTT Express to effectively cover the territory without multiplying investments in physical assets, while maintaining strict control over the quality of the service provided.

For international and long-distance shipments, CTT Express implements various modes of transport. Road transport is used for regional or national land routes, and maritime transport may be involved for certain large shipments. However, the company mainly uses air transport to quickly ship parcels to other countries. The airplane is preferred for long-distance connections due to its speed and reliability, significantly reducing transit times for urgent shipments.

Domestically, the network is organized around sorting centers and strategically positioned distribution platforms. In Portugal, CTT Express relies on the infrastructure of the national postal service (post offices and logistics centers) for local collection and distribution. In Spain, the company operates through the former Tourline Express sorting centers modernized and integrated into its system. The "last mile" delivery is ensured either by CTT Express's own couriers or by local partners, guaranteeing fine coverage of the territory including remote or rural areas.

Delivery times with CTT Express

Delivery times vary depending on the selected service and the destination of the shipment. Generally, a standard shipment entrusted to CTT Express will take a few business days to reach its destination. For example, a parcel sent within Portugal usually arrives within a short time frame of a few days. To another European country, the transit is slightly longer but remains within a few additional business days. For a shipment to another continent, delivery may take about a week or more depending on the country concerned and any customs procedures.

The express service, on the other hand, offers significantly faster times. CTT Express emphasizes speed for urgent shipments: a national express delivery is often completed the day after dispatch, demonstrating the service's ability to transport a parcel in about a day across the territory. For international express shipments, the time is also reduced to only a few business days to most destinations, which is considerably shorter than a standard postal shipment. Finally, with the CTT Now offer, some local deliveries can even be made on the same day as dispatch (in just a few hours), constituting the fastest option offered by CTT Express.

It should be noted that these times are average estimates and many factors can influence them. CTT Express adjusts its operations in real-time to best meet the announced times, mobilizing additional resources during periods of high demand (for example during seasonal peaks like "Black Friday" or the holiday season). Reliability in meeting delivery times is a strong commitment of the company to ensure customer satisfaction.

Shipping rates with CTT Express

Shipping rates via CTT Express depend on several factors, including the chosen service (standard or express), the weight and dimensions of the parcel, and the geographical destination zone. Generally, domestic shipments: within Portugal - are offered at a relatively affordable rate, while international shipments incur higher costs due to the distances traveled and any formalities. For example, an express shipment abroad will be more expensive than a local standard shipment, with the price reflecting the level of service and speed of delivery.

Overall, CTT Express maintains competitive prices in the parcel delivery market. The rates practiced by CTT in Portugal are generally considered below the European average, which gives an advantage to customers looking for economical solutions. The company strives to offer an attractive quality-price ratio, while investing in its infrastructure to ensure a high level of service. Thus, despite the competition from major international carriers, CTT Express manages to offer often more advantageous shipping fees on comparable services.

To know the precise cost of a shipment, CTT provides an online calculation tool to estimate the price based on the characteristics of the parcel and its destination. By entering the weight, dimensions, and delivery address, the sender obtains an indicative price estimate. It is also possible to inquire directly at CTT Express agencies or the company's customer service to obtain a personalized quote. With this transparent information, customers can choose the shipping formula best suited to their budget and requirements.

Tracking shipments with CTT Express

Parcel traceability is an essential element of the CTT Express service. Each shipment is assigned a unique tracking number, allowing it to be tracked in real-time. This tracking number is usually presented as a sequence of alphanumeric characters with a length between 13 and 22 characters. A common format for international shipments includes, for example, two initial letters followed by nine digits and then two final letters (example: AB123456789PT, where "PT" indicates the country of origin, in this case, Portugal).

In some cases, particularly for parcels managed by the Spanish subsidiary, tracking numbers may be entirely numeric. These identifiers consist of a long series of digits (often around 22 digits, and sometimes up to 25 digits for certain specific shipments). For example, a purely numeric tracking number may appear as 0078710012345678912345. Generally, shipments processed via the Portuguese network use the short alphanumeric format (around 13 characters) while those issued from Spain are assigned a longer numeric code.

CTT Express's online tracking provides detailed updates at each stage of the delivery process. Using the tracking number, the sender and recipient can check the current status of the parcel and its journey history. The tracking system, accessible via the official CTT website or mobile app, displays information such as parcel pickup, transit through different centers, possible customs clearance, delivery setup, etc. These notifications allow real-time knowledge of the parcel's location and anticipation of its delivery. The transparency of tracking is a major asset of the service, offering customers complete visibility on the path of their shipments until final delivery.

Technological commitment and service quality of CTT Express

CTT Express relies on technological innovation and operational efficiency to offer a high-quality service. The company has invested in modernizing its logistics network by adopting advanced digital tools. For example, automated sorting systems have been deployed in major centers, and shipment management relies on sophisticated software and algorithms. CTT Express also uses artificial intelligence solutions to optimize parcel tracking and distribution, resulting in better tracking information accuracy and optimized delivery routes.

Thanks to these technological improvements, CTT Express guarantees secure, reliable, and faster deliveries. The use of automation reduces the risk of human error and speeds up shipment processing, while real-time data analysis allows anticipating potential problems and adjusting operations proactively. The efficiency gains achieved are also reflected in the rates offered to customers, which remain very competitive thanks to economies of scale and increased productivity.

CTT Express's efforts to optimize its network and services have earned it notable recognition. In 2020, the company was awarded for the quality of its infrastructure by obtaining the title of best transport, shipping, and parcel delivery infrastructure in the Iberian market. This distinction highlights the performance of the CTT Express network and its ability to innovate to meet the high expectations of shippers and recipients.

In a highly competitive express delivery market, CTT Express continues to adapt its model to ensure a high level of service. The company continues to invest in emerging technologies and the improvement of its processes, while maintaining its goal of reliability and speed. This ongoing commitment to service quality and logistics innovation helps strengthen customer trust and establish CTT Express's position among the regional leaders in the sector.

CTT Express tracking statuses and their meaning

When checking the tracking of a parcel, different statuses may appear to inform about the progress of the shipment. Here are the main CTT Express tracking statuses commonly encountered, along with their explanation: