DPD tracking

Parcel courier in Europe since 1976

DPD, short for Dynamic Parcel Distribution, is an international parcel carrier whose history began in Germany. The company was founded in 1976 when a cooperative of about fifteen German carriers created the Deutscher Paketdienst (German Parcel Service) in Aschaffenburg. Originally specializing in national parcel messaging, DPD quickly developed to become one of the leading players in parcel delivery in Europe. Over the decades, the company has expanded its operations through sustained organic growth and strategic acquisitions, particularly in the 1990s, which allowed it to strengthen its position in many markets.

A major turning point occurred at the end of the 1990s: in 1999, the French group La Poste acquired a stake in DPD through its subsidiary GeoPost, and in 2001 GeoPost acquired a majority stake in DPD. This integration into the La Poste Group marked a new chapter for DPD by providing it with increased resources, an international network, and an expanded customer base. Until 2008, the acronym "DPD" stood for Deutscher Paketdienst; from that date, it took on the meaning of Dynamic Parcel Distribution, reflecting the company's now international scope.

In 2015, La Poste unified its parcel subsidiaries under a common umbrella brand: DPDgroup. Historical brands such as DPD, Chronopost (in France), or SEUR (in Spain) were thus grouped within DPDgroup to harmonize the image and services on a global scale. DPD remains one of the flagship brands of the group, taking advantage of the synergies of the GeoPost network while maintaining its expertise as a parcel delivery specialist.

DPDgroup and its operational units

DPD is part of DPDgroup, the international parcel delivery network of the La Poste Group through its holding company GeoPost. DPDgroup brings together several parcel transport subsidiaries and brands, including DPD, Chronopost, SEUR, and BRT. Together, they form one of the largest logistics networks in Europe, capable of delivering millions of parcels per day. Within this group, the DPD brand operates through multiple local operational units, each adapted to its market while being interconnected to the global network. Among the main operational entities of DPD, we can mention:

• DPD Germany: The historical cradle of the brand, DPD Germany offers reliable national and international delivery services from and within Germany.
• DPD United Kingdom: DPD UK is a major component of DPDgroup and provides a wide range of delivery services throughout the United Kingdom, with a strong presence in the British market.
• DPD France: Present in France under the DPD brand (notably for standard parcel shipments, ex-Exapaq) alongside Chronopost for express, DPD France handles deliveries throughout the French territory and connects the French market to the European network.
• DPD Poland: DPD Poland covers parcel delivery across Poland and plays a key role in Central Europe, facilitating exchanges between Western and Eastern Europe.
• DPD Netherlands: In the Netherlands, DPD operates a significant domestic and international distribution network, with recognized efficiency for deliveries to businesses and individuals.
• DPD Spain: DPD Spain (alongside SEUR, another DPDgroup subsidiary) is a major player in the Spanish parcel delivery market, offering comprehensive services for domestic and cross-border shipments.

Each local operational unit operates under the DPD brand or an affiliated brand, with services adapted to the specificities of the country while adhering to the group's quality standards. This network of subsidiaries allows DPD to offer consistent coverage and homogeneous service across many territories.

International coverage of DPD

With this extensive network, DPD serves a very large number of destinations worldwide. The carrier ensures parcel delivery not only throughout Europe but also globally through strategic partnerships and alliances. In total, DPD enables shipments to more than 230 countries and territories, giving it one of the most comprehensive international logistics coverages in the industry.

In Europe, DPD has a direct presence in most countries. Among the operationally served countries are Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, Romania, Greece, and many others. Whether in major urban centers or rural areas, DPD's local presence ensures seamless connectivity and efficient deliveries throughout Europe.

Beyond the European continent, DPDgroup has also expanded to other continents through subsidiaries or partnerships. For example, the group has established itself in India and Turkey (via stakes in local companies), in South Africa (with DPD Laser), in Brazil (with its subsidiary Jadlog), and in Southeast Asia (partnership with Ninja Van) and China (via Lenton Group). These alliances allow DPD to extend its services globally. Thus, a customer can ship a parcel with DPD to distant destinations while benefiting from the same tracking and service level, with the final delivery being handled either by a local DPD entity or a trusted partner. This international reach makes DPD a provider capable of delivering parcels to all corners of the globe.

DPD delivery services

DPD offers a comprehensive range of parcel transport services, tailored to the different needs of shippers and recipients. Whether for everyday shipments or urgent deliveries, DPD's catalog covers multiple logistical options:

• Standard delivery (national): This is the basic service for domestic shipments. Parcels are transported via DPD's ground network with delivery times of a few working days on average, depending on the distance. This delivery mode prioritizes reliability and economy while ensuring safe transport of parcels throughout the national territory.
• Express delivery: For urgent shipments, DPD offers express solutions ensuring accelerated transport. Priority parcels are processed first to be delivered as quickly as possible (often the next day for a domestic shipment). This service ensures maximum speed, making it the preferred option when urgency is essential. Note that express delivery generally involves a higher cost than the standard service due to the mobilization of dedicated resources.
• International delivery: DPD is an experienced provider for shipping parcels abroad. Thanks to its global network, it ensures deliveries to a very large number of destinations, securely and efficiently. International shipments, whether documents or bulky goods, benefit from comprehensive handling, with customs formalities management if necessary. International tracking is integrated, allowing the status of the parcel to be known until its delivery in the destination country.
• Pickup point delivery: To offer more flexibility to recipients, DPD has a vast network of pickup points (called Pickup points) where parcels can be delivered for later collection. This service allows the recipient to collect their parcel at a nearby store or automated locker at a convenient time, rather than waiting for the delivery person at home. Pickup points also facilitate parcel returns by providing a convenient drop-off location. This delivery mode is very successful in e-commerce, as it provides great convenience and expands the options offered to customers.
• Professional delivery (B2B): DPD offers dedicated solutions for business-to-business shipments. These B2B services take into account the specific requirements of professional clients, such as pallet or large volume delivery, management of regular bulk shipments, or adherence to specific delivery schedules to accommodate business reception hours. With a well-established logistics and tailored offers, DPD supports businesses of all sizes in their supply chain, ensuring reliability, traceability, and fast transport.

With this range of services, DPD covers the essential needs in messaging and parcels, from the most standard to the most specific. The company serves both individuals (notably through e-commerce parcel delivery with Predict and pickup options) and businesses (via tailored contracts and personalized tracking), making it a versatile partner for parcel shipping.

DPD logistics infrastructure

To meet its delivery commitments, DPD relies on an extensive and efficient logistics infrastructure. DPD's operational model is organized in a hub-and-spoke network: central hubs (large sorting centers) process and direct parcel flows nationally and internationally, while a dense network of regional agencies and local depots ensures final distribution to recipients.

In practice, each country where DPD operates has several strategically positioned sorting centers. Parcels collected from the sender are first transported to a local agency or depot, where they are grouped and sent to a regional or national sorting center. At the sorting center, shipments are automatically sorted by destination: parcels destined for local areas will be sent to the corresponding distribution depots, while those destined for other regions or countries will be consolidated and shipped to the appropriate international network hub.

For cross-border shipments, DPD has international hubs that connect the networks of different countries. For example, DPD has inaugurated one of the largest sorting centers in Europe in Eindhoven (Netherlands), capable of handling a very high volume of parcels per hour thanks to state-of-the-art automated systems. This type of modern infrastructure accelerates parcel exchanges between European countries and increases network capacity while optimizing routes.

Transport between sorting centers is mainly by road. DPD operates a large fleet of trucks and utility vehicles that travel day and night to connect national and international sorting centers. This pan-European road infrastructure, combined with the proximity of local depots, ensures competitive lead times on the continent while maintaining end-to-end control over shipments. For more distant destinations (overseas or outside Europe), DPD relies on air transport by collaborating with partner cargo airlines to ensure fast parcel transport to any global destination.

This entire infrastructure is coordinated by advanced information systems. DPD tracks each parcel's journey in real-time within the network, allowing for transport route optimization and anticipation of potential disruptions. The combination of efficient central hubs, numerous local depots, and an optimized transport network enables DPD to handle very large volumes while offering a high level of delivery reliability.

DPD technologies and digital tools

Technology plays a central role in the quality of service offered by DPD. The company has implemented innovative digital tools to improve the visibility, convenience, and reliability of its deliveries, both for shippers and recipients. First and foremost, DPD offers a sophisticated online tracking system: each parcel has real-time tracking accessible via the DPD website or the MyDPD mobile app. At each key stage of transit (pickup, arrival at a sorting center, departure for delivery, etc.), a scan updates the parcel's status in the system, allowing customers to track its journey accurately.

DPD has notably developed the innovative Predict service, which sends proactive notifications to recipients about the upcoming delivery. Specifically, the day before or the day of delivery, the recipient receives a message (SMS, email, or app notification) indicating a specific delivery time slot, usually one hour long. For example, they may be informed that their parcel will arrive between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. This level of precision, made possible by route optimization and GPS tracking of vehicles, helps the recipient organize and significantly reduces the risk of missed delivery.

In addition, DPD offers "in-flight" options that allow the recipient to change delivery arrangements until the last minute. Through a link received with the Predict notification or via the app, the recipient can choose to reschedule the delivery for another day, have their parcel delivered to another address (e.g., their workplace or a neighbor's), request a drop-off at a pickup point, or authorize a contactless delivery (parcel drop-off in a safe place). These digital tools provide great flexibility, improving the customer experience and the success rate of deliveries on the first attempt.

On the shipper's side, DPD also provides technological solutions to simplify shipment management. Professional clients can integrate DPD services via online platforms or APIs to automate the creation of shipping labels, schedule parcel pickups by DPD routes, and track all their shipments in real-time. Online dashboards provide access to detailed information (digitally signed delivery proofs, shipment histories, performance statistics). Internally, DPD invests in route optimization technologies (routing algorithms, geolocation), sorting center automation, and fine parcel traceability to increase operational efficiency and ensure a high level of service quality.

DPD tracking number operation

Each parcel shipped via DPD is assigned a unique tracking number, also known as a tracking code. This tracking number, consisting of a series of numbers and letters, allows the shipment to be uniquely identified in DPD's information system throughout its transport. The exact format of the DPD tracking number may vary slightly depending on the country or service used, but it typically consists of around 14 characters. For example, a DPD tracking number might look like "12345678901234".

By using this code on the DPD website or via the MyDPD mobile app, both the sender and the recipient can access up-to-date tracking information for the parcel. The system will display the different stages the parcel has gone through (pickup by DPD, departure from a sorting center, arrival at a local distribution agency, out for delivery, etc.), as well as the current position or the last recorded stage. When an estimated delivery date is available, it is also communicated through this online tracking. Finally, once the parcel is delivered to the recipient, the tracking indicates delivery confirmation (often accompanied by proof of delivery such as the signer's name or a photo of the deposited parcel).

The DPD tracking number is therefore the central traceability tool for the customer. It ensures complete transparency on the parcel's status and offers the possibility to anticipate receipt or react in case of unforeseen events (e.g., by contacting DPD if the tracking indicates an exception). Thanks to this efficient tracking infrastructure, shipping a parcel with DPD provides access to a high level of information throughout the parcel's journey.

DPD CSR commitments

As a major player in parcel transport, DPD integrates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the heart of its strategy. The group is committed to conducting its operations sustainably and responsibly, whether environmentally, socially, or in terms of service quality. DPDgroup has thus deployed a global sustainable development program called DrivingChange™, which sets the company's main directions for reducing its impact and contributing positively to society.

Environmentally, DPD has been committed for several years to combating climate change by reducing and offsetting its CO₂ emissions. One of the company's key objectives is to significantly reduce its carbon footprint per parcel. To achieve this, DPD optimizes its logistics processes (better route planning, increased vehicle load rates, routes reducing unnecessary kilometers) and invests in cleaner technologies. Furthermore, DPD ensures the carbon neutrality of all its deliveries: this means that the transport of each parcel is fully offset by environmental projects. Specifically, after reducing emissions as much as possible through its internal initiatives, the group finances offset programs (reforestation, renewable energy, etc.) so that the net CO₂ balance of its deliveries is zero. This carbon neutrality is offered to all customers at no extra cost, demonstrating DPD's commitment to the climate.

DPD also acts for sustainable urban logistics. In many cities, the group implements low-emission delivery solutions: deployment of electric or natural gas vehicles for last-mile deliveries, use of cargo bikes to distribute parcels in congested city centers, and establishment of urban micro-depots bringing parcels closer to recipients. These initiatives help reduce air pollution and noise while maintaining efficient service. For example, DPD France has gradually converted its Parisian routes to electric, and DPD UK operates a fleet of electric vans in several major UK cities. Additionally, DPDgroup has launched an air quality measurement program by equipping some vehicles and pickup points with sensors, whose data is made available to municipalities - an innovative initiative illustrating the group's desire to be a responsible actor within the communities it serves.

Finally, DPD's CSR commitment also covers the social dimension and service quality. The company ensures good working conditions for its employees and subcontractors, focusing on safety, training, and skills development. DPD participates in local solidarity actions and supports community causes, thus strengthening its anchoring in the local socio-economic fabric. In terms of quality, DPD adheres to rigorous monitoring of its performance indicators (on-time delivery rate, damaged parcel rate, customer satisfaction, etc.) to ensure a high level of service. The pursuit of operational excellence is an integral part of DPD's values, which seeks to combine business growth with respect for its ethical and environmental commitments.

DPD tracking statuses