North Dakota, Georgia, Illinois Lead States with Most Parcel Delays

A recent study conducted by Overnight Glasses has revealed which U.S. states are most likely to experience parcel delays. The research took into account several factors, such as the frequency of online searches related to delayed or lost packages, the performance of the United States Postal Service USPS in each state, and the freight flow per capita, which indicates the level of shipping activity in each area.

North Dakota emerged as the state with the highest likelihood of parcel delays. Despite its small population, the state reported a high freight flow per capita and significant online searches for delivery issues. The study authors noted, North Dakota’s unique combination of high freight flow and small population size makes it particularly vulnerable to delivery delays.

Georgia was ranked second, largely due to having the highest search rate for delayed packages in the nation. The top ten states also included Illinois, New York, Texas, Wyoming, and Washington, each facing unique challenges related to USPS performance and freight flow relative to their populations.

The study’s methodology was designed to prevent larger states from automatically ranking higher. It normalized search volume data based on population size and inversely considered USPS service performance, meaning states with lower service ratings were more likely to score higher on the list. By combining these factors with adjustments for freight flow per capita, researchers developed a total index for ranking the states: the higher the index, the greater the likelihood of parcel delays.

Here’s a breakdown of the states with the highest total index for parcel delays: