Late Dispatch Rate Requirements
What this metric matters
Late Dispatch Rate (LDR) measures the percentage of orders that were not dispatched within the required dispatch SLA, based on qualifying dispatch events recognized by TikTok Shop. It measures how efficiently you get orders out the door and into the carrier network.
Why it matters
Meeting your dispatch SLA is a critical part of meeting customer expectations for fulfillment timeliness, and dispatching on time also sets orders up to meet platform policy requirements. LDR is one of the four core metrics used to evaluate your shop's fulfillment performance and shop health, alongside Valid Tracking Rate (VTR), On-Time Delivery Rate (OTDR), and Seller-Fault Cancellation Rate (SFCR). LDR does not directly impact your Shop Performance Score (SPS). However, late-dispatched orders are much less likely to be delivered within the deliver-by SLA, and orders not marked Delivered in time are counted in OTDR, so a high LDR can indirectly affect your SPS through the OTDR metric.
How it is calculated
Late Dispatch Rate = Number of non-Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) orders dispatched later than the dispatch SLA / Total number of orders that should have been dispatched within the dispatch SLA (including FBT orders)
Worked example: 200 orders that should have been dispatched within the SLA (including FBT); 25 non-FBT orders dispatched late; 25 / 200 = 0.125; 0.125 x 100 = 12.5; LDR = 12.5%. Starting January 26, 2026, regular orders must be marked In Transit within 2 business days, starting from Awaiting Shipment. Dispatch SLA by order type:
- Regular: within 2 business days from the order date; status marked In Transit.
- Made-to-Order, Backorder, Custom Handling: within the handling time set by the seller, plus 1 business day; status marked In Transit.
- Pre-Order: within 2 business days after the Pre-Order closure date; status marked In Transit.
For eligible orders, TikTok Shop may use the earliest available qualifying dispatch event, including carrier acceptance scan, USPS manifest, in-app single scan, or in-app batch scan, to determine whether the order met the dispatch SLA.
What counts against you
An order may count as a late dispatch when TikTok Shop does not recognize a qualifying dispatch event within the required dispatch SLA for the order type.
What does not count (exceptions)
- Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT) orders: exempt, because TikTok Shop handles the end-to-end logistics.
- TikTok Shipping orders: not exempt; they are still included because you remain responsible for handling dispatch.
- Widespread disruptions: the standard SLAs may be temporarily extended, sometimes only for specific regions, and TikTok Shop cannot always notify sellers, so check the current SLA on your orders.
Enforcement: what happens if you miss the requirement
When your LDR is greater than 10%, enforcement actions are taken under the Seller Enforcement Policy. The more LDR violations a shop accumulates, the stricter the enforcement becomes. Possible enforcement actions include:
- Account Health Rating (AHR) point deductions.
- Order volume limits.
- Extended settlement periods.
These are examples and are not an exhaustive list.
How to monitor it in Seller Center
Check your LDR on the Fulfillment Performance page in Seller Center: click Orders, then the Fulfillment Performance tab. To watch order-level dispatch deadlines, go to Manage Orders, open the To Ship tab, and click into an order; the dispatch deadline is in the Shipping Method column, and the order details show the dispatch SLA, auto-cancellation SLA, and deliver-by SLA.
How to improve
Use this checklist to meet the dispatch deadline and keep LDR low:
- Closely monitor order status in Seller Center and regularly check the dispatch SLA and delivery SLA for each order.
- Work from Manage Orders, To Ship tab; click into each order to review its deadlines.
- Remember that dispatch responsibility does not end at hand-off
- Use Seller Center tools when you need more time: Holiday Mode, the Order Handling Capacity Tool, the Custom Handling Time feature, and the Backorder feature.
- Consider TikTok Shipping or Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT), which provide shipping and delivery guarantees.
Appeals and evidence
If you believe your LDR was calculated incorrectly, you can appeal. First check which orders were marked late, then provide the right documents for your reason; timestamps must match when your orders were affected. Appeal rules:
- Each LDR enforcement can be appealed twice.
- The initial appeal must be submitted within 30 days of the enforcement message.
- If the first appeal is unsuccessful, the second appeal must be submitted within 15 days of the initial appeal rejection.
Accepted reasons and the evidence to prepare:
- Orders scanned on time: Order Details and Tracking Results screenshots showing the scan before the "Late Dispatch After" deadline (at least 5 orders if more than 5 are affected; order numbers must match the ticket).
- Logistics Service Provider liability: an official provider document or communication acknowledging the delay, with company name, impact period, reason, affected order count, tracking numbers, and seal or signature; or the provider's official statement with a verifiable link.
- Uncontrollable events: your shipping warehouse provider name and address plus official announcements, tracking screenshots, or the provider's official statement covering the dates and areas affected.
- TikTok Shop technical issues: a timestamped error screenshot, communication where TikTok Shop acknowledges the issue, or TikTok Shop's official statement with a verifiable link.
- ERP or ISV system issues: a timestamped error screenshot, or an official provider document acknowledging the issue with company name, impact period, reason, affected order count, tracking numbers, and seal or signature.
- Customer-related delays: chat or email showing non-response or a delay request, or screenshots of invalid or wrong customer address or contact details; order IDs must match the violation record.
FAQ
Common questions from sellers:
- What is a qualifying dispatch event? A qualifying dispatch event is an event recognized by TikTok Shop to determine whether an order was dispatched within the required dispatch SLA. This may include a carrier acceptance scan, USPS manifest, in-app single scan, or in-app batch scan, depending on the order and shipping method. Sellers remain responsible for preparing packages accurately and handing them over to the carrier on time.
- What is considered a late dispatch? Regular orders must be marked In Transit within 2 business days of Awaiting Shipment; if the carrier did not scan the order in the dispatch SLA, it is late. SLAs vary by order type (Regular, Made-to-Order or Backorder or Custom Handling, Pre-Order).
- What is the difference between LDR and OTDR? LDR measures how consistently you meet your dispatch SLA; OTDR assesses whether orders are delivered within the expected timeframe.
- What if I believe my LDR is inaccurate? Use the appeal option on the violation ticket, download the flagged orders, and prepare evidence for each order flagged as late dispatch.
- Does LDR affect my AHR or SPS? LDR does not directly impact SPS, but a high LDR can indirectly affect SPS through OTDR.
- Are TikTok Shipping orders exempt? No; only FBT orders are exempt, because TikTok Shop handles the end-to-end logistics.
- What if I cannot dispatch due to unexpected events? Check the latest SLA on Manage Orders To Ship, and if enforced for delays beyond your control, appeal with the carrier delay notice, proof of attempted pick-up or drop-off, and impacted order IDs.