If you’re one of many lucky pre-orderers, your new Retina display iPad may already have been shipped off from Apple’s factories in China and may, in fact, be sitting in your own state, waiting for delivery. We know ours is.

If so, you might think that there’s a strong possibility your new iPad will come sooner than Friday, March 16th. Fat chance.

We’ve heard a few reports from readers who have contacted their local shipping agent, asking when they can expect their new iPads to be delivered. These readers all have new iPads that are already sitting, waiting for delivery, in their home states.

Unfortunately, even though the iPads may be located just a few miles away, shipping carriers like FedEx are powerless to deliver them. Why?

Because Apple has the new iPads locked up in their own private 18-wheeler trucks. These trucks are on FedEx property, and entered into FedEx’s system, but FedEx has been told that Apple will not unlock these trucks until Thursday evening.

In other words, if you’re counting on having your new iPad slip through the cracks, there’s little chance of that. With the new iPad, Apple is taking a tighter rein on the delivery process than ever before. I wonder if by the fourth-gen iPad, Apple employees will be delivering it to you themselves.

[Thanks to those who wrote in!]