What is an actual time of departure (ATD) in supply chain?

The actual time of departure (ATD) in supply chain management is the exact date and time a shipment physically leaves its origin point — such as a factory, warehouse, port, or consolidation center — after being loaded onto a truck, railcar, vessel, or aircraft.

While the estimated time of departure (ETD) represents a planned schedule, the ATD is the real, confirmed event recorded once a shipment has departed. This timestamp becomes the starting point for calculating accurate estimated times of arrival (ETAs) and measuring carrier performance.

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How ATD works in supply chain management

• Gate-out event: The ATD is logged when the vehicle or container leaves a facility or port, typically captured by gate systems, IoT devices, or carrier updates.
• Data integration: ATD details are transmitted to transportation management systems (TMS) or visibility platforms to update stakeholders.
• ETA recalculation: Once the ATD is confirmed, predictive algorithms recalculate delivery times based on current conditions like traffic, weather, or route changes.
• Performance measurement: ATD is compared against the scheduled ETD to measure carrier punctuality and operational efficiency.

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Why it matters

• Accurate planning: Knowing the precise departure time enables more reliable arrival forecasts and better coordination for downstream activities.
• Accountability: Tracking ATD ensures carriers are meeting agreed-upon pickup schedules and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Reduced risk: Early identification of late departures helps logistics teams anticipate potential delivery delays and adjust accordingly.
• Improved visibility: ATD is a cornerstone event in multimodal visibility, providing clarity when goods change hands between modes or facilities.

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Common questions about actual time of departure in supply chain

• What is the difference between ATD and ETD?
  ETD is the planned or scheduled departure time; ATD is the confirmed time when the shipment actually leaves.
• How is ATD data captured?
  Typically through carrier systems, GPS tracking, electronic logging devices (ELDs), or gate-in/gate-out scans at terminals.
• Why can ETD and ATD differ?
  Factors such as weather, labor availability, equipment readiness, or customs inspections can delay actual departure compared to the planned schedule.

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Putting it all together

The actual time of departure (ATD) provides a critical anchor point for supply chain visibility. By recording when a shipment actually leaves its origin, ATD enables accurate ETA calculations, better planning, and faster responses to potential disruptions.

In short: the actual time of departure (ATD) in supply chain management is the verified moment a shipment leaves its origin, serving as the foundation for reliable visibility, accountability, and resilient logistics planning.ess of monitoring and optimizing the flow of trucks, trailers, and containers in a facility’s yard to reduce delays, cut costs, and improve service reliability.