TRANSPORT MILESTONES
Actual time of departure (ATD)
Actual time of departure is the recorded time at which a defined departure event occurred. It must identify the vehicle or shipment, location, event and time basis.
ACTUAL TIME OF DEPARTURE IN PRACTICE
- Define departureChoose the event used by the operation.
- Capture the timestampRecord what happened and when.
- Use the right comparisonCompare the corresponding estimate or arrival.
Use the agreed units, actual records and approved procedures for your operation.
A WORKED EXAMPLE
Loaded at 15:10. Departed at 15:40.
A truck finishes loading at 15:10 and exits the yard at 15:40. If the agreed departure event is yard exit, ATD is 15:40. Against a planned yard departure of 15:00, the variance is 40 minutes. Using loading completion instead would report only ten minutes and hide the time between loading and leaving. The event definition should remain consistent across the reporting period.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR QUOTE
Agree the requirement before comparing quotes
Use the actual shipment, stock and service requirements. Record the billing unit, included work and responsibility for exceptions.
A LITTLE MORE CONTEXT
Questions about Actual time of departure
Is ATD the same as loading completion?
Only if the report explicitly defines it that way. Physical departure is often a later event.
Does a shipping label prove departure?
No. Label creation can occur before goods leave the facility.
Can ATD improve an arrival forecast?
It can supply useful input, but subsequent capacity, route and delay information also matters.
Source & example notes
Definition and operational example prepared by 3PL Hub. Examples describe hypothetical requirements; verify the actual records and agreed procedures for your operation.
Quantities, costs and scenarios are illustrative, not operating targets, approved handling instructions or guarantees. Source guidance reviewed 22 October 2026.
Last updated: · 3PL Hub
