Emergency Logistics Glossary

What does ATD stand for?

Definition: Actual Time of Departure (ATD)

Actual Time of Departure is the time when an airplane is actually taking off. In logistics, ATD can also mean the point in time when a shipment is dispatched. The counterpart to this is Actual Time of Arrival (ATA), describing the time the shipment arrives.

While the Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) is a known factor, the Actual Time of Departure can only be specified when the shipment is already on its way. A comparison of ETD and ATD helps to recognize a delay in delivery.

ATD and On Board Couriers

On Board Couriers (OBC) have no influence on the ATD, but they can enter the Actual Time of Departure into the system, enabling the calculation of the following steps of an emergency shipment. Usually the route is already planned when one of our OBCs is picking up an emergency parcel. But due to delayed or cancelled flights that can’t be planned for, there may be short-term rearrangements.

Based on the Actual Time of Departure it can be roughly calculated whether there should be modifications to the shipment’s route or if the original plan can be executed. Thanks to the specially designed tracking system of our courier app, you can always see exactly where your shipment is at any given moment.