You’ll hear people talk about ETA all the time. Your friend might say, “My ETA is 15 minutes from now,” but ETA and ETD also have technical meanings.
Both ETA and ETD are used regularly in the trucking industry. In fact, ETD has two meanings with different implications.
Not knowing the difference between ETA and ETD can lead to costly mistakes. Here we’ll simplify when logistics uses ETA and when to use ETD for clearer communication and smooth transport.
What Is ETA?
In simple terms, ETA is the estimated arrival of a shipment or delivery. ETA, or estimated time of arrival, is used within the logistics industry to indicate when a vehicle, train, ship or other carrier will arrive at its final destination.
ETA shipping gives customers a realistic perspective of the delivery of goods to their location. For large shipments, ETA can indicate arrival at a warehouse or final destination. ETA can also be used for professional services, like a repairman, to indicate their arrival at the destination.
What Is ETD?
ETD shipping can stand for either estimated time of delivery or estimated time of departure.
Estimated time of departure is used for last-mile delivery. This indicates the estimate of when a package will leave the storage facility or warehouse for its final destination on the day of delivery.
Estimated time of delivery is used in logistics as the final point in the supply chain when the product is handed over to the consignee, whether that is a business or an individual customer.
Estimated time of delivery is also used by package delivery companies and couriers. Plus, estimated time of delivery is the most precise term used in logistics because it indicates the final hand off of a package.
With its dual meaning, ETD shipping is ripe for confusion. Estimated time of departure from the warehouse can be significantly different from the delivery time, leading to frustrated customers and confused shippers. That’s why it is usually to spell out which meaning of ETD you’re using.
Comparing ETA & ETD
While ETA vs ETD may seem similar, there are several key differences. They are important to know as both a shipper and a carrier because this knowledge will aim to avoid miscommunication and incorrect expectations.
For example, if a delivery truck arrives at a skyscraper in New York to deliver packages, the ETA may be 2 pm for the moment the truck arrives at the building. The estimated time of delivery for the various businesses within the building may vary.
While the first floor may have a package with an ETD of 2:02, the business on the thirtieth floor may have an ETD of 2:30, depending on how many other deliveries need to be made in the building.
Where The Shipment Is
Both ETA and ETD shipping provide information about where a package is in shipment that is now the standard within the logistics industry. This gives both shipper and customer updated information on where the shipment is at set points on the route or through real-time tracking.
Both companies that use ETA and ETD may use either real-time updates or check in points along the shipping ETA journey. It’s common in the trucking industry for ELDs to offer real-time tracking for shippers. However, with delivery companies like UPS or Fedex, package updates at set checkpoints are more common.
Fixed vs Flexible
While everyone in logistics would love for every ETA or ETD to be correct, both are estimates which makes them variable. However, in general ETAs are usually fixed while ETDs are more flexible, and they may change with traffic, weather, vehicle breakdowns, delivery time for other orders or other factors.
Customer Experience
While customers appreciate both ETAs and ETDs, ETDs are usually more beneficial for the customer experience, especially in densely populated areas, namely cities. However, the estimated time of delivery, estimated time of arrival and estimated time of departure are, as the terms imply, all estimates.
As such, unexpected delays might happen, and they will often lead to unsatisfied customers. On the other hand, a package marked as being out for delivery yet arriving five hours after the fact will also lead to unhappy customers.
Many customers prefer GPS or real-time package tracking to provide insight into shipments as well as a better customer experience. It takes the guesswork out of delivery driver locations by automatically updating both ETA and ETD.
Surveys have shown that 88% of consumers want real-time tracking. This will become the way of the future in due time.
Time-Sensitive Deliveries
If you are delivering a load of frozen goods, valuable paintings or other sensitive materials that cannot be left without a receiver present, ETA shipping and ETD shipping with tracking are going to be more important than ever.
For time-sensitive deliveries, perishables or other shipments where the customer needs to receive the goods on time, it’s important to work with the shippers and drivers to keep the shipment intact while also hitting the ETA and ETD targets. Again, real-time tracking or GPS tracking can remove the guesswork for both the shipper and the receiver.
ETA and ETD For Greater Efficiency
ETA shipping and ETD shipping can be a win-win for companies as well as their end clients. Both ETA and ETD lead to more efficient logistics management, greater security for shippers, high levels of customer satisfaction and decreased inventory carrying costs.
Developments in GPS and live tracking can further increase the accuracy and efficiency of both shipping ETD and ETA. Remember to keep the difference in mind. ETA is the estimated time of arrival whereas ETD can mean two very different things.
Estimated time of delivery and estimated time of departure can be hours or even days apart. Spell it out and follow up to avoid delays and reduce the likelihood of losses.
FAQ
ETA, or estimated time of arrival, is used by both shippers and receivers to track deliveries, whether that be from a single package or a truckload.
ETA in planning is the time at which a transport system is expected to arrive. It is a variation of ETA and ETD for product or shipment tracking.
Estimated departure time is based on the scheduled departure time in addition to any other possible logistical delays, like slow dock loading. It is the estimated time for a transport system to depart its point of loading.
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