ETD
Category: Logistics
Definition (plain English)
Estimated time of departure is the expected date or time when cargo, a vessel, flight, truck, or container leaves the origin point.
Why it matters commercially
ETD anchors production release, document cutoffs, transit planning, customs pre-clearance, customer commitments, and the point where delays start consuming buffer.
Example
A one-week ETD slip meant chilled stock would arrive too close to the customer minimum shelf-life window, so the buyer paused shipment release.
Common mistake
Tracking only ETA while ignoring rolled sailings, missed cargo cutoffs, late shipping instructions, VGM cutoffs, and changed departure dates.
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