ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) is the predicted time at which a vehicle or delivery will reach its destination. It’s the information a fleet manager uses to run operations and that the end customer expects in order to plan to receive the goods.
How it’s calculated
ETA is derived by combining the vehicle’s real-time GPS position, the planned route, the remaining stops, traffic and service times. The more up-to-date the data, the more reliable the ETA; dynamic ETAs are recalculated during the route as conditions change.
Why it matters
An accurate ETA reduces waiting, customer-service calls and failed deliveries, and improves the recipient’s experience. It’s a direct output of route optimization and a key factor in last-mile logistics.
FAQ
What’s the difference between planned and dynamic ETA?
The planned ETA is the initial estimate at the start of the route; the dynamic ETA is recalculated in real time during the day based on position, traffic and accumulated delays.
What makes an ETA unreliable?
Stale position data, unoptimised routes and ignored service times. Telematics and route optimization significantly improve accuracy.