What is ATF Certificate?
ATF (Warehouse Delivery-Receipt Receipt) is one of the most critical documents in the logistics and cargo industry. This document officially reveals that a cargo has been received at the warehouse or warehouse exit, that it has been transferred to the carrier, and who is responsible for it. It is especially used to ensure transparency in the logistics chain, to establish trust between the parties and to prevent possible disputes.
In a shipment made without an ATF certificate, it cannot be clearly proven who is responsible for the cargo. This causes serious problems in case of damage, loss or delay. For example, if the goods of different senders are transported by the same vehicle in a partial transportation, ATF clearly records which sender delivered how many parcels of goods, on what date and under what conditions. Thus, it creates a solid basis for resolving disputes that may arise in the future.
In which transactions is Warehouse Delivery – Receipt Receipt (ATF) issued?
ATF is mostly issued for warehouse transportation and partial load shipments. Because in these transportation methods, the loads of different senders are brought together and transported. A separate ATF is prepared for each sender to ensure that the cargo is not mixed up or delivered incompletely or over-delivered. This ensures accurate tracking of the load.
Apart from this, ATF is also regulated in complete transportation. For example, if all the goods produced by a factory are shipped by a single truck or train wagon, ATF is issued again, but this time the load belonging to a single sender is recorded collectively. In addition, in international transportation, it is mandatory to issue ATF during the exit or return of the cargo during customs processes. This is especially important in return to origin transactions or in transit transportation.
Another area where ATF is regulated is warehouse transfers. For example, in a transfer made from a logistics company's warehouse in Istanbul to its warehouse in Ankara, the conditions under which the cargo is sent are stated on the ATF. Thus, the load is officially recorded even when it is transported between different locations.
In what ways does ATF differ from delivery note and delivery report?
ATF is often confused with delivery note and delivery report. However, each of them has different functions in logistics processes. Delivery note is a commercial document and is directly related to the sale of goods. It shows to whom a product was sold, in what quantity and under what conditions it was shipped. In other words, the delivery note is more of a document proving the commercial relationship.
The delivery report is usually prepared at the very end of the process, when the goods reach the buyer. This document proves that the goods have been delivered to the buyer correctly and completely. Therefore, the delivery report focuses on the end point of the shipment.
Unlike these two documents, ATF comes into play right in the middle of the process. In other words, it documents the point at which the cargo leaves the warehouse and passes to the carrier. Without ATF, it cannot be proven under what conditions the goods were delivered to the carrier. In this respect, ATF serves as a bridge between commercial and logistics documents. While the delivery note is the document of the commercial process and the delivery report is the document of the final stage of delivery, ATF records the transfer of responsibility at the beginning of the transportation process.
What is the Mandatory Information to be Included in ATF?
The validity of ATF depends on the completeness of the information on it. This information is critical for both the carrier and the shipper. First, sender and recipient information should be written clearly. Name, title, address and contact information are essential for the document.
In addition, the type of goods to be transported, the number of parcels, their total weight and volume are also stated in detail. This information is important for both billing and insurance purposes. The delivery date and time must also be written because the moment at which the cargo is transferred to the carrier will be decisive in possible disputes in the future.
ATF contains the names, signatures and often stamps of the persons delivering and receiving the goods. Without these signatures, the document does not gain legal validity. If there is damage, deficiency or a special situation in the goods, this must be included as an annotation in the document. For example, if there is a crush on the parcel, the carrier is obliged to add a note "received damaged" to the ATF. Thus, the carrier is protected from liabilities that may arise in the future.
How Does ATF Application Differ in Partial and Complete Transportation?
In partial transportation (LTL - Less than Truckload), the importance of ATF increases even more as loads belonging to more than one sender are transported in the same vehicle. Because if the loads of different senders are not recorded separately, there may be confusion as to which goods belong to whom. This leads to both losses and customer dissatisfaction. For this reason, in partial transportation, a separate ATF is issued for each sender's load and the details of the loads are documented one by one.
In complete transportation (FTL - Full Truckload), the vehicle is allocated to a single sender. In this case, the ATF is usually prepared in a single copy. However, the type, quantity, weight and delivery date of the cargo are written in detail. Although the process may seem simpler in complete transportation, ATF is still vital in terms of transfer of responsibility for the cargo. Especially in international transportation, it is a legal obligation to check complete loads with ATF at customs crossings.
Correct execution of ATF practices in partial and complete transportation increases transparency and reliability in the transportation chain. When these processes are integrated with modern logistics programs, operational efficiency is achieved and possible disputes are prevented.
