CLTD
Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD)
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Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD) is one of the professional credentials offered by the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), the organization behind the APICS certification family that also includes CPIM, CSCP and CTSC. ASCM describes its APICS certifications as globally recognized and positions them as preparation for professionals who need to navigate uncertainty and lead with confidence when supply chains are under pressure. CLTD is aimed at practitioners whose work sits at the movement and storage end of the supply chain: logistics and transportation managers, distribution and warehouse leaders, inventory and network planners, and the analysts and consultants who support them. The exam is organized around four domains - Logistics Fundamentals; Logistics Planning and Management; Logistics Execution; and Logistics Control - so it tests both transactional knowledge (modal selection, warehousing, order management) and the managerial layer above it (network design, capacity and demand alignment, cost and performance measurement). Preparation typically combines structured study of a body of knowledge with practice on calculation-heavy topics such as landed cost, transport mode economics and inventory metrics. ASCM supports study through self-study, instructor-led and instructor-supported formats, certificate programs and its Supply Chain Dictionary. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by ASCM; always confirm exam logistics on ascm.org before booking.
What you'll study
About CLTD preparation
Who issues the CLTD credential, and is it the same as an APICS certification?
CLTD is issued by the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) and sits in the same APICS certification family as CPIM, CSCP and CTSC. ASCM presents APICS certifications as its flagship credentials, so job postings may refer to either the ASCM or the APICS name for the same credential.
What content does the CLTD exam cover?
The exam is organized into four domains: Logistics Fundamentals; Logistics Planning and Management; Logistics Execution; and Logistics Control. In practice that spans logistics strategy and network design, transportation and warehousing decisions, order and inventory execution, and the metrics, auditing and performance management used to keep the system under control.
How many questions are on the exam and how long do I get?
Those figures are not published on the ASCM page summarized here, and they change between exam revisions. Delivery is multiple choice. Confirm the current item count, appointment length and passing score on the official CLTD page before you schedule, and discard any numbers quoted in older prep guides or forum posts.
Is the exam hard?
Difficulty is driven by breadth rather than trick questions. Four domains means you cannot specialize narrowly, and the calculation topics - landed cost, mode economics, inventory and service metrics - punish candidates who only read conceptually. People with day-to-day logistics exposure usually find execution easiest and the control and measurement material hardest.
What is the most common way candidates fail?
Under-preparing the quantitative material and the planning domain, because day-to-day operational experience feels sufficient until the exam asks you to compute or compare options. A second common pattern is memorizing definitions without being able to reason about trade-offs such as service level versus cost or speed versus reliability.
How should I sequence my study across the four domains?
Work in the order the domains are published: fundamentals, planning and management, execution, then control. Fundamentals supplies the vocabulary the other three assume, and control revisits metrics introduced earlier, so building it last consolidates rather than duplicates. Finish with timed mixed-domain practice so you learn to switch context quickly.
What preparation formats does ASCM offer?
ASCM lists self-study, instructor-led and instructor-supported options under its ways-to-learn section, alongside shorter certificate programs in areas such as warehousing, planning and procurement. Its Supply Chain Dictionary and Knowledge Center are additional reference points. Whether a given format bundles the exam is a purchasing detail to check on ascm.org.
Does the credential expire, and are there eligibility requirements?
ASCM maintains a certification maintenance program for its credentials, but the cycle length and any fees are not stated on the page summarized here. Eligibility prerequisites are likewise not confirmed here. Verify both on the official ASCM certification maintenance and CLTD pages before you invest in a study plan.
Can I retake the exam if I do not pass, and what does it cost?
Retake rules, waiting periods and pricing are set by ASCM and its testing partner and are not published in the source summarized here. Pricing also varies with membership status and whether you buy a learning bundle. Check the official CLTD page for current fees and the retake policy before booking.