Plan an Efficient Daily Route

Daily routing overview

Daily routing turns the visits on one date into a practical stop order.

It can begin with the saved master route, then account for the work actually scheduled that day. You can still build a daily route without a master route, but more manual ordering may be required.

Open Schedule and switch to map view.

Prepare the schedule

Before routing:

1. Select the correct date.
2. Confirm each visit has a valid property address.
3. Review which employees are assigned.
4. Separate fixed-time appointments from untimed visits.
5. Confirm the dispatcher has permission to view the required schedules.

Fixed-time visits must occur at their scheduled times. Route ordering is primarily used for visits that have a date but no fixed start time.

Understand the map

Property pins represent the day’s visits. Route lines show the current stop order.

The side list follows the same order as the map. A route appears when enough eligible stops are present to form one.

If visits are missing, check:

• Date
• Assignment filter
• Address
• Visit status
• Fixed-time versus untimed scheduling
• User permissions

Use the master route as a starting point

When a master route exists, eligible visits begin in its relative property order.

The master route does not consider every constraint on today’s schedule. Review the result for:

• Appointment windows
• Technician skills
• Vehicle or equipment needs
• Depot start and end points
• Breaks
• Priority calls
• Traffic and road restrictions

See Set Route Planning Preferences to change the reusable baseline.

Optimize the day’s route

When daily optimization is available:

1. Select the team member or route.
2. Confirm the eligible stops.
3. Choose the starting location.
4. Select Optimize.
5. Review the proposed order.
6. Save or apply it to the day.

Optimization is a planning aid. Dispatchers should verify that the result respects client commitments and operational requirements.

Reorder stops manually

Drag visits in the side list into the required order. The route line updates to reflect the sequence.

Use manual ordering when:

• A client has a narrow access window.
• A technician must collect equipment first.
• A high-priority stop should happen earlier.
• A fixed route policy overrides shortest distance.
• Local conditions make the suggested order impractical.

Start from a different stop

Select a visit and choose Route From Here to make it the next starting point.

This is useful when:

• The team starts from a different location.
• Earlier visits are already complete.
• An urgent call becomes the next stop.
• A delay makes the original order impractical.

The remaining route is recalculated or reordered from that point.

Make a one-day or permanent change

A change made in daily map view applies to that date.

Update the master route instead when the same property should consistently appear earlier or later on future routes.

Use this rule:

• Temporary operational change: edit the daily route.
• Recurring property-order change: edit the master route.

Dispatch and monitor

Before sending the route to the field:

1. Confirm assignments.
2. Verify fixed-time visits remain achievable.
3. Review estimated travel.
4. Check client arrival windows.
5. Notify team members of material schedule changes.
6. Revisit the route when urgent work or delays occur.

Route order does not replace safe driving, local restrictions, or a team member’s judgment in the field.

Related articles

• Set Route Planning Preferences
• Configure Scheduling and Work Defaults
• Add and Manage Team Members