Route Optimization plans the smartest driving order for a crew's jobs on a given day. When a crew has several stops, it works out the sequence with the least driving, shows you the time, distance, and workload for the whole day, lets you fine-tune the order by hand, and saves it back to the schedule — then hands the route off to Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions in the field.
Where to find it
Route optimization is built into the Schedule. On the Schedule board, find a crew that has two or more jobs on the same day, right-click one of those task cards, and choose Optimize route under the Route heading.
The Route options only appear when there are at least two jobs to sequence — a single stop has nothing to optimize.
The three route options
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Optimize route | Reorders the day's jobs into the shortest driving sequence and opens the route planner so you can review it. |
| Calculate route | Keeps the current order and just calculates the driving distances and times for it — useful when you've already set the order by hand and only want the numbers. |
| Clear route | Removes a saved route from that day (appears only once a route exists). |
The route planner
Choosing Optimize route opens the Optimize Route window — a map of the crew's stops on the left, and a Route Planning panel on the right where you set up and review the route.
Step 1 — Set the start and end points
- Start Location — where the crew sets out from. Choose one of your saved branches or yards, or Current GPS Location to use your device's position.
- End Location — leave it as Same as start for a round trip back to the yard, or choose a different end point.
The panel also lists Today's Tasks for the crew — each with a status dot — so you can see what's about to be routed before you run it.
Step 2 — Optimize
Click Optimize Route. The system orders the stops for the shortest total drive and draws the route on the map, with each stop numbered in its new sequence.
Step 3 — Review the day at a glance
Once optimized, the panel shows a summary of the whole day:
| Figure | What it means |
|---|---|
| Work | Total hours of actual work across the day's jobs. |
| Drive | Total driving time between stops. |
| Total Day | Work plus drive — the realistic length of the crew's day. |
| Distance | Total driving distance for the route (in miles or kilometers). |
Step 4 — Fine-tune the order (optional)
Below the summary is the ordered list of stops. Each stop shows its number, the task name, and its drive time, work hours, and distance from the previous stop.
- Drag to reorder. Grab a stop by its handle and drop it where you want it — the numbers and distances update as you go. The list is flagged (reordered) so you know it's been changed by hand.
- Start and end are fixed. The first and last stops are your start/end locations and can't be moved.
- Re-optimize. Changed your mind after reordering? Click Re-optimize to let the system re-sequence everything again from scratch.
Step 5 — Save
Click Save to write the order back to the schedule. The crew's tasks for that day are now sequenced in the route order.
Optimizing and reordering only preview a route — nothing is saved until you click Save. If you close the window with unsaved changes, you'll be asked to confirm before discarding them. Cancel backs out without touching the schedule.
Sending the route to the field — Google Maps
The planner connects straight to Google Maps so the crew can navigate:
- Google Maps button — opens the entire route, in order, as turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
- Navigate from a single stop — each stop has its own navigate button (and the numbered badges are clickable) to open directions to just that location.
That's how the optimized plan gets from the office to the driver's phone.
What you need for it to work
- Jobs with locations. The stops are the crew's scheduled tasks, so those tasks need job-site locations to be placed on the map.
- A starting point. Either a saved branch or yard with an address, or permission to use your current GPS location. If neither is available, the planner will tell you and you won't be able to optimize until one is set.
- Permission. Optimizing and saving a route requires the right access. If you don't see the Route options, your role doesn't include it — ask an administrator.
Common questions
Why don't I see "Optimize route"? The Route options only show when a crew has two or more jobs on that day. With one job there's nothing to sequence.
What's the difference between Optimize and Calculate? Optimize reorders the stops for the shortest drive. Calculate keeps your order and just works out the times and distances.
Can I change the order the system picked? Yes — drag the stops in the list to reorder them, or click Re-optimize to start over. Start and end points stay put.
Does optimizing change the schedule right away? No — it's a preview until you click Save. Cancel leaves everything as it was.
How does the crew get directions? Use the Google Maps button to open the whole route, or the navigate button on any single stop, for turn-by-turn directions.
Is this the same as the Map page? It uses the same mapping behind the scenes, but route optimization is launched from the Schedule and focuses on one crew's day. The Map page is a separate, read-only monitoring view.