View and understand driver detail fields

Driver profiles can be enriched using the fields provided. In this article, we will cover what these fields mean and how they are used. 

What is a driver?

In OptimoRoute, a "driver" is a person who can be assigned to routes and orders. Their profile stores planning details such as working hours, breaks, skills, start and end locations, default vehicle, and route limits. Learn how to add and manage drivers here.

Below we will go into more detail about what kind of information can be stored with the drivers and how this information can affect planning.

Driver details

Driver details contain the information OptimoRoute and dispatchers use to plan, assign, and track routes. You can enter or update these details when you add or edit an driver.

Details

The "Details" section is the first section you will see when you open a driver.

Skills

Driver skills are the requirements the driver needs to successfully complete an order and determines which orders this driver can be assigned to. Skills can be set up in Administration→Skills.

To add skills to a driver:

1. Click the dropdown box and all the available skills will appear for selection
2. Choose the skills
3. Click "Save"

To remove skills:

1. Select the skill you want to remove
2. Click “Remove skill”
3. Click "Save"

Tip: Use the "Valid from" and "Valid to" settings to add expiration dates for particular skills. This is useful when a driver has a certification or other skills that requires renewal.

Cost

Use driver costs to influence how OptimoRoute assigns orders during planning. A higher cost makes a driver less likely to be used when a lower-cost option can complete the work.

For example, to use employees before contractors, set higher costs for contractors. OptimoRoute will try to reduce the total cost of the plan and use contractors only when they are needed.

There are four different costs:

• Fixed cost
• Cost per hour
• Cost per distance
• Overtime cost

Fixed cost

The fixed cost is the base cost of using the driver. It does not change based on hours worked or distance travelled. The default value is 0.

Use this cost to make one driver less likely to be selected than another. For example, set a higher fixed cost for contractors to prioritise in-house drivers.

Cost per hour

The cost per hour is multiplied by the driver’s planned working time. The default value is 10.

A higher hourly cost makes OptimoRoute more likely to assign shorter routes to that driver when other options are available.

For example, you may increase this cost for a driver whose working time is more expensive or for situations where a driver assigned to a vehicle that gets a lot of miles to the gallon.

Cost per distance

The cost per distance is multiplied by the planned distance of the driver’s route. The default value is 1.

A higher distance cost makes OptimoRoute more likely to assign a shorter-distance route to that driver when possible. This means, for example, increasing the distance cost for them will automatically give them more orders close to the depot.

For example, you may increase this cost for a volunteer using their own vehicle to reduce the distance they are asked to travel.

Overtime cost

The overtime cost applies only when the driver has allowed overtime. It is multiplied by the planned overtime. The default value is 30.

A higher overtime cost makes OptimoRoute less likely to assign work that extends beyond the driver’s regular work time. OptimoRoute may still use overtime when needed to create a workable plan.

Tip: Driver costs are relative planning constraints. Do not use exact wages. Instead, adjust the values to influence which drivers OptimoRoute prefers based on factors such as planned hours or distance.

Start and end location

Start and end locations sets up where your driver starts and ends each of their routes. By default this is set to the driver starting and ending at the depot, but you can determine a different location for your drivers if they are starting from home or from a different hub. 

Service areas

Use service areas to set the geographic areas where a driver can be assigned orders. You can use the map tools to draw and edit each area.

To create a service area: 

1. Click on the polygon symbol to start using the lasso tool
2. Click on different points on the map to create an area
3. Click on the first point to close the loop and create the area
4. Use the pencil icon to adjust the area by dragging the points
5. Save changes

Learn more about how service areas work here.

Speed

Use driver speed to adjust how quickly a driver is expected to complete orders. OptimoRoute uses this setting during planning to estimate how many orders the driver can complete in their workday.

This setting applies to the driver’s work speed, not the vehicle’s travel speed.

For example, a more experienced driver or a team working from one vehicle may complete orders faster than another driver.

Mobile app

This allows you to see the status of the drivers mobile app. If they do not have the OptimoRoute driver app activated, you can create an activation key here.