Add and manage vehicle features

Vehicle features act as planning limits for orders that require specific vehicle equipment or other requirements. For example, a vehicle may have refrigeration, a lift gate, or a ramp. This article explains how to create vehicle features and assign them to vehicles and orders in OptimoRoute.

Who can use this feature
	All plans
	Users that have administrator privileges
	All regions

What are vehicle features?

Vehicle features are tags that represent equipment or capabilities available on a vehicle. Examples include refrigeration, a lift gate, a ramp, secure storage, or space for pallets. This can also be used to communicate types of materials that can be transported on the vehicle or similar restrictions.

Use vehicle features when an order requires a specific type of vehicle. Assign the feature to both the vehicle and the order. During planning, OptimoRoute assigns the order only to a driver whose assigned vehicle has all required features.

For example, if an order requires refrigeration, OptimoRoute can assign it to a driver with a refrigerated vehicle. If no assigned vehicle has the required feature, OptimoRoute may leave the order Unscheduled.

Creating vehicle features

You can create as many vehicle features as needed. Each feature requires a feature code. Use the feature code when importing vehicle features and when assigning features to vehicles.

To create vehicle features: 

1. Go to Administration→Vehicles from the top menu
2. From the left menu, go to Vehicles→Vehicle features
3. Click "Add feature" at the top of the skill table
4. Enter feature code 
5. Enter the feature name 
6. Enter an optional description to let people know what this feature is used for

Important: Vehicle features are strict limits during route planning. OptimoRoute can assign an order only to a driver whose assigned vehicle has all required features. Drivers with vehicles that do not match the order’s requirements are not eligible for that order.

Examples of vehicle features

Vehicle features describe equipment, capabilities, or other requirements that distinguish one vehicle from another.

Examples include:

• Refrigeration
• Lift gates
• Ramps
• Transportation of specific items 
• Secure storage
• Pallet compatibility

Assigning features

In order for features to be used properly, they need to be assigned to both vehicles and orders. 

Assigning features to vehicles

To assign features to vehicles:

1. Go to the Administration→Vehicles
2. Double-click on the vehicle you want to add a skill to
3. When the vehicle detail window appears, choose "Vehicle features" from the tabs
4. Select the features you want the vehicle to have

Assign features to vehicles in bulk by selecting multiple vehicles at a time and clicking "Edit vehicles". 

Assigning features to orders

To assign vehicle features to orders:

1. Go to the Plan & Optimize→Orders
2. In the order table, choose the order you want to edit
3. When the order detail window appears, choose "Vehicle features" from the left menu
4. Select the vehicle features you want the order to have

Assign vehicle features to orders in bulk by:

• Selecting multiple orders at a time from the order table and clicking "Edit Orders",
• Or by adding the vehicle features to your import file. Separate multiple features with a semi-colon (;) in the Vehicle features column.

Routing results

When an order requires a vehicle feature, OptimoRoute can assign it only to a driver whose assigned vehicle has that feature.

For example:

• Truck Alpha has Feature 1. Truck Beta has Feature 2. Truck Charlie has both Feature 1 and Feature 2.
• Order A can be assigned to Truck Alpha or Truck Charlie because both vehicles have Feature 1.
• Order B can be assigned to Truck Beta or Truck Charlie because both vehicles have Feature 2.
• Order C can be assigned only to Truck Charlie because it is the only vehicle with both required features.
• Order D cannot be assigned because no vehicle has Feature 3. It will remain unscheduled.