Use the timeline tab in "Plan and Optimize" to view drivers, stops, orders, and routes by start time and duration. You can also drag and drop orders to edit routes. In this article, we will provide an introduction to how to read and use the timeline.
| Who can use this feature | |
|---|---|
| Available for all plans | |
| All users | |
| All regions | |
Intro to the timeline
The timeline in "Plan and Optimize" gives you a time-based view of your plan. Use it to see when each driver starts, how long each order takes, and how routes are scheduled across the day.
The timeline can help you:
- Check each driver’s schedule
- See the order of stops on a route
- Find gaps, wait time, and unused working time
- Compare routes side by side
- Review unscheduled orders
- Make quick manual changes by dragging and dropping orders
Use the timeline when you need to review route timing, adjust a plan, or understand how the day is scheduled before dispatching routes.
Editing routes with the timeline
Click "Edit timeline" to enter editing mode where you can modify the routes by drag and drop. You can also enter editing mode automatically by dragging and dropping an order from the map or timeline.
In editing mode, you can:
- Rearrange orders on routes from the timeline or map
- Add orders to routes from the unscheduled orders panel
- Remove orders from routes
- Drag and drop orders between the timeline and map
Learn more about editing and planning routes with drag and drop here.
Reading the timeline
The timeline shows drivers on the left and their assigned routes and orders on the right. Routes appear in time order from left to right.
You'll also see:
- Routes shown in chronological sequence.
- An unscheduled orders area
- Each route with a color that corresponds to the driver's assigned color.
- The number in the order is the stop number for that order on that particular route.
- Time appears across the top of the timeline. Depending on your zoom level, time is shown in 15-minute, 30-minute, or 1-hour intervals.
Below we will explain in more detail how to read the timeline.
Order durations
Each order appears on the timeline as a stop on the route. The width of the order shows how long the order takes.
Orders under 5 minutes may look very narrow or appear as lines, depending on your zoom level.
Order details
Hover over an order to see more details above the timeline on the right. These details include the order type, location name, start time, and assigned driver. You can also double click on an order to access the edit order window.
Driving time
The space between orders shows driving time or wait time.
- A gray line shows driving time between locations.
- A line with blue slanted lines shows wait time at a location.
Wait time refers to a situation when the driver may arrive before the next order’s start time or time window and is idle for that period of time (no driving). For example, if a driver finishes one order at 12:00 PM and the next order starts at 2:30 PM, the driver waits 2.5 hours before starting the next order.
The background behind the order tiles shows driver availability:
- The gray background space shows when the driver is working.
- The white background space shows what’s left of the drivers' workday which is unused. This shows when a driver is available to work more that day.
- And the striped background space in the background shows when the driver is technically not supposed to be working, as this corresponds to their off-work hours.
Configuring the timeline
You can customize the information shown on the timeline and how that information is displayed. At the top of the timeline tab, you will see a few options including: Zoom, Print, Options, and Edit.
Zoom
Zoom will show you smaller or larger time intervals on the timeline.
- To zoom in, move the bar to the right. This will show you more detail between time periods and the stops will appear larger.
- To zoom out, move the bar to the left. This will show you more orders in a more compact view, and less detail between time periods
Use Print to save the timeline as a PDF.
When you click Print, choose whether to print the full timeline or only the timeline view shown in your browser. OptimoRoute then opens a print preview so you can check what will be printed.
From the preview, click Print again to open your computer’s print options. You can then save the timeline as a PDF or print it using an available printer.
Options
Use "Options" to change how orders and routes appear on the timeline. You can adjust the order display, driver display, timeline display, and capacity display.
Order display
Use "Order display" options to choose what appears on each order tile. An order tile is the colored box that represents an order/stop on the timeline.
By default, order tiles show the stop number. You can change this and show up to 3 pieces of information on each order tile.
You can show order tile information on one line (more compact) or on separate lines (larger tiles).
To show each piece of information on its own line, select "Display info on individual lines."
Driver display
Drivers appear alphabetically on the timeline by default.
To show assigned drivers first, select "Sort drivers with routes at the top". Drivers without routes will move to the bottom of the timeline.
Capacity display
Use "Capacity display" if you use load capacities to visualize them in the timeline. This helps you track vehicle loads throughout the day and across routes.
Vehicle capacities can be shown as:
- A total - Example: 1000kg
- A percentage of the maximum load - Example: 50%
- A total in reference to the maximum load - Example: 1000kg/2000kg
You can also choose to show route loads, which will show you how the loads fluctuate over the course of a route. Below you can see the blue bars indicating the load capacity and a red horizontal line that indicates the vehicle's maximum load.
Unscheduled orders
Use the unscheduled orders panel to manage orders that are not assigned to a route. You can also move assigned orders back to this area to unschedule them.
From the unscheduled orders panel, you can:
- Drag orders to the timeline or map to add them to routes
- Drag orders into the panel to unschedule them
- Add new orders
- Search for orders
- Adjust what information appears in the panel
- Minimize the panel