You can require your drivers to explicitly mark when they start and end their routes in the driver app. This will update ETAs based on the driver's actual starting time and allow for more accurate analytics. In this article, we will explain how this works and how to enable it.
| Who can use this feature | |
| All plans | |
| Users that have administrator privileges and drivers | |
| All regions | |
Enabling manual start/end route for drivers
This feature will require drivers to explicitly press a button to start and end their routes in the driver app. This action will record the actual start and end time of the routes and update ETAs accordingly.
To enable this feature:
- Go to Administration→Settings
- Choose Driver app→Configuration
- In the “Workflow” section, find the option “Require drivers to manually start/end route” and check the box
- Click "Save".
When this option is enabled, your drivers will be able to explicitly start their routes at a different time than originally planned.
As a dispatcher, you will be able to see this change in the "Live" screen.
Drivers that have changed their start time will appear with a "red clock" icon. You can hover on this icon to see the scheduled start and the driver's updated start time.
Driver experience
With this option enabled, your drivers will now be able to:
- View and change the start time of their route
- Start their route by pressing a button
- End their route by pressing a button
Changing planned start time
This feature also allows drivers to change the planned start time directly on the OptimoRoute Driver App. Once the route is within 8 hours of the planned start time, the driver can change their expected start time. To do this:
- Open the OptimoRoute Driver App
- Go to your "To do" list
- Click "Change" next to the date and time of the expected route start
- Update the start time
| The planned start time appears red when the driver hasn't started their route yet and it is after the planned start time. |
Starting a route
To start your route, go "On Duty" and click "Start Route". This will prompt a confirmation that you want to start your route.
| ETAs and expected start times of orders will be updated when a planned start is changed and when the route is started. |
Ending a route
When you're ready to end your route, you will also need to explicitly take action to do so. At the bottom of your to do list, click "End route".
If there are incomplete orders pending, you will be alerted and you will need to confirm the end route action. Your orders will not be lost though. You will be able to restart the route later, if needed.
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Tip: Drivers can report incomplete orders due to complications or other issues by using the "Rejected" or "Failed" order status. |
Including actual start and end locations in analytics
You can add the exact start and end times and locations of your drivers routes in your "Planned vs. Actual" reports to help you more accurately track drive-time. To do this:
- Go to Administration→Settings
- Choose “Analytics”
- Find the section “Choose additional locations to display in Planned vs. Actual Reports”
- Turn on the options you wish to see in your reports