Route Optimization
Plan technician routes and review drive time. Automatic route optimization from the scheduler side panel is not live yet — use Route Planning and live GPS tracking today.
Clicking Optimize Routes or Bulk Schedule in the scheduler side panel shows a "coming soon" message. The Route Planning tab still lists stops and Google Maps links. See Route & Bulk Scheduling for details.
Route Planning tab on the scheduler shows ordered stops per technician, drive estimates, and Open in Google Maps links. Live technician locations are on Tracking → Live Map.
How It Works
Gather Job Locations
The system collects all scheduled jobs for the selected date
Get Technician Start Points
Each technician's home address is used as their starting point
Calculate Distances
Google Maps API calculates driving time between all points
Optimize Route Order
Algorithm finds the shortest total route for each technician
Display Results
Optimized routes are shown with total time and distance
Understanding the Route Display
MJ
Mike Johnson
4 stops - 2.5 hrs total drive
4 stops - 2.5 hrs total drive
Start: Los Angeles, CA
1. 123 Main St - 9:00 AM
2. 456 Oak Ave - 11:00 AM
3. 789 Pine Rd - 2:00 PM
End: Los Angeles, CA
Route Card Elements
- Technician Header: Name, color, stop count, total drive time
- Green Dots: Start and end points (technician's address)
- Blue Dots: Job stops in optimized order
- Connecting Lines: Show the route sequence
Google Maps Integration
Each route includes a link that:
- Opens the full route in Google Maps
- Shows turn-by-turn directions
- Can be sent to the technician's phone
- Includes all stops in the optimized order
When technicians click the link on their phone, it opens in the Google Maps app for easy navigation.
Automatic Route Generation
Routes are listed when you open the Routes tab. You can also:
- Regenerate: Click the refresh button to recalculate routes after scheduling changes
- Change Date: Select a different date to see routes for that day
- Filter Technicians: Generate routes for specific technicians only
Travel Time Estimates
Each route shows:
Total Miles
Round trip distance
Drive Time
Total driving hours
Stops
Number of jobs
Time Saved
vs. original order
Technician Starting Points
For accurate route calculations, each technician needs a starting address:
- Go to
Settings → Team Members - Edit the technician's profile
- Enter their home address (street, city, state, zip)
- Save changes
If a technician doesn't have an address set, the system will use your business address as their starting point.
Tips for Better Routes
- Schedule Jobs by Area: When possible, schedule jobs in the same geographic area on the same day to minimize drive time.
- Update Addresses: Make sure job service addresses are accurate for proper route calculation.
- Consider Job Duration: Account for how long each job takes when scheduling back-to-back appointments.
- Check for Conflicts: Routes don't account for job overlap - use the Timeline or Calendar view to verify timing.