In Detrack, we have 2 workflows that cater to the different types of route optimization problems.
For the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP), routes are planned 1 at a time for drivers with preassigned jobs.
For the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP), routes are planned for multiple drivers with unassigned jobs.
Steps
Job Fields Setup
Navigate to Settings> Jobs> Fields to enable these fields:
Run No.*
Job Sequence*
ETA Time*
Time Window From
Time Window To
Priority
*Mandatory fields for route planning
Please save your changes to be able to view these fields in the jobs table and driver app after your route is planned.
Depot Creation
Navigate to the 'Routes' page
Click 'Add depot' in either of the tabs
Input required fields and click 'Create depot'
Vehicle Settings
Vehicle Mode
For each vehicle, you can define their mode by navigating to Vehicles> Vehicle details> Vehicle mode (select dropdown)
When planning routes for multiple vehicles, only vehicles of the same mode can be selected in a single plan.
By default, all vehicle modes will be tagged as Car.
Define your driver’s start and end depots
Each driver/vehicle can be tagged with a start and end depot.
By configuring this, our route planning logic will be able to consider the start and end point of your route by using your vehicle's start and end depot
To configure this, navigate to In Vehicles> Vehicle details > select start and end depots
Set working hours for your drivers
You can set driver's working hours to ensure that jobs are only assigned to a driver during their available time slots.
To configure this, navigate to Vehicles> Vehicle details > input driver's working hours
Route Planning
Preparing your job import file
To best optimize your routes, we recommend populating these fields so that our algorithm can consider your preferences:
Latitude
Longitude
Time Window From
Time Window To
Service Time
Priority
To create routes for multiple drivers, navigate to the jobs table and follow these steps:
Select your desired jobs
Click the 'Actions' button and select ‘Plan multiple routes’
Fill up your route preferences in the route creation to best optimize route results
Click ‘Proceed to optimize routes’
Mandatory fields for planning a route
Select vehicles for your route - After choosing the type of vehicle, you can select your desired vehicle/drivers from the list.
Name your route group - This helps you to easily identify multiple routes in a given group. (E.g If you name your route group AM, your routes will appear as AM_01, AM_02)
Define your Start depot and end depot - You may use each vehicle's depots or manually choose from existing created depots. (Note: End depots are optional)
Set your Route Time window -You may use each vehicle's working hours or set your a custom start time and end time
Recommended route configurations to best optimize your route generated
Service time | By defining this field, your job's ETA and route duration will be more accurate as it accounts for the time spent at a location (e.g. Load or unload goods) |
Avoid tolls | By switching on this option, we will exclude your route from tolls road to avoid toll charges. |
Route start number | Your routes will be named starting from the route start number you have chosen. This can be useful if you have multiple plans for a single route group. |
Once done, click 'Proceed to optimize routes'
Preview and edit your routes
To view your route results, you can navigate to either of these 2 pages.
Route table (multiple routes) - On this page, you can see a consolidated view of all your routes and their respective statues.
Routes generated are represented as individuals rows in this table.
Route overview - On this page, you can see an overview of the routes visualized on a map.
You can access individual routes through:
1. Job panel
2. Drop down
Before sending jobs to your drivers, you may want to modify your routes for a more suitable sequence or ETA.
Follow these steps to modify your route:
Click 'Edit route' to edit generated route by dragging to rearrange sequence to your preference.
If satisfied with new sequence, click ‘Save route changes’
If you have edited job or vehicle details, you can click 'Re-optimize' to replan with the updated details.
Send confirmed routes to drivers
To send your routes to drivers, you can do so via either of these 2 entry points:
Route table (multiple routes)
In the Mulitple routes tab, click the ‘Send to driver’ button. You can also mass select routes and use the Action button.
Individual Route page
At the bottom of the job panel, click ‘Send route to driver’
Once jobs are sent to drivers, the ETA and job sequence will be populated in the jobs table.
Handling unplanned jobs
Jobs that cannot be planned into a route will appear as unplanned jobs in the route table We recommend that you re-plan these jobs in another round, or remove these jobs from the route table
Route table (multiple routes)
To delete unplanned jobs, select the unplanned jobs & click the bin icon
Unplanned Route page
Click the 3 dot icon > ‘Delete route’
How to grant permission to sub-users
By default, only owners have access to routing.
Note: Only when manager role is chosen, the options to enable Manage route and Manage depots will appear
Click Users in the side navigation bar
Navigate to the User Tab and click ‘Add user’
Fill up your sub-user’s details.
