One of the challenges faced by couriers involves scheduling deliveries / collections to different recipients / senders during specific time windows to match the working time of the drivers.
This article will provide the steps to perform a Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows (VRPTWs) for your routes.
1. Understanding how Time Windows are used for Route Planning in Detrack
2. Configuring the time windows
3. Planning the route
1) Understanding how Time Windows are used for Route Planning
The Route Job Time Window will take reference from the Vehicle's time windows (i.e Driver Working Hours) and the Job's Time window (i.e Completion Time Window From and Completion Time Window To) to generate a route that best accomodates these 2 constraints
2) Configuring the time windows
2.1 Setting up your vehicle/driver's time windows (i.e working hours)
Navigate to Vehicles.
Either
Click the Add Vehicle.
Click the row to edit the vehicle.
In the ensuing vehicle form, provide the Working Hours of the vehicle.
Click Save when done.
2.2 Configuring the time window of your Jobs
Navigate to Settings > Job > Fields.
Enable both Completion Time Window From and Completion Time Window To > Save. (This corresponds to the time to perform the delivery / collection.)
3. During job creation, provide the Completion Time Window From and Completion Time Window To of the jobs.
3) Planning the route
3.1 Proceed to route planning.
3.2 Viewing the route results
After your routes are generated, you will notice that the system tries to generate a route that can accommodate the various Time Window Constraints of your job and your drivers.
