Top 7 Tips for Optimizing Delivery Routes for Drivers/Riders

Route optimization involves looking for the best route for a delivery driver to use to get a package to its recipient as quickly and as cos...

Route optimization involves looking for the best route for a delivery driver to use to get a package to its recipient as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible. Since your delivery efficiency is paramount to your success, you must optimize your ability to get from point A to point B. Not only will this save you time or money, but it will also benefit your company in other ways as well. These are;

● Reduced fuel costs

● Less vehicle maintenance costs and downtime

● Better customer experience

● More daily deliveries

● Improved driver satisfaction

Top 7 Tips for Optimizing Delivery Routes for Drivers/Riders

With all that in mind, let’s look at things you can do to optimize your delivery route.

1. Look Critically at Your Data

To reduce travel time, you’re going to want to plan your routes carefully using a route planning app. However, it’s important to remember that even though you can drive 80 miles an hour, this doesn’t mean you’ll be doing 80 at all times. Therefore, you need to critically examine your data and ask yourself whether the travel times the app has given you are realistic. You should also consider whether the route planning app is taking traffic slowdowns during rush hour into consideration.

2. Take Stops into Account when Calculating Travel Time

Route planning apps are focused on travel time as the time you spend on the road. However, as a delivery person, you need to take your stops into account when calculating travel time. Furthermore, you need to consider that these stops will take varying amounts of time. For example, if you have to climb to a third-floor apartment, this will take you longer than if you simply have to walk up to someone’s door. Therefore, when calculating your travel time, be sure to look at the addresses of your deliveries. The more data you have in advance, the better you can plan and optimize your time.

3. Consider the Organization of Your Route

Are you always stuck in traffic because of when you deliver to a certain area? If so, you should consider organizing your route so you arrive at that area before or after rush hour. Or maybe you constantly encounter school buses because of when you deliver to addresses on suburban streets. Regardless of your issue, try to organize your route to avoid things that will slow you down.

4. Look for the Shortest Routes

It seems obvious, but you should always look for the quickest way to get from point A to point B when planning your delivery route. Fortunately, you can find the shortest route with Google Maps.

5. Have a Contingency Plan

You never know what could happen on the road, so you need to have a plan for emergencies and unforeseen circumstances. For instance, what can you do to make up time if a storm forces you to pull over for an hour? How will you make up the lost time?

6. Choose the Appropriate Mode of Transportation

If you’re making deliveries downtown, it is probably better to walk or use a bicycle. This is because addresses downtown are generally closer together, and the streets are more congested. However, if you’re delivering in the suburbs, it doesn’t make sense to walk or use a bike because addresses tend to be farther apart. Also, there’s usually less traffic, so getting around won’t be as difficult.

7. Offer Customers Delivery Times that is Convenient to You

Companies offer all sorts of different delivery options these days. For instance, you can do same-day or next-day delivery. Or you can choose a specific day to have something delivered. Customers can even choose the time they want something delivered. While this is convenient for customers, it can make it challenging to plan your delivery routes efficiently. Therefore, you should consider reducing the number of delivery options you offer to the ones that make the most sense for your company. You might also consider offering incentives to get customers to select options that work with deliveries you already have planned.