What is route planning?
It determines which vehicle serves which orders and in what sequence. Unlike simple path finding, it also considers capacities, time windows, drivers, loading conditions and return requirements.
Static and dynamic route planning
| Static | Dynamic |
|---|---|
| Fixed before departure; suitable for stable, recurring operations. | Continuously adjusted using new orders, traffic, vehicle status and disruptions. |
Which data is required?
Planners need addresses, quantities, dimensions, weights, service times, time windows, vehicle capacities and driver restrictions. Traffic, toll and telematics data improve forecasts. Incomplete master data produces poor results even with sophisticated software.
How does the planning process work?
Orders are checked, consolidated and assigned to suitable vehicles. Dispatch then optimizes the stop sequence and route, validates constraints and sends the tour plan. During execution, deviations are monitored and the plan is adjusted where necessary.
Benefits and important KPIs
Effective planning reduces empty mileage, distance and waiting time, improves vehicle utilization and supports on-time delivery. Useful KPIs include cost per stop, distance per order, load factor, punctuality and the share of unplanned changes.
Frequently asked questions about route planning
How does it differ from path finding?
Path finding selects roads between points; route planning also assigns orders, vehicles and time windows.
Can route planning be fully automated?
Software can optimize, but dispatchers still need to review data quality, exceptions and business priorities.
How can it reduce emissions?
Fewer empty runs, better utilization and shorter distances can reduce fuel consumption and emissions.