There are two ways routes can be created:
Dispatchers can create routes and send them to drivers
Drivers can create routes that are then visible on the dispatcher dashboard
Read the guide below for a detailed explanation of both methods.
How to create a route on the dispatcher dashboard
Step 1. Create a route
To create a new route go to > Routes
Click > Create new route from spreadsheet or manually
OR
You can also create a route if you go to > Stops
Select the unassigned stops you want to add to a new route
Click > Assign to route > then on the pop-up select > Create new route
Using either of those methods, once you have clicked > Create new route, a pop-up will appear and give you the option to:
Select a date for the route
Name your route
Assign a depot to the route
Select the optimization preferences for the route
When you have done that click > Create route.
Step 2. Add a driver to a route
Next, you will need to assign a driver to the route:
Click > Add drivers and select a driver
Their individual driver settings will appear
Check that their individual driver settings are suitable for the route
If you need to change their start/end location, working hours, maximum number of stops, or speed to suit the route, you can
These changes will automatically be saved and will ONLY apply to this route
When you are happy with your driver selection click > Done
Click here to read more about individual driver settings.
Step 3. Add stops to a route
You can choose to add stops to your route by:
Importing stops from a spreadsheet
Importing stops from your Shopify store
Manually adding stops to a route
Moving stops from a past route and adding them to a new route
Adding unassigned stops from the Stops list to a route
How to manually add stops
Click > Add stops manually
Type the address of the stop you want to add into the search bar
Select the correct address from the results list
OR
Right-click on the map where you want a stop to be added
Click to confirm you want to add a stop at that location
Repeat these processes to add more stops to the route, and when you have added all your stops click > Done.
How to import stops using a spreadsheet
Click > Import stops from spreadsheet
Upload your spreadsheet
Click here for a detailed guide on How to prepare your spreadsheet for import
Click here for a detailed guide on How to import spreadsheets
How to import stops from Shopify
Click > Import stops from Shopify
Click > Go to Shopify
Click > Add app and follow the instructions to connect Circuit for Teams and Shopify
Click here for a detailed guide on How to connect your Shopify store
How to move stops from a past route
Click > Move stops from past route
Select the routes you want to move stops from and to
Select the stops you want to move across
Click > Move stops
Click here for a detailed guide on How to move stops to another route
How to add unassigned stops to a route
Go to > Stops
Click > Add or import stops
Select the method you want to use to add/import stops
All stops added will be visible in the Stops list
Select the stops from the list that you want to add to a route
Click > Assign to route or create a new route to add the stops to
How to create a saved route to use as a template
If you need the same route on a regular basis, you can create a saved route.
Use your saved route as a template, and duplicate and edit that route for future use.
In the top right of the screen click the bookmark icon
This will take you to > Saved routes
Create your route and it will be stored in your saved routes
Return to your saved routes and duplicate and edit the one you want to use
Step 4. Edit your route optimization preferences and route properties
With a driver and stops added to your route, you may want to edit your default route optimization and route properties for your new route.
Under the route date toggle to > Settings
To edit your route optimization preferences
Click > the pencil icon to select the optimization preference you would like to use for this route
Click > Save and the changes will be saved and only applied to that route
To edit your route properties, click > Set route overrides
Edit the route start/end location, start/end time, maximum number of stops, driving speed and delivery speed
These changes will be automatically saved and will only apply to this route
Step 5. Optimize your route or choose to manually order stops
Once you have added a driver and stops to your route click > Create driver routes.
All the stops on your route will be ordered automatically, and the optimum route created.
If you would like to manually order stops on your route you can do this. Click here for a detailed guide on how to manually order and make changes to stops.
Step 6. Send a route to a driver
Once you are happy with your optimized route and ready to send it to a driver click > Send route to driver.
Whilst the route is being sent to the driver, there will be a 4-second window during which you can click > Undo to stop the route being sent.
When a route is successfully sent your driver will automatically receive an email or text message to notify them that they have been assigned to a new delivery route.
How to make changes to a live route
Once a driver has started a route, you can still make changes to that route.
This is useful if you need to deal with last-minute issues or customer requests, as you can edit a live route, and automatically notify your driver of the changes in real-time.
Click here for a detailed guide on How to make changes to a live route.
Route management
Clicking on the three vertical dots next to a route will allow you to manage that route.
Click > Manage to rename or move the route to a different day or depot
Click > Duplicate to create a complete duplicate copy of the route
Click > Import from Shopify to import orders to the route from your Shopify store
Click > Move stops to move stops from one route to another
Click > Delete to delete the route and all its data
Route History
All routes are automatically saved and can be found on the calendar.
Dates that have routes on them will appear in a darker color on the calendar.
Click on the date > select a previous route > View the complete route history
How drivers can create a route on the driver app
It is possible for drivers to create delivery routes using the driver app.
Step 1. Create a route
Login to the Circuit for Teams driver app
Click > Create route
Select a name and date for the route
Step 2. Add stops
Tap the search bar to add stops to your route
Tap the microphone icon to add stops to a route using voice commands
Tap the camera/viewfinder icon to scan printed addresses or barcode and add them as stops
(Android only) Tap the vertical three dots and select import spreadsheet to add stops using a spreadsheet
How to easily find packages in your vehicle when you arrive at a stop
How to use stop ID numbers
When a stop is added it is automatically given a unique stop ID number.
Once you tap > Confirm on a route this identifier will never change, even if the stop is moved to a different place on the route or edited.
You can choose between 2 styles of stop ID:
Modern uses alphanumeric stop IDs eg A1 A2 A3 A4
Legacy uses numeric stop IDs eg 1 2 3 4
You can also choose at what point stop IDs are added
After optimizing the route
As stops are added
You can change these settings in your app > Click here to read more about Settings.
This can be useful for finding parcels in your vehicle:
Write the stop ID on the package
When you arrive at that address the stop ID is shown
Look for the package with that stop ID written on it in your vehicle
How to use package finder to load your vehicle
You can add information about where each parcel is in your vehicle to make it easier to find at the delivery address.
Tap > Load vehicle
Select your deliveries
Select a place in the vehicle for these deliveries
Tap > Front/Middle/Back, Left/Right, Floor/Shelf
Tap > Set place
On a stop you will now be able to see the package location eg BLS = Back, Left, Shelf
How drivers can add a stop and take a photo of the package
When adding a stop address, you can also take a photo of the package to help find it in the delivery vehicle when you arrive at the stop.
Go to add a stop > Select 'add stop and take photo'
Add the stop address
Once the stop address is added the camera will automatically go to photo mode
Take a photo of the package
This photo is added to the stop details
Tap the camera icon on the stop details to display the photo and find the package in the delivery vehicle
You can also add a photo of a package when editing an existing stop
Step 3. Optimize route
When all the stops have been added, click optimize route to create a route
You can choose to refine your optimized route in two ways:
Reverse your route
Tap Refine and then > Reverse route
This will reverse the order of stops and direction of your route
Manually order your route
Tap Refine and then > Manually order route
On the map draw a circle around the group of stops you wish to arrive at first
Next, draw a circle around the group of stops you wish to arrive at second
Draw as many groups of stops as you like in the order you want to attempt them
Any ungrouped stops will automatically be added to the route between groups and in the most appropriate position
When you are happy with your groups tap > Reoptimize route
Tap Confirm route to start your route
Tap Continue editing if you want to make changes
Step 4. Start route
Start your route and navigate from stop to stop
To begin your route tap > Start
Your first stop will be highlighted
Click > Navigate to begin route navigation
Circuit internal navigation is the default option but you can change this in > Settings
When you arrive at a stop mark the stop as Delivered/Failed
Repeat this process for each stop until you complete your route
How Drivers can use Android Auto or CarPlay
The Circuit for Teams driver app is available on Android Auto and CarPlay, which allows Drivers to use Circuit on their vehicle's infotainment display.
How to use Android Auto or CarPlay
In your phone settings, make sure that you have Circuit selected as an app that will be available to you on your Android Auto or CarPlay
On your phone, go to a route and optimize it
Connect your phone to your vehicle’s infotainment display
The first time you start navigation on your infotainment display, you may need to accept Google's T&Cs and allow necessary permissions on your phone
Your phone will project a simplified version of Circuit onto your vehicle’s infotainment display.
You can now use your car's infotainment display to:
Tap navigate for turn-by-turn navigation
Tap to mark stops as failed or delivered
Tap to change map view modes and sound settings
Tap to finish your route
When proof of delivery is required for a stop, a message on the infotainment display prompts Drivers to use their phones as usual to collect the required POD.
How Drivers can select navigation settings
On a route tap > Navigate
Tap the settings cog icon that appears on the screen
Drivers can select navigation settings for:
Sound on, off, or alerts only
Display the estimated finishing time or the time remaining
Turn automatic navigation starting after each delivery on/off
How to see disruption alerts for live traffic, incidents, and speed cameras
This Beta feature is currently only available on iOS and is turned off by default.
On a route tap > Navigate
Tap the settings cog icon that appears on the screen
Turn Disruption alerts on
Drivers will now be able to see live disruption alerts on their route, which have been added by Drivers using Google Maps and Waze.
How to submit a disruption alert
Drivers can also submit their own disruption alerts to help other drivers.
Tap the yellow triangle icon at the bottom of the screen and select the type of disruption to report:
Crash
Congestion
Police
Speed camera
Roadworks
Lane closure
Stalled vehicle
Object on road
Read next...
Click here to find out how to make changes to an optimized route, or click here to read more about how to manually order stops on a route.
Got a question?
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