![]() ![]() A driver can then open the link on their mobile device whenever they’re ready to start the route, and use their Google Maps mobile app to get turn-by-turn directions. Copy this link, and then you can send the whole route by text or email to anyone. This will pop up a window with a direct, shareable link to your whole route. Instead, click on the ≡ “hamburger” menu at the top left of your screen and then on “Share or embed map”. To share your route, ignore the “Send directions to your phone” link at the bottom of your route (unless you’re the driver, your current location is the start location and you’re ready to drive immediately). Watch the video below to see how it works in real time, or skip to the text if you prefer to read. Just open up Google Maps and your spreadsheet, and deal with the stops one by one! Now that you’ve done all the prep work, actually creating routes is relatively easy, if time-consuming. Create your routes in Google Maps route planner For example, you could visit different areas on different days of the week. They’ll also have the chance to build up their knowledge of the area so they can navigate it more efficiently.Įven if you only have one delivery driver (or you’re the driver!), creating territories or zones can help you deliver more efficiently. ![]() If each driver is assigned to one area, instead of all the drivers criss-crossing the city, they’ll drive shorter distances and use less fuel. If one delivery has to be made before 9am and another after 2pm, they may need to go in separate routes even if they are close together.Ĭreating zones like this is especially helpful if you use the same regular drivers. Remember to check your notes for delivery time windows and any special instructions. We cheated a bit and made sure each zone had exactly 10 stops – the chances are you won’t be so lucky and will still have to do some refining, but this is a good start. In the video above, we’ve created four different delivery zones. Now you can add a column to create delivery zones. Google Maps can plan multi-stop routes up to a limit of 10 stops, so you’ll need to work in batches of 10 deliveries at a time.įirst, sort your spreadsheet by zip code/postal code, city or suburb - whichever makes sense for your needs. Let’s see how to do actual route planning! Tutorial: How to plan a delivery route with Google Maps 1. Even if you're a solo driver, there are mobile apps for delivery routes that do a lot more than Google Maps.īut if you’re not ready for that yet, Google Maps can still be a good-enough way to get the job done. If you need something more powerful than Google Maps to manage your routes, you can probably save time and money by using route planning software. You will need to put in a lot of effort, though, and you won’t get the most efficient routes.
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