For field service techs
Build a drive-time baseline for service calls
Typical route setup
- Route size
- One technician's jobs plus the start and finish, up to 100 addresses total
- What drives the order
- Appointment windows and variable job lengths can override the efficient drive-time order.
- Where the list comes from
- A dispatch board, a scheduling tool, or a text message the night before.
Why service routes are a different problem
Delivery routes are often driven mostly by stop order. Service routes also depend on appointment windows and how long each job takes. A visit scheduled from 10:00 AM to noon and a diagnostic call with an uncertain duration can determine much of the day before distance is considered.
That changes what a route planner is good for. It cannot resolve your schedule. It can compare estimated drive times between flexible jobs and expose an unnecessarily long leg.
A workflow that fits the product
1. Load the complete day
Add every job, choose the day’s start and finish, and correct any uncertain address matches. Those two endpoints are the only stops kept fixed during optimization.
2. Optimize a drive-time baseline
Let Sort My Stops reorder every intermediate stop by estimated drive time. This gives you a useful geographic baseline, not a finished appointment schedule.
3. Move time-sensitive jobs manually
Drag confirmed appointments into the positions their windows require. Read the updated drive times between stops and check that each commitment still has enough slack.
4. Add realistic job time
The schedule controls support one shared visit duration and one break. If jobs vary, add the longer calls manually when deciding whether another appointment fits.
Keep job details with each stop
Which unit to visit. The breaker panel is in the garage. Bring the 3/8 fittings. Park on the street, not the drive.
Every one of these lives in someone’s head or a text thread, and none of it is in the address. Attaching it to the stop puts it on the printed sheet and on the phone when you arrive.
When you need field service software
If you are dispatching several techs, assigning jobs by skill, tracking parts inventory or enforcing real time windows, you need field service management software. This planner is intended for one person arranging one day of calls.
Frequently asked questions
Can I set appointment times or time windows?
No. The optimizer does not enforce individual time windows or keep intermediate stops fixed. Optimize the full list as a baseline, then drag time-sensitive jobs into the required order and review the drive times again.
Can I account for how long each job takes?
You can set one departure time, the same visit duration for every stop and one optional break. You cannot assign a different duration to each job, so account for longer calls manually before deciding whether the day fits.
Is this useful for only eight stops?
It depends on geography and the order you already have. Compare the estimated total before and after optimization; tightly clustered jobs may change little, while a spread-out list may show avoidable backtracking.
Can I keep notes for each job?
Yes. Notes appear in the planner and printout, and for stops included in the first-25-stop mobile checklist. They can also be included in shared URLs. Do not add passwords, access codes or sensitive personal data.
What about an emergency call mid-day?
Add the address to the remaining stops and re-optimize from your current location. Processing time varies, so do this while parked and review the revised commitments before continuing.
Does it handle truck restrictions?
No. Routing assumes a car or van. Bridge heights, weight limits and hazmat restrictions are not modeled, so use a vehicle-appropriate routing product if those restrictions apply.
Try it with tomorrow's stop list
Choose the start and finish, optimize the stops between them, and compare the result with your current order.
Open the optimizer