How do I optimise my fleet's routes?

Route optimisation cuts kilometres, fuel and driving hours. The key is to group stops smartly, respect legal driving times and always compare the plan against real execution (delivery dates, kilometres driven). Below are the steps that cut cost per trip the most.

Short answer

Group stops by area and delivery windows, not in the order the orders arrived.
Set the stop order by distance and time — with a map or a dedicated optimiser; 4transports does not optimise routes automatically.
Account for driving and rest times (Reg. (EC) 561/2006) and road restrictions.
Compare the planned date with the real delivery date and correct the deviations.
Measure cost per trip after each day and adjust the planning.

The route optimisation steps

Import the orders with addresses, delivery windows and weight or volume.
Group stops by area and set their order (manually or with a dedicated optimiser).
Check driving times and breaks, so the plan respects Reg. (EC) 561/2006.
Assign the driver and vehicle and follow the trip status until delivery.
Compare the plan with real execution and adjust the planning for the next day.

Practical example

Example: a distribution company with its own fleet had 14 stops per route, planned manually in order-arrival sequence. After reordering the stops by area and delivery windows, it kept deliveries on schedule with no extra trucks.

Common mistakes

Planning stops in order-arrival sequence, not by area and delivery windows.
Ignoring driving times and legal breaks, then the route can't be kept.
Not comparing the plan with real execution, so you don't see where kilometres and time are lost.

How 4transports helps

4transports does not optimise routes automatically: it keeps your trip planning (origin, destination, date, distance, driver, vehicle) in one place.
See which drivers and vehicles are available, on a trip or in service when you assign the trip.
Planned vs. delivery date on every trip and the on-time delivery rate in the report.