How to Optimize Delivery Routes

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Last Updated: June 27, 2025

Table of Contents

Introduction: Why Optimize Delivery Routes?

Optimizing delivery routes is crucial for maximizing efficiency and profits in your business. Whether you operate a small delivery service or manage a large fleet, finding the most efficient routes can save time, reduce costs, and boost your bottom line. While tools like Google Maps are suitable for simpler needs, Maptitude offers a comprehensive solution for businesses requiring advanced routing features, including support for multiple vehicles and depots.

This guide will explore both Google Maps and Maptitude for route planning. We’ll cover how each tool works, when to use them, and the unique benefits they offer.

Planning Delivery Routes Using Google Maps

Google Maps is a widely accessible tool that provides a simple way to plan basic delivery routes. Here’s how you can get started:

  1. Open Google Maps in your web browser.
  2. Enter your destination in the search bar.
  3. Click “Directions” and enter your starting point.
  4. Google Maps will calculate the quickest route to your destination(s).

Limitations of Google Maps

While Google Maps is useful for basic deliveries, it has some limitations:

  • A maximum of 10 stops per route.
  • One route can be planned at a time.
  • Routes cannot be saved for future use.
  • No built-in option to reorder stops for an optimized path.

Due to these constraints, Google Maps is best suited for smaller-scale operations with straightforward routing needs.

Planning Delivery Routes Using Maptitude

Maptitude is a powerful mapping software that provides greater flexibility and advanced routing capabilities for more complex delivery requirements. It allows you to optimize routes, handle multiple vehicles, and customize routes based on specific needs. You can try the steps in this article using your own license of Maptitude or request a free trial of Maptitude mapping software.

Single Route Planning with Maptitude

To plan a single delivery route using Maptitude:

  1. Download Maptitude or use your existing license.
  2. Navigate to Tools > Routing & Directions > Routing & Directions Manager.
  3. Enter your stops manually or import them from a table.
  4. Click “Optimize” to reorder your stops for the most efficient route.
  5. Optionally, you can display your route over a Google Maps background for familiar visualization.

Multiple Route Planning with Maptitude

For businesses needing to manage multiple vehicles or depots, Maptitude’s multi-route planning tools offer a more robust solution:

  1. Open Maptitude and go to Tools > Routing & Directions > Routing Deliveries and Pickups.
  2. Import your stops and depots using a pre-prepared table or manual entry.
  3. Select “Create New Vehicle Routes” and choose your settings:
    • Specify the operation mode as Delivery.
    • Choose your stops and depots from the appropriate layers.
    • Add and assign vehicles, specifying costs, capacities, and schedules.

Maptitude will automatically generate the most efficient set of delivery routes based on your criteria.

Advanced Delivery Route Optimization with Maptitude

For more complex delivery scenarios, Maptitude offers advanced tools that allow you to fine-tune every aspect of your delivery routes. Here are some additional features and capabilities:

Creating Routes Using Sample Data

If you’re unfamiliar with Maptitude, start with sample data to understand the software’s capabilities:

  1. Open a new map of the United States from the Home Window.
  2. Add data from the “Logistics.xlsx” file included in the Maptitude tutorial directory.
  3. Import client and depot information from the relevant sheets and walk through the geocoding steps.
  4. Use the Routing Deliveries and Pickups tool to create routes.

Customizing Routes for Multiple Vehicles

Maptitude allows for highly customizable multi-vehicle routes:

  1. Match delivery, service, and time window fields from your data.
  2. Assign trucks to depots, setting costs and vehicle capacities.
  3. Schedule breaks, balance routes by various factors like time or distance, and manage vehicle constraints.

Exporting and Modifying Delivery Reports

Maptitude enables easy adjustments and reporting:

  • Use the toolbar to revisit earlier steps and modify inputs.
  • Re-run calculations based on updated parameters.
  • Export delivery reports in PDF format for sharing and review.

Conclusion

While Google Maps provides a user-friendly way to handle straightforward delivery planning, Maptitude is an advanced tool for businesses that need scalable, efficient route optimization. With capabilities like multiple vehicle routing, precise scheduling, and integrated data management, Maptitude empowers you to handle complex delivery scenarios effectively.

To learn more about route planning software, you can sign up for an upcoming Maptitude webinar or view a recording of a previous webinar.

If you are looking to create routes for each day of the week, you can follow this article.

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