Delivery & courier / Routes
Plan a courier round
Allow for stops, driving, loading and breaks.
Delivery plan
Round duration
Enter delivery stops.
How it works
Put in your numbers
Use your own rates, times and measurements.
See your answer straight away
It works it out as you type.
Copy or print it
Send it on, or keep it with the job.
What it covers: Allow for stops, driving, loading and breaks.
Free to use. No sign-in needed.
How to plan a courier delivery round
A round is not just driving. Time at each stop, loading and sorting, and breaks all count towards the shift. This planner adds them together to show the round duration, whether it fits the shift and how many stops would fit.
- Enter the delivery stops and the minutes per stop. Include parking, walking to the door and getting a signature or photo.
- Enter the total driving time in minutes, or the average drive between stops if you do not have a total. The planner multiplies the average by the number of stops and adds it to any total you enter, so leave the one you do not use at 0.
- Add the loading and sorting time for the round.
- Add break time, and check the rules where you work on driving time and breaks.
- Enter the shift length in hours if you want to see whether the round fits and how many stops would.
- Open Driver cost, choose your currency and add a driver cost per hour if you want the driver cost for the round.
Tips and common mistakes
- Stop times vary a lot between flats, offices and houses. Use the average for this type of round.
- The average drive between stops can miss the drive out to the first stop and back. Use total driving when you know it.
- Failed deliveries and returns take time too. Allow for them if they are common on this round.
- Leave spare time in the shift for traffic and delays rather than planning to the last minute.
Questions
How many deliveries can a driver do in a day?
The planner takes the shift length, subtracts loading and breaks, then divides by the minutes per stop plus each stop's share of the driving. It rounds down to whole stops. The answer depends heavily on your area and parcel type, so use your own times.
How long does a delivery round take?
Add stops multiplied by minutes per stop, total driving, loading and sorting, and breaks. As an illustration, 60 stops at 3 minutes, 150 minutes of driving, 30 minutes of loading and 30 minutes of breaks is 6 hours 30 minutes.
Should I use total driving time or the time between stops?
Use total driving time when you have it from a route plan or past rounds, as it includes getting to and from the area. If not, use the average drive between stops and remember the first and last legs.
How do I work out driver cost for a round?
Multiply the round duration in hours by your hourly driver cost. Use your full cost per hour if you want a true picture of what each round costs.
What if the round does not fit in the shift?
The planner shows how many stops would fit. Move the extra stops to another round, cut stop or driving time where you can, or plan a longer shift within the rules where you work.
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