Set driver schedules and working hours
Set each driver's shift start, end, and break in Upper from Manage → Users. The optimizer keeps routes inside the working hours you define.
A driver's schedule in Upper lives in the Shift Schedule section of their user profile. You set a start time, an optional end time, and a break, and the optimizer uses those values to keep each route inside the driver's working window.
Setting accurate shift times produces routes you can dispatch with confidence and ETAs you can share with customers. Routes planned without realistic hours assume a driver is always available, which leads to days that run long.
Upper uses driver and delivery labels by default, but your workspace can be set to show Technician and Service instead. If your account uses those terms, the page reads "Users/Technicians" and the role is "Technician." The steps are the same.
Before you start
- Where it lives — In the left sidebar, go to Manage → Users. The page title shows as Users/Drivers (or Users/Technicians).
- Available on every plan — Shift Schedule is part of the standard user profile.
- Have the driver's actual hours ready — Including any time they need for pre-route loading or end-of-day paperwork.
Set the schedule when adding a driver
Open the Add User panel
In the left sidebar, go to Manage → Users, then click + Add User. The Add User panel slides in from the right.
Give the driver the Driver role and fill in their details
In User Role, select Driver, then enter the Name and Email (both required).
Set the Shift Schedule
Scroll to the Shift Schedule section and set:
- Start time — when the driver's shift begins. This is required.
- End time — when the driver's shift ends.
- No Break Required — leave this checked if the driver doesn't take a scheduled break. Uncheck it to set a Break Start and Break End time.
Save
Click Save. The schedule applies to every route generated for that driver going forward.
Edit an existing driver's schedule
Open the driver's row
In the left sidebar, go to Manage → Users and find the driver in the list.
Open Edit User
Click the kebab menu (the … icon) in the Action column and choose Edit User. The Edit User panel slides in.
Update the Shift Schedule and save
Change the Start time, End time, or break settings in the Shift Schedule section, then click Save.
Set realistic times. If a driver leaves the depot at 8:00, set the start time to 8:00 — not 7:30 when they arrive. Overestimating the working window produces routes that look fine on screen but run late in the field.
How the schedule affects routing
- Routes are optimized to fit inside each driver's shift start and end times.
- A driver isn't assigned stops outside their working hours.
- When a break is set, the optimizer factors that time into the total route duration.
When you assign drivers to a route plan, the Assign Drivers table shows each driver's Shift Start and Shift End, so you can confirm the schedule before optimizing.
Troubleshooting
Related
Set a driver's end location
Set where a driver finishes their route in Upper — on the driver's profile or as a workspace default in Schedule Settings — so the optimizer plans the last leg.
Set driver-specific skills or capabilities
Upper has no automatic skill-matching. Use vehicle settings, capacity, max stops, service areas, and pre-assigned drivers to route specialized work to the right driver.