Add stops from contacts
Build a route in Upper from your saved Contacts: select records from the list, or draw a shape on the contact map, then create a new route or add to an existing one.
Your Contacts list in Upper is a reusable address book. Instead of retyping the same addresses every time, you can pull saved contacts straight onto a route — either by selecting them from the list or by drawing a shape around them on the map. When a contact becomes a stop, the details you saved on that contact carry over with it.
This guide uses Upper's default labels (Drivers, Delivery). Your workspace may be configured to show Technician and Service instead — the steps are the same.
Before you start
- Contacts saved first — You need at least one saved contact. Add contacts one at a time or import them in bulk from Manage > Contacts.
- A start/depot address — If your account has no start address set yet, Upper prompts you for a depot address the first time you create a route from contacts.
Two ways to turn contacts into stops
You can work from your contact list in two ways:
- Select records from the list — tick the contacts you want, then create or add to a route. Best for picking specific customers.
- Draw a shape on the map — switch to map view and draw an outline around an area to grab every contact inside it. Best for building a route by neighborhood or zone.
Both paths end at the same two actions: Create New Route or Add To Existing Route.
Select contacts from the list
Open your contacts
Go to Manage > Contacts. The My Contacts tab shows your full address book.
Narrow the list (optional)
Use Search or the Filter dropdown to narrow things down — for example, filter by city, state, or one of your custom fields.
Tick the contacts you want
Select the checkbox next to each contact you want on the route. You can also use the select-all checkbox to take the whole filtered list.
Open the add menu and choose an action
With one or more contacts selected, the toolbar switches to bulk actions. Open the + menu and choose:
- Create New Route — starts a brand-new route from the selected contacts.
- Add To Existing Route — adds the selected contacts as stops to a route you already have.
If your account doesn't have a start (depot) address yet, Upper asks you to set one before it builds the route. Add the depot address and continue.
Draw a shape on the contact map
When you want everyone in an area rather than named customers, use map view.
Switch to map view
On Manage > Contacts, use the map/list toggle at the top right (next to Export) to switch from the table to the map. Contacts appear as pins.
Draw an outline around the contacts
Use the map's drawing tool to draw a shape around the contacts you want. Every contact pin inside the shape is selected.
Create or add to a route
With the contacts selected, open the + menu and choose Create New Route or Add To Existing Route.
What carries over from a contact to a stop
When a contact becomes a stop, the details saved on that contact come with it, including:
- Address
- Full name and company name
- Phone and email (used for customer notifications)
- Nick name
- Notes
- Service time
- Time windows
- Stop type (Delivery / Pickup)
- Pre-assigned drivers
- Any contact custom fields you've set up
Adding a contact to a route never removes it from your Contacts list. You can build the same route from the same contacts again next week.
Common scenarios
- Weekly recurring route — Filter Contacts (for example by a custom field), select all, then Create New Route. Same customers, a fresh route.
- New territory roll-out — Switch to the map, draw a shape around the new zone, and create a route for whichever driver covers it.
- Adding a few regulars to an existing run — Select those contacts and choose Add To Existing Route.
Troubleshooting
Related
Add or remove stops from an optimized route
Add new stops or delete existing ones on a route in Upper, then re-optimize so the sequence stays efficient. Edit any route in the route builder.
Add stops manually
Add stops one at a time in Upper Route Planner with + Add Stop Manually. Type an address, pick a verified match, and the pin drops on your route map.