Merge routes
Merge routes in Upper by moving stops from one route into another and re-optimizing. Consolidate drivers, balance workload, or fold a small route into a larger run.
Upper Route Planner doesn't have a one-click merge button, but you can combine two routes by moving their stops into a single route and re-optimizing. Use this to consolidate drivers, balance the workload across your team, or fold a small overflow route into a larger run.
Why this matters
Real dispatch isn't always one route per driver. A driver finishes early and can pick up another driver's last few stops. A small overflow route is better folded into a main run. Merging lets you bring those stops together into one optimized route instead of rebuilding from scratch.
Before you start
- Plan requirement — Available on every plan, including Starter.
- Permissions — You need create-route and edit-route permission and access to Route Plan.
- Two routes to work with — The target route (the one you're merging into) and the source route (the one you're merging from).
Depending on how your workspace is set up, you may see Technician and Service labels where this article says Driver and Delivery. The steps are the same either way.
How merging works
There's no single merge button in Upper. Instead, you bring the source route's stops into the target route, then re-optimize so the combined stop list runs in an efficient sequence. How you bring the stops over depends on whether the two routes live in the same multi-driver plan or in separate plans.
- Same plan (two drivers' routes): reassign the source stops onto the target driver inside the optimized view, then re-optimize.
- Separate plans: copy or rebuild the source stops into the target route, then re-optimize and remove the empty source route.
Method 1: merge two drivers' routes in the same plan
If both routes are part of one multi-driver route plan, reassign the source driver's stops onto the target driver, then re-optimize.
Open the optimized route plan
Open the multi-driver plan in Route Plan so both drivers' routes are loaded.
Switch to the stop-list (Routes) view
Use the Routes sub-tab so you can see each driver's stops on the map and in the list.
Select the source driver's stops
Box-select the stops on the map to choose the ones you want to move. A "Selected N stops" popover appears.
Reassign them to the target driver
In the popover, choose Reassign to another Technician (driver-mode: Reassign to another Driver), pick the target driver, then confirm with Reassign.
Re-optimize the combined route
Run Optimize Route again so the target driver's now-larger stop list is sequenced efficiently.
To hand a driver's entire run to someone else (rather than rebalancing a few stops), use Swap route with Technician from the per-route … menu in the Timeline view. It reassigns the whole route in one step.
Method 2: merge routes from separate plans
When the two routes are in separate route plans, bring the source stops into the target route, then re-optimize and clean up.
Open the target route
Open the route you want to merge into from your My Route Plan list.
Bring the source stops in
Add the source route's stops to the target route using any of Upper's add-stops methods — add them manually, or import them from a file.
Re-optimize the combined route
Run Optimize Route so the merged stop list is sequenced into one efficient route.
Remove the empty source route
Once its stops are merged in, delete the source route from its … Action menu using Delete Route.
Re-optimizing the merged route can push it past the driver's shift hours or vehicle capacity. After merging, confirm the combined route still fits — Upper surfaces constraint issues when you re-optimize. If it doesn't fit, move some stops back out or assign part of the work to another driver.
Common scenarios
- A driver finishes early — Box-select the remaining stops on another driver's route, reassign them to the early-finishing driver, and re-optimize their run.
- Two small routes consolidated for tomorrow — Bring both sets of stops into one route, re-optimize, and delete the leftover route.
- Test a merge before committing — Build the combined route, re-optimize, and check whether it fits the shift and capacity. Keep it or revert based on the result.
Troubleshooting
Related
Manually reorder stops after optimization
After Upper optimizes a route, reorder stops by hand to fit local knowledge the optimizer can't see, then lock the route so re-optimizing won't undo it.
Plan routes for multiple days
Plan routes for several days in Upper by creating one route per date, then dispatch each one when it's needed. Drivers see a route once you share it.