Use GPS coordinates instead of addresses
Add stops by latitude and longitude in Upper when a street address doesn't exist or is too imprecise. Works for manual entry and for bulk import.
Some stops don't have a usable street address — a construction site, a rural property on an unnamed road, or a loading dock buried inside a large campus. For these, you can pin the exact spot with GPS coordinates instead. Upper Route Planner stores a latitude and longitude for every stop, so you can set the precise location your driver should reach rather than a street name that lands them at the wrong gate.
When coordinates help
Reach for coordinates when a street address can't pinpoint the stop:
| Scenario | Why coordinates help |
|---|---|
| Rural or remote drops | No formal street address exists |
| Construction sites | Temporary locations without a registered address |
| Large warehouses or campuses | Direct the driver to a specific dock or gate, not the main entrance |
| Custom drop points | The exact spot matters more than the nearest street |
Enter coordinates in decimal degrees, latitude first and longitude second — for example, 40.7128, -74.0060. Use a minus sign for locations west of the Prime Meridian (most of the Americas) or south of the equator. Degrees-minutes-seconds format is not used.
Add one stop by coordinates
The stop editor includes dedicated Latitude and Longitude fields, so you can set a stop's location by coordinate rather than by address.
Open or create a route
Go to Route Plan, then open an existing route or select + Create Route to start a new one.
Add a stop and open its details
Use the add-stops menu and choose Add Stops (With Details) to open the stop editor side panel.
Enter the latitude and longitude
In the stop's details, enter the Latitude and Longitude values for the location.
Save the stop
Select Done. The stop is added to your route at the coordinate you entered.
If you don't see Latitude and Longitude in your stops table, open Customize Columns (the settings icon next to Search) and turn them on. You can reorder the columns from the same panel.
Add many stops by coordinates (bulk import)
If you have a list of coordinate-based stops, include Latitude and Longitude columns in your spreadsheet and import the file. Upper accepts .xls, .xlsx, and .csv files.
Prepare your file
Add a Latitude column and a Longitude column to your spreadsheet alongside any other stop details. A Download the Sample link in the import screen gives you a template to follow.
Import with preview
In the add-stops menu, choose Import with Preview so you can check and validate your data before it's added.
Map your columns
During the preview, map your spreadsheet's latitude and longitude columns to Upper's Latitude and Longitude fields. Upper saves your column mapping for next time.
Confirm the import
Finish the import. Your stops are added to the route.
Import with Preview lets you catch formatting problems before the stops land on your route, which is the safest option for a coordinate-based list.
Troubleshooting
Your workspace may label drivers as Technicians and deliveries as Service. The steps are the same whichever labels you see. Still stuck? Email support@upperinc.com.
Related
Swap routes between drivers
Hand an entire route to a different driver in Upper from the optimized Timeline view, or reassign a route from its summary card when plans change mid-day.
View my route on a map
See any route on a map in Upper Route Planner. Numbered stop pins, a Map/Satellite toggle, and a quick scan that catches misplaced stops before dispatch.