Optimization parameters
Set Upper's route optimization defaults in User Settings: optimize for distance or time, balance workload across drivers, service time, vehicle type, and road preferences.
Upper builds your routes from a set of optimization parameters you control in Settings. These defaults decide how the optimizer sequences stops, how it splits work across drivers, how long it allows at each stop, and which roads it favors. Set them once to match your most common day, and Upper applies them to every route you plan.
Why this matters
The optimizer is only as good as the parameters you give it. Tell it to minimize distance and you cut miles and fuel; tell it to minimize time and you lean toward faster completion. Choose Min Drivers and Upper packs work onto the fewest people possible; choose Equalize Workload (Equal Stops) and everyone gets a comparable day. Knowing what each lever does is the difference between routes that fit your operation and routes you keep reworking by hand.
Before you start
- These parameters live in Settings > General > User Settings and act as your account-wide defaults.
- You manage account settings from the dispatcher dashboard at my.upperinc.com.
This article uses the default driver and delivery labels. If your workspace is set up for field service, you may see Technician and Service wording instead (for example "Curbside Service" rather than "Curbside Delivery"). The settings work the same either way.
Available parameters
The optimization parameters on the User Settings page:
| Parameter | Options | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
| Service Time (Average Time per Stop) | Time value (default 00:08) | How long the optimizer allows at each stop |
| Units | Miles / Kilometers | Distance units used across the account |
| Optimize For | Distance / Time | Whether routes favor shorter distance or faster completion |
| Workload Distribution | 5 modes (see below) | How stops are split across your drivers |
| Vehicle Type | Dynamic list (for example, Truck) | Affects road restrictions and routing |
| Driving Preferences Avoid | Highways / None / Highways and Tolls | Which road types the optimizer avoids |
| Default Navigation Map | Google, Apple, Waze, Map's.Me, Yandex, Sygic, In App Navigation | The navigation app a driver hands off to on their phone |
| Curbside Delivery (Road Side) | Any Side / Left / Right | Which side of the road stops are placed on |
Service time and vehicle type have the biggest impact on how Upper calculates a route. Get those two right before fine-tuning the rest.
Workload Distribution modes
Workload Distribution is a radio group with five modes:
- Auto Workload Balancing — Upper balances stops across all available drivers.
- Equalize Workload (Equal Stops) — aims for an equal stop count per driver.
- Balance Workload (Equal Time) — aims for equal driving time per driver.
- Maximize Efficiency — reduces the total time to complete all stops.
- Min Drivers — uses the fewest drivers possible.
Change your optimization defaults
Open Settings
From the left sidebar, go to Manage > Settings.
Open User Settings
Under General, select User Settings.
Adjust the parameters
Set Optimize For, Workload Distribution, Service Time, Vehicle Type, Driving Preferences Avoid, Default Navigation Map, and Curbside Delivery to fit your operation.
Save
Click Save at the bottom of the page.
These are defaults. Set the values that match your most common day, then adjust on the rare exceptions rather than editing the defaults every time.
Common scenarios
- You want to cut fuel and miles — set Optimize For to Distance so the optimizer minimizes total distance.
- You're under pressure to finish faster — set Optimize For to Time so the optimizer leans toward faster completion.
- One driver always ends up with far more stops than the others — switch Workload Distribution to Equalize Workload (Equal Stops) or Balance Workload (Equal Time).
- You want to run lean on a slow day — set Workload Distribution to Min Drivers so Upper packs work onto the fewest drivers it can.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
Related
Manage multiple service zones
View, edit, delete, and organize every service zone in Upper from Settings > Coverage > Service Area — Allowed and Restricted areas on one map.
Restrict routes to a specific area
Create a Restricted Area in Upper to flag stops that fall inside no-go zones, so dispatchers can review them before a route is built or dispatched.