Add multiple time windows to a stop
Give a customer two acceptable delivery periods on a single stop in Upper. Add both windows during import or in the stop editor so the optimizer fits whichever works best.
Upper lets you set up to two time windows on a single stop. When a stop has two windows, the optimizer treats them as alternatives and sequences the route so the driver arrives within whichever window fits best — useful when a customer is available before lunch or after 3 PM, but not in between.
This guide uses Upper's default driver and delivery labels (Assign Drivers, Proof of Delivery, and so on). If your workspace is set up for field service, you may see Technician and Service instead. The features work the same way.
Why two windows help
A single tight window leaves the optimizer little room to work with. A second window gives it an alternative, so it can sequence the rest of the day around what actually works for the customer instead of forcing one hard slot. If neither window can be met alongside the route's other constraints, Upper flags the stop during optimization so you can adjust.
Before you start
- Plan requirement — Time windows are available on Professional, Optimize, and Enterprise plans.
- Permissions — Any user with route-editing access can set time windows on a stop.
- What you need — Both delivery periods (a start and end time for each window) for the customer.
Where the two windows live
You can add the second window two ways:
- During import — include both windows as columns in your spreadsheet and map them when you bring the file in.
- In the stop editor — open a stop and add the second window by hand.
Both produce the same result: a stop with two acceptable delivery periods.
Add both windows during import
If you're importing stops from a spreadsheet, you can carry both windows in on the same file. Map your columns to these Upper fields on the Review & Import step of the import:
| Upper field | What it holds |
|---|---|
| From (Time Window)1 | Start of the first delivery window |
| To (Time Window)1 | End of the first delivery window |
| From (Time Window)2 | Start of the second delivery window |
| To (Time Window)2 | End of the second delivery window |
Each row maps your data column to a Map to field target. The time-window fields sit in the Stop group of the field dropdown. Upper applies both windows when it optimizes.
Auto-mapping remembers your column setup. If you keep the same headers in the same order on future imports, Upper reuses the mapping — change them and you simply re-map, with no harm done.
Add a second window in the stop editor
Open the route
Go to Route Plan and open the route that contains the stop.
Open the stop's editor
In the stops list, open the stop's Action (…) menu and choose Edit Stop. The stop opens in a side panel with four tabs: Basic Info, Other Info, Capacity, and Parcel Info.
Enter the first time window
On the Basic Info tab, find the Time Window field and set the Earliest and Latest times for the first window.
Add the second window
Click the blue + next to the time window to add a second one, then enter its Earliest and Latest times. A stop can hold up to two windows.
Save
Click Done to save the stop.
Troubleshooting
Still stuck? Reach the team at support@upperinc.com.
Related
Add custom fields to stops
Create custom fields in Upper to track order numbers, service types, or any business data on each stop, then fill them in by import or in the stop editor.
Add package information to stops
Attach parcel details to any stop in Upper — parcel count, where to load it in the vehicle, and a reference photo — so drivers load and deliver faster.