Assign a specific driver to a stop
Lock a stop to a chosen driver in Upper using the Pre-Assigned Driver field. Set it on a stop or during import, and optimization keeps the stop on that driver.
Some stops have to go to one particular person — a customer who only trusts a specific driver, a job that needs the driver carrying the right equipment, or a high-value drop you want on a trusted route. Upper handles this with the Pre-Assigned Driver field on a stop. Set it once, and optimization keeps that stop on the driver you chose while distributing the rest of your stops across the fleet automatically.
Your workspace may label drivers as Technicians. If so, this field reads Pre-Assigned Technician — it works exactly the same way.
Before you start
- Plan requirement — The Pre-Assigned Driver field is available on the Optimize and Enterprise plans. On other plans the field and its import column are locked and show an upgrade prompt.
- What you need — The driver must already exist on your account. Only drivers set up in your workspace appear in the field.
Two ways to assign a driver
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Stop editor | A quick one-off assignment on a single stop |
| Import column | Pre-assigning many stops at once from a spreadsheet |
Assign a driver from the stop editor
Open the stop
In your route plan, open the stop list and find the stop. From the stop's Action (…) menu choose Edit Stop. The Edit a Stop panel opens on the right.
Find the Pre-Assigned Driver field
On the Basic Info tab, scroll to Pre-Assigned Driver.
Choose your driver
Open the dropdown and select the driver this stop should go to.
Save
Click Done to save the stop.
You can also set the Pre-Assigned Driver on a saved contact. When that contact is added as a stop, the pre-assignment comes along with it — handy for a customer who should always be served by the same driver.
Assign drivers during import
If you're uploading many stops at once, pre-assign them in bulk from your spreadsheet.
Add a column to your file
Add a column for the driver — for example a header named Pre-Assigned Driver. Enter the driver's name on the rows you want to lock, and leave it blank for stops the optimizer should place freely.
Map the column during import
In the Review & Import step, map your column to the Pre-Assigned Driver/Technician target field.
Finish the import
Complete the import. The pre-assignments are applied to those stops.
How pre-assignment interacts with optimization
When you run Optimize Route, each pre-assigned stop stays on the driver you chose. Every remaining stop is distributed across the drivers you included, using your workload distribution settings.
A pre-assigned stop stays on your chosen driver even when another driver would be a closer or faster fit. Pre-assign only the stops that genuinely need a specific driver — the more stops you pin, the less room the optimizer has to build efficient routes.
When to assign a specific driver
| Scenario | Reason |
|---|---|
| Customer relationship | A customer wants the same driver every time |
| Specialized skills | Only certain drivers are trained or certified for this work |
| Territory ownership | Drivers "own" specific neighborhoods or zones |
| Vehicle requirements | The stop needs the driver running a particular vehicle |
Troubleshooting
Related
Address validation statuses
Reference for Upper's four address validation statuses: Verified, Needs Review, Not Found, and Duplicate. See what each one means and the action to take.
Assign priority levels to stops
Set Crucial, High, Medium, or Low priority on stops in Upper so your most important deliveries are considered first when the optimizer builds the route.