Overview

OneRail Routing optimizes delivery routes by applying key constraints to ensure efficiency and compliance. Vehicle capacity is enforced by evaluating item weight and dimensions to prevent overloading. Market hours define the operational window, with OneRail maximizing route length while ensuring completion within that time frame. Strict pickup and drop-off appointment windows are honored using defined open/close times and optional service durations.

For further information on the technical implementation of routing, refer to the following article: API Use Case - Routing

Factors to Consider

Note: Routing is a complex process and many other different variables can impact it other than those listed in this article. This can include traffic patterns, vehicle types, weather, and more.

1. Drive Time and Market Hours

This is one of the most critical constraints in OneRail Routing.

• Market hours define the time window during which the driver can operate in a specific area.
• Drive time (including loading/unloading time) is calculated to ensure the entire route can be completed within the market hours.
• If needed, the engine maximizes route length (utilization) within the market window, essentially trying to create the longest possible route that still finishes on time.

2. Vehicle Capacity and Item Dimensionality

OneRail Routing uses vehicle constraints like volume (cubic dimensions) and weight to determine if a set of deliveries can fit within a single route. Items and containers are defined by:

• Length, width, height
• Weight
• Quantity per item, container, or delivery

The routing engine ensures that all items assigned to a route do not exceed the vehicle's defined maximums. These constraints ensure feasible loading and compliance with vehicle limits.

3. Appointment Time (Pickup and Dropoff Time Windows)

OneRail Routing supports strict pickup and dropoff appointment windows, defined by opensOn and closesOn timestamps for each stop.

The routing engine schedules stops to respect these windows and may fail to assign deliveries to a route if constraints cannot be met.

4. Support to Return to Pickup to Refill Vehicle

OneRail Routing supports routing scenarios that allow vehicles to have multiple drop-offs and multiple pickups. This is typically achieved through:

• Defining the pickup location as both a start and midpoint stop
• Splitting routes into multiple "legs" with returns to base in between
• Maintaining capacity rules across segments (reloading resets capacity)