For many waste haulers, route planning still happens with whiteboards, spreadsheets, and best guesses from experienced drivers. And while that method may work in the short term, it leaves money, time, and customer satisfaction on the table.
The good news? You don’t need expensive route optimization software to see real improvements. With the right route management tools (like those in Hauler Hero) you can build smarter, more efficient routes with the team and data you already have.
Here are 5 practical steps to get started:
1. Set Clear Routing Goals
Start by defining the purpose behind your route improvements. Are you aiming to cut down on fuel usage? Balance workloads among drivers? Add new service areas? Or reduce overtime hours?
Having a clear objective will help you evaluate changes more effectively and measure success. Hauler Hero’s route management system lets you track key data to support those decisions, without the need for automation.
2. Map Out Your Existing Routes
Before making changes, you need a full view of what’s happening today. Use Hauler Hero to log and visualize your current routes: stops, frequency, driver assignments, service types, and timing.
This helps identify problem areas like overlapping routes, missed pickups, or overloaded drivers. You can’t fix what you can’t see.
3. Use Real-World Driver Feedback
Your drivers are your best field experts. Collect their input on traffic patterns, time-consuming stops, or customer access issues. These details are often overlooked in software-generated routes but can make a big difference in day-to-day performance.
With Hauler Hero, you can log driver notes and adjust routes accordingly, making your system more dynamic and responsive.
4. Test and Adjust Routes Manually
Unlike automated optimization tools, Hauler Hero lets you take a hands-on approach to route design. Use our drag-and-drop tools to build, edit, and assign routes manually—based on what you’re seeing in the data and hearing from your team.
Then test small changes and track results over time. This iterative approach avoids disruption while still driving measurable efficiency gains.
5. Monitor Performance and Refine Over Time
Route management is never a one-and-done task. Monitor key metrics like time-on-route, number of stops per route, and missed pickups. Hauler Hero gives you the visibility to adjust routes as customer volume, geography, or staffing evolves.
Better yet, you can compare route performance over time and make continuous improvements, without needing to invest in a complex optimization system.
Route optimization software might grab the headlines, but with Hauler Hero, you don’t need it to make major operational improvements. By setting smart goals, using real-world insights, and taking advantage of our flexible route management tools, you can build better routes, and a more efficient business, starting today.
Ready to take control of your routing? Let’s talk.