Time At Stop

What does time at stop mean?

Time at stop is the amount of time a vehicle stays put at each delivery location along its route. This isn't just about dropping a package on the doorstep. It covers all the on-site activities that need to happen before a driver can move on to the next stop.

These activities can include:

• Unloading goods
• Getting a signature or confirming delivery with the customer
• Collecting payment
• Completing necessary paperwork

For a driver, this time is a key part of the job. For a logistics manager, it’s a critical variable that needs to be factored into every route plan.

Why is time at stop important?

Planning for time at stop is essential for smooth delivery operations. When you accurately account for how long each stop will take, you can build realistic and reliable schedules. This helps your business:

• Avoid rushed stops: Drivers have enough time to complete all tasks without cutting corners.
• Stay on schedule: Accurate stop times lead to better overall route timing and more reliable ETAs.
• Improve customer satisfaction: Customers get their deliveries within the predicted window, and drivers have time for friendly, professional interactions.

By factoring in variables like customer delays or complex unloading tasks, you balance efficiency with the practical realities of the job. Tools like Geo2 allow drivers to explicitly schedule time at stop into their routes, making sure plans are built for the real world, not just a perfect-world scenario.

For example, if a route has five stops, and each one needs about 10 minutes for unloading and paperwork, that’s 50 minutes of total time at stop. Adding this to the travel time gives you a far more accurate schedule for the entire day.

Make Your Deliveries More Efficient

Understanding and managing your time at stop is a simple but powerful way to improve your delivery operations. By planning for it, you can create more reliable schedules, reduce stress on the road, and keep your customers happy.