It's one of the main new methodologies for hauling freight or delivering any kind of goods: all sorts of businesses use routing software to get their cargo from A to B and on multiple trips. Delivery routing software contributes to an efficient business, quicker delivery times, better fuel economy, and more.

If you're looking to purchase or consider routing software, there are a few things that can really improve your results. Taking time to think about these aspects of routing software can give you the best savings in the long run. Some of the businesses that can benefit the most from delivery or truck routing software include:

1. long-distance trucking firms, especially those with larger fleets, where routing software takes care of a lot of practical aspects of the business.

2. courier firms that need delivery route software or mileage software to deliver in record times.

3. any kind of company where staffers need to drive frequently for any reason.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get full mapping features in vehicle routing software

For dispatchers, drivers or anyone involved in the process, mapping is key: the innovative features of cutting edge routing and scheduling software products includes 'real-time' mapping features for displaying where fleet vehicles are at any time, as well as other GPS enabled features for quick routing and more.

I recommend: The programs at DieselBoss include extensive mapping features. Find more programs with mapping technologies across North America, point-to-point systems and more, at the Axon Store PC Miler product page.

Find routing software for the tricks of the industry for better fuel economy

You may have heard about U.P.S. saving thousands of gallons of fuel using specific software that eliminates left turns. There are many ways to cut down on gas guzzling with neat innovative software solutions. Take advantage of technology to save some petro-dollars.

I recommend: Get fuel economy solutions from Telogis to make the most of your fleet. Or ask Dynamic Routing Solutions how no-left-turn or other features can maximize your fleet's trips.

Specialize your routing software to your business

Some companies offering route management software focus on long distance trucking; others provide products that will fit the needs of clients like companies that just need to track auto use for human services, small deliveries, and more. Customize your solution by looking at firms that match your business needs.

I recommend: Thousands of trucking companies rely on Prophesy products to keep their trips flowing. Same day courier companies can use CXT Software for all vehicles to plan deliveries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get as precise as you can with what you need in routing software. Extra special features like dispatch admin tools and tax tracking can be great, but only if you don't already have a source for those services. If you already have an accountant, for example, you don't want to double up on extra financial features for your commercial routing software. Make an efficient buy and save big bucks when your people go out on the road.

With the ever-increasing cost of fuel these days, mileage and routing software for your moving company will decrease headaches for your drivers and significantly cut costs for your entire business. By slashing administration time once spent manually figuring out routes and decreasing miles driven thanks to GPS programs, you’ll be hard pressed to remember how you ever conducted your business before you had transportation routing software.

In this guide, you’ll learn how routing and scheduling software can:

1. Decrease fuel expenses by shortening routes and finding low gas prices;
2. Manage client contact information to improve marketing efforts;
3. Integrate all aspects of your business with a one-stop routing program stop.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a handle on your routes with delivery routing software

Whether you have a fleet of 5 or 500 moving trucks, delivery routing software can ease the facilitation of your vehicle routing process.

I recommend: InterGis truck routing software finds ways to integrate more jobs without adding more vehicles. Smart Service is a QuickBooks add-on vehicle routing software program that manages routing, scheduling and dispatching while also keeping track of customer information.

Decrease miles while increasing profits

Mileage software for moving companies not only finds the shortest route for your drivers but also helps them on their merry way with voice-assisted GPS systems. The money you'll save by providing drivers with accurate, multiple routes to choose from will pay for the mileage programs in no time.

I recommend: In addition to mileage software, ProMiles offers a fuel management feature that includes daily updates on the lowest fuel prices in the area. R*KOM tracks mileage, expenses and maintenance on as many vehicles as you have in your fleet.

Find an integrated truck routing software solution

Instead of having multiple programs to handle different aspects of your vehicle management needs, choose an integrated vehicle routing software package that can manage all tasks.

I recommend: Axon and Prophecy offer software that goes beyond setting up routes -- they also help simplify tax reporting, accounts payable and more.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As with any software, you'll want to make sure your computer meets the system requirements of the route management software you choose. Also check out the availability of technical support for any installation or everyday problems you may encounter.

The use of routing software is a big improvement in the way all kinds of delivery and freight companies do business: shops both large and small are increasingly going with computerized delivery routing software solutions for fuel economy, good project tracking, and overall diagnostics for day to day administration of a fleet. By looking at a "big picture,” computerized programs can cut unnecessary mileage out of routes, and save money over time, as well as recording all of what goes on in a particular business for effective oversight.

When you want to know what's going on in this explosive industry, you can get quick updates over the web by checking out some sites that talk about how route management software is revolutionizing the trucking, courier and delivery sectors over time. Readers might look for:

1. News on products and services from big truck routing software providers.

2. Industry news on how these products help truckers and others manage trips.

3. 'Street-level' reactions to company vehicle routing software products and info.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get routing software news from big providers

The home pages of big routing and mileage software vendors have some industry news that can clue readers in on how that company's products are competing within the sector. Look for press releases and product roll-outs to find out about what's new for commercial routing software.

I recommend: The site for ProMiles, a premier routing software service company, contains press releases and ongoing news. Find more at DPS International.

Find routing software news from trucking job sector sites

As truckers use routing software as much as any other kind of driver, you can find news on routing software at the sites where truckers get together to share knowledge and compare notes. These sites provide diverse news on routing software and how it impacts long hauls.

I recommend: Look for news on routing software at industry site eTrucker.com. Layover.com, another trucker site, gives more info on routing software and how these products are for use in the industry and how the features of various packages work to make trucking more efficient.

Look for more on routing software from blogs and online article pages

For looking at outside perspectives and reactions to some of the innovations in route mapping software, check out blogs, collaborative business pages, and other online sources to get clued in on how the routing software system works for companies using it to their advantage, and how it might work out to get similar solutions into a business you are running or managing.

I recommend: Blog-style pages at Business Week show off some new improvements in transportation routing software. Bloggers react to new industry news and products for routing software at Technorati.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Always keep an eye out for an efficient routing software buy that corresponds to the way you do business day to day. Keep notes on what you see for bringing up the issue in a staff meeting or talking to top brass about fitting delivery route software into your business.

Mileage and routing software can automate complex functions that employees previously had to perform manually. As a result, this saves companies money and time as employees can then do other tasks. Mileage and routing software can calculate the number of miles that truckers drove. It also produces maps so that it can let employees know where the roadblocks are. Become more knowledgeable about mileage and routing software by learning the following key words.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Mileage software

Mileage software is a software application that can automatically perform difficult tasks, such as calculating miles. This software can also estimate how long it will take to get from one point to another, as well as find the best routes for multiple-stop trips.

I recommend: Visit Mile to learn how mileage software not only calculates mileage, but provides route optimization.

Routing software

Routing software consists of finding the best routes for drivers to deliver goods in a short amount of time. Routing software takes into account obstacles that may impact the route. It looks at obstacles such as low underpasses, height restrictions, or low weight bridges, and then tries to find alternative routes.

I recommend: Learn more about routing software through the TruckStops software at MicroAnalytics. Become familiar with the lower costs associated with using the best routes.

Fuel tax reporting

Fuel tax reporting, a module in the mileage and routing software, is a web-based tool that drivers use to enter vehicle trip information. In return, the software will generate reports, such as state mile tax, audit data, and IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement).

I recommend: Promiles provides comprehensive information about its fuel tax reporting software. It can generate different reports, including state and audit detail reports.

Mapping

Mapping software is an application that allows employees, particularly dispatchers, to look at the specific locations of multiple trucks. These locations are based on real-time latitude and longitude coordinates. Companies rely on mapping software because it helps them to spot their stolen or lost vehicles.

I recommend: Learn how ALK Technologies uses Microsoft-based XML service to produce and deliver its maps to its customers.

GPS, Global Positioning System

GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is a satellite navigational system that consists of 20 satellites orbiting Earth, as well as equivalent receivers located on the earth. These satellites continuously broadcast digital radio signals to these receivers. With mileage and routing software having this GPS component, the software can collect and log crucial vehicle information, including mileage, speed, and idle time.

I recommend: Intergis provides comprehensive information of its GPS tracking software.

Scheduling

Mileage and routing software will have a scheduling module. The scheduling module produces the best schedule for mobile employees. Depending on the company's work criteria, scheduling will automatically assign the appropriate job to the employee, based on skills, customer expectations, and territories.

I recommend: Go to ESRI to learn more about what other tasks scheduling can perform.