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Optimizing for a Single Driver Recommendation

This guide walks through how to manually run an optimization for a single driver in the Dispatch module. You’ll learn how to use the engine to generate trip recommendations, create multi-trip tours, search the load board, and configure Engine Mode to influence the logic used. Example KPIs are included to help evaluate recommendation quality.

 

Table of Contents

  1. When to Use This

  2. Optimization Types

    • Single Trip Recommendation

    • Multi-Trip Tour Recommendation

    • Load Board Search Optimization

  3. Step-by-Step: Optimize for One Driver 

  4. Example KPIs

  5. Tips & Best Practices

 

 

 

When to Use This

  • You want to find alternative recommendations from your manual assignment

  • You want to compare and tweak Engine Modes (e.g., “Next Trip Only” vs. “Default Tour”)

  • You’re dispatching in a highly constrained zone and need intelligent coverage

  • You want to plan a tour rather than a single trip

  • You want to find optimized results from the Load Board search 

 

 

Optimization Types

 

Single Trip Recommendation

  • Assigns the best available load based on PTA, location, and compatibility

  • Good for tactical execution when the driver is idle now or in the near future

This type of recommendation requires the Trip Tour count parameter to be equal to 1

 

Multi-Trip Tour Recommendation

  • Builds a tour of up to 2–5 sequential loads with optimized deadhead

  • Useful for long-haul or OTR drivers

This type of recommendation will require the Trip Tour Count to be greated than 1

 

Load Board Search Optimization

  • Runs recommendation logic against external load board search results only

  • Click “Load Board” tab in the recommendations window

  • Results are scored and ranked using same engine logic

  • This is useful when you do not already have a trip that suits the needs of the driver
  • These results will also be compared to a Market Rate provided via Triumph integration where available
* Load board integration must be enabled

 

 

Step-by-Step: Optimize for One Driver

1. Navigate to a Driver List

You can initiate a single driver optimization from: (a) Dispatch Gantt/Grid (b) Driver Module (c) Network Balance Module.  You’ll see a list of drivers with status, current trip, next trip, and availability info etc.

(a) Dispatch Gantt/Grid

(b) Driver Module

(c) Network Balance Module

 

2. Locate your driver

Search by Driver Ref # or name. Confirm their status is Available and that their PTA (Planned Time of Availability) is current.

3. Select your Driver and Click on a Gap or Select Find Trips from the Drivers Schedule Detail Tab

This will automatically open the Optimization Panel and begin running the optimization engine based on your last engine mode selection.

 

4. Changing the Engine Mode

Before running recommendations, you can change the optimization logic.

Click the Optymization Mode drop down or Engine Mode Cog Icon in the optimization panel

 

You can choose any pre-configured engine mode or tweak the parameters using the cog icon.

Choose from modes such as:

  • Default Mode – balanced planning

  • Next Trip Only – short-term tactical assignment

  • Next 3 Trips – builds a multi-stop tour

  • Custom Modes – if defined by your team (e.g., “High Priority Only”, "Dedicated")

 

The mode determines rules like:

  • How far the driver can deadhead

  • How many hours they can drive

  • Whether tour replanning or relays are allowed

 

5. Filter Trip Selection (Optional)

The Trips drop down in the Optimization panel allows you to filter the trips considered for the recommendation using your preconfigured view filters (See Creating and Managing Custom Views). Changing this selection will restart the engine run.

 

6. Review Trip Recommendations

Each row shows a potential trip or tour and includes:

  • Trip IDs, score (stars), and available start time

  • Profit: Estimated revenue minus cost

  • Deadhead miles (distance to pickup)

  • Appointment compliance (green = on time)

  • Compatibility score (how well the trip fits the driver’s preferences and hours)

7. Diagnostics

The View Diagnostics link will allow you to see the breakdown of all the possible recommendations that were rejected and what parameters they are related to from the engine mode.  For example, in the image below you will see the majority of recommendations were rejected due to the deadhead of the driver being beyond the configured limit.

 

Example KPIs

KPI

Description

Example

Recommendation Score

Ranking of recommendations relative to the five below pillars for overall balance

4.0

 

Deadhead

Deadhead as a total and percentage of total trip mileage.  Calculated from last stop or currently location to recommendation pickup location

45 mi/ 516 mi (9%)

Total Profit ($)

Revenue – Cost for recommended trip(s)

$4,759 ($2,036/day)

Total Driver Waiting Time

Total driver wait time relative to toal time on the trip including Duty Time, Wait Time, and Rest Time

780 miles

Total Delays

Based on appointment windows and routing time

1 Stop / 27m

Load Compatibility Score

Internal scoring for driver/load match

5/5

 

Tips & Best Practices

  • Use Engine Modes with relaxed constraints to expand options for hard-to-cover drivers

  • Always check driver preferences (home location, avoid zones) before assigning

  • If a driver is pre-assigned to a load, enable “Allow Replanning” to override it

  • Filter the Load Board by origin zone, equipment type, or service level to speed up results

  • Always check View Diagnostics to make sure rejected recommendation reasons are valid