Route Optimization

1. How It Works

BinRouter uses Google OR-Tools, an open-source optimization library developed by Google, to solve the Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). The VRP is a classic operations research problem: given a fleet of vehicles, a set of customer locations, and various constraints (capacity, time windows, zones), what's the best way to route each vehicle to minimize total cost?

When you click "Optimize Routes," BinRouter sends all pending jobs for the selected date to the VRP solver. The solver calculates the distance matrix (driving distance between all locations using Google Maps), assigns jobs to drivers based on zones and capacity, and sequences each driver's stops to minimize total cost. The optimization runs in 10-30 seconds depending on the number of jobs and drivers.

The result is a set of optimized routes — one per driver — with stops ordered for minimal backtracking and fuel waste. Each route shows estimated miles, drive time, and total cost. You can review the routes on a map, make manual adjustments if needed, and send them to drivers.

2. Zone-Based Assignment

BinRouter uses service zones to assign jobs to drivers. A zone is a geographic area (usually defined by zip codes) where a driver operates. For example, you might have a "North County" zone covering zip codes 63033, 63044, and 63074, and a "South City" zone covering 63116, 63118, and 63139.

When you import jobs, BinRouter geocodes each customer address and assigns it to a zone based on the zip code. During route optimization, each job is assigned to a driver in the matching zone. This ensures that drivers stay in their familiar areas and don't cross town unnecessarily.

If a job's zone doesn't match any driver, the optimizer will assign it to the closest available driver. You can also override zone assignment manually if needed (e.g., if a driver needs to cover a different area due to staffing shortages).

Zone-based routing reduces travel time and fuel costs by keeping drivers local. It also improves customer service — drivers who know the area can navigate more efficiently and build relationships with repeat customers.

3. Cost-Weighted Optimization

Most routing software optimizes for shortest distance or fastest time. BinRouter optimizes for lowest total cost, which is more accurate for real-world operations. Total route cost includes fuel cost, driver labor, overhead (maintenance, insurance, etc.), and landfill disposal fees.

You configure your cost parameters in the Cost Config page: diesel price per gallon, truck MPG, driver hourly rate, overhead cost per mile, and landfill fees. The VRP solver uses these to calculate the cost of each route segment and prioritize cheaper routes.

For example, a route that's 10 miles longer but avoids a high-fee landfill might be cheaper overall. Or a route that reduces drive time by 30 minutes saves more in labor costs than it costs in extra fuel. Cost-weighted optimization accounts for these tradeoffs automatically.

BinRouter also fetches live diesel prices from the FRED API (Federal Reserve Economic Data) daily, so your fuel cost calculations are always up to date. You can also manually override the fuel price if you have a better local source.

4. Job Chaining

Pickup and switch jobs involve multiple stops: the customer location, the landfill, and (for pickups) the facility. BinRouter chains these stops together as a single job unit to ensure correct sequencing.

For pickup jobs, the sequence is always: Customer → Landfill → Facility. The driver picks up the full dumpster at the customer, takes it to the landfill to empty, and returns the empty to the yard. The optimizer ensures this sequence is preserved and routes the driver to the nearest landfill after the customer stop.

For switch jobs, the sequence is: Facility → Customer → Landfill. The driver picks up an empty dumpster at the yard, drives to the customer to swap it for the full one, and then takes the full dumpster to the landfill. Again, the optimizer preserves this sequence and minimizes travel distance.

Job chaining ensures that complex job types are routed correctly without manual intervention. You don't have to worry about splitting a pickup into three separate stops — BinRouter handles it automatically.

5. Emergency Re-Routing

Sometimes a driver calls in sick, a truck breaks down, or a job gets added last-minute. BinRouter's emergency re-routing feature lets you redistribute a driver's stops across the remaining fleet instantly.

On the Routes page, click "Emergency Re-Route" and select the driver who is unavailable. BinRouter will reassign all their jobs to other drivers in the same zone, re-optimize the routes, and notify the affected drivers. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

Emergency re-routing uses the same VRP solver as regular optimization, so the redistributed routes are still optimal (minimal cost). The solver will try to balance the workload across drivers and avoid overloading anyone.

This feature is a lifesaver for unexpected staffing issues. Instead of manually calling drivers and reassigning stops on the fly, you can handle it in one click from the office.

6. Validation Rules

BinRouter enforces several validation rules during route optimization to ensure routes are safe, legal, and practical:

• Zone compliance: Jobs are only assigned to drivers in the matching zone (unless you override manually).
• Capacity limits: Each driver has a max number of stops per day (configurable). The optimizer won't overload drivers.
• Time windows: If a customer specifies a time window (e.g., "only between 8am-12pm"), the optimizer ensures the driver arrives during that window.
• Facility inventory: Deliveries and switches require empty dumpsters. The optimizer tracks facility inventory and alerts you if you run out.
• Driver availability: Drivers marked as "unavailable" or "on vacation" are excluded from route assignments.

You can configure custom validation rules in the Settings page. For example, you can set a maximum drive time per route, a minimum break duration for drivers, or restrictions on which drivers can handle certain waste types.

These rules ensure that optimized routes are not just cheap, but also compliant with your operational policies and customer expectations.