How are a pool service company’s weekly routes divided among technicians?

Ask for the current route sheets and a map. Look at how stops are grouped, how far a technician drives between pools and whether some runs are plainly heavier than others. A balanced route accounts for pool size, equipment and how much cleaning each pool needs, not just the number of stops.

Then ask about people. Does each customer see the same technician every week, and do customers ask for them by name? If a route is tied to one person, you need to know how much of that relationship would leave if the technician did. Ask who covers vacations and sick days, and whether cover technicians know the pools.

Finally, ask how the routes have changed. When a customer joins or leaves, who rebalances the runs? Is there room to add stops, or is every route full? Test the schedule by asking a technician to describe a typical day, then compare that with the sheets. Think about how the routes would change under your ownership, and what you would need to learn first. Also ask how customers who want a different day are handled, since a single change can disturb a whole run. A clear rule for these requests shows that the routes are managed and not just inherited.

Key takeaways

• Review route sheets and a map for balance, drive time and difficulty.
• Find out which customers are tied to one technician.
• Ask how new stops are added and who covers absences.