How do I judge a uniform rental company’s delivery route planning?

Start in a truck. Ride along on two or three routes of different types and watch what the driver actually does: how the load is arranged, how stops are ordered, where time goes and which customers need a call or special handling. Choose the routes yourself.

Then look at the planning behind them. Ask who builds the routes, how often they are reviewed and what information is used. Compare planned times with actual times on a sample of days. Large, steady gaps suggest the plan is not realistic and the drivers have developed their own way of working.

Check the exceptions. How are new customers added, and what happens when one cancels? How are delivery windows handled for customers who need early morning service? A company that adds stops wherever there is room may have routes that grow messier over time. Look at the vehicles and the staff too. Ask about overtime, driver turnover and breakdowns, and talk to drivers if the seller allows it. They often know exactly where a route fails. Finally, ask your accountant to connect the route costs to the revenue each route brings.

Key takeaways

• Ride along on routes you choose and watch load order, stop order and where time goes.
• Compare planned and actual times to see whether the plan matches how drivers work.
• Ask about overtime, driver turnover and how new customers are added to routes.