Recurring Routes are how Docket turns your daily trash collection operation into a repeatable, driver-ready system. Instead of manually assigning stops each morning, you build your routes once and let Docket do the rest. The right driver gets the right stops on the right days, every week, without any additional setup required.
Before You Start
Here are a few things to know before you continue:
- You'll need Admin or Office Staff-level permissions to create and edit Recurring Routes.
- Have your vehicles and drivers already added in Docket before creating routes so you can assign them during setup. See Add a Vehicle (Truck) and Add an Employee (User) if you haven't done that yet.
- If you plan to assign a territory to this route, make sure your territories have been created first.
- IronRouteAI is not available for Commercial & Residential routes.
Create a Recurring Route
- Click "Recurring Routes" in the C&R section of the left-hand menu.
- Click the "+ New" button in the top-left corner.
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Select "Recurring Route" under C&R Actions in the drop-down menu.
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Enter a Route Name.
TIP: As a best practice, create one route per day rather than mixing multiple days into a single route. If you have stops that run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, set up three separate routes. Include the region, service type, and day in the route name, for example: "North Side Residential Friday." This keeps your Route Tracker clean and makes day-of management much easier.
- Select a Route Color. This color will appear when viewing the route on a map, like the Route Tracker.
- Enter a Description. (Optional)
- Select a vehicle from the drop-down menu.
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Select a driver from the drop-down menu.
TIP: Assignment information sets the default vehicle and driver for this route. When the route runs, it will automatically appear for the assigned driver the next morning with no additional setup required each day.
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Select Territories if you have territories configured. (Optional)
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Enter a Start Date.
TIP: Select the next upcoming occurrence if the route is active and ready to run, or a future date if you're setting it up in advance.
- Select a Frequency. Weekly is a common selection for Commercial & Residential routes.
- Set how often the route repeats. (e.g., every 1 week, 2 weeks, etc.)
- Select the Day(s) of the Week the route will run.
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Click "Create Route." Your new Recurring Route will appear in your Recurring Routes list.
Please Note: A Recurring Route does not generate stops on its own. Until you add Recurring Stops to this route, your drivers will have nothing to complete on service days.
View or Edit a Recurring Route
Once your routes are set up, you have two ways to view or edit them depending on what you need to do.
View or Edit with the Pop-Out Panel
When you click anywhere on the route row in your Recurring Routes list, a pop-out panel will appear on the right with three tabs: Stops, Configuration, and Occurrences.
- Stops: View all stops currently assigned to this route.
- Configuration: View the route's current settings, including name, color, assignment, and schedule. Click the "Edit" button to make changes to any field. If you make any changes, click “Save” before closing the panel.
- Occurrences: View all scheduled occurrences for this route. Each occurrence can be opened to access a “View in Route Tracker” button, which takes you directly to that date in the Route Tracker. You can also open an individual occurrence to pause service for that specific date if needed.
View or Edit from the Recurring Route Detail Page
When you click the hyperlinked route name or the “box and arrow” icon in the Actions column of your Recurring Routes list, the route’s detail page will open. This provides more information about the route and is where you can view your stops on a map, reorder your route, and access different views of the route’s configuration and occurrences.
The Configuration tab on a route detail page also allows customization of your view of the different route information. For any section displaying, click and drag the “six dots” icon in its section header to customize what information appears where on the page.
Manage Stops on the Route Detail Page
The Stops tab on the route detail page gives you a full map and list view of every stop on the route. This is where you sequence stops, reorder your route, and use the map toolbar to manage larger routes.
Reordering Stops
Click and drag stops in the list to change their position in the route sequence. The map will update to reflect the new order. You can also use the search bar on this page to find a specific stop or route by name.
Please Note: A bar will appear at the bottom of the page when you have unsaved edits in progress.
Comparing Routes
Use the drop-down menu on the left side of the page to select a second route and view it alongside your current route on the map. This is helpful for checking overlap between routes or planning how to split stops across drivers.
Map Toolbar
The map toolbar gives you several controls for customizing your view. Below is an overview of each option.
- Lasso Selection: Draw around a group of stop pins on the map to select them. Once selected, the stops will be highlighted in the list below and can be dragged into your route sequence from there.
- Show Routes: Show or hide individual routes on the map to focus on a specific route without visual clutter from others.
- Show/Hide Territories: Display or remove territory boundaries on the map view.
- Show/Hide Drivers: Show or hide driver assignments on the map.
- Show/Hide Dump/Yard Locations: Display or remove your dump sites and yard locations from the map view.
Please Note: When using the lasso tool, stops are moved by dragging them in the list below the map, not directly from the map pins. After drawing your selection, look for the highlighted stops in the list and drag them into position from there.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our Support team through the chat widget on the bottom of this page or by sending an email to support@yourdocket.com!