At first blush, route optimization software can sound deceivingly simplistic: Input information, then export better routes for greater efficiency. This is all well and good, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

Growing haulers are discovering that route optimization not only saves resources and effort: It also can provide customized business intelligence that helps inform future decision making when it matters most. 

For example, route optimization helps when it comes to projecting needs for new collection vehicles – not a particularly easy task under normal circumstances, and only more difficult with today’s protracted manufacturing timelines.

“When we acquire new companies, we can determine right away how many new trucks we will need to be efficient. This allows us to order trucks and integrate new routes sooner, so that we can see our investment return more quickly,” said Jonathan Bell, Director of Operations Support for Casella Waste Systems, Inc.

Casella, headquartered in Rutland, Vermont, provides solid waste management services consisting of collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services in the northeastern United States.

A growing enterprise hauler, Casella entered into an agreement with Routeware in May 2022 to expand Routeware’s onboard computers and fleet automation software across the hauler’s expanding footprint. The company also is rolling out EasyRoute, Routeware’s route optimization solution, across multiple divisions.

“We’ve been working with divisions that need help – those divisions where we would see less efficient truck usage at the beginning,” said Bell. “As those divisions’ reroutes have had success, we’ve had others begin to reach out to us to ask for assistance with route optimization.”

Without EasyRoute, supervisors struggled to track key measures of productivity across divisions to meet reporting requirements. Using metrics that matter to them, EasyRoute allows for robust reporting that’s easy to accomplish.

“Most software won’t let you change metrics to some degree. EasyRoute is versatile in this way,” Bell said. “The (EasyRoute) differentiators for us are route sequencing and being able to implement our own metrics.”

True route optimization benefits drivers, too, giving them insight into the decision-making process. When drivers can’t see why and how routes are changed, challenges with uptake and buy-in can result.

“EasyRoute allows you to review the changes you’ve made with drivers. If they have questions, it’s nice to have a quick answer — and to show them using the route tracing tool,” Bell said.

The right support and training, too, have been advantageous for route optimization projects across the enterprise.

“As the name implies, EasyRoute is easy to use and easy to train,” said Sean Steves, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Solid Waste Operations for Casella. “We have experienced great success with utilizing the tool across the full spectrum of route optimization. From conversion and automation projects, to complex acquisition integration, we can always count on their support to be top notch.”

Learn more. Is it time to streamline your routes and get the business intelligence you need to make better decisions? Let’s talk!