How a Sorted Run Works: Load, Sort, Send, Watch

The daily scramble of multi-stop runs

It's 6 AM at the depot. You've got a stack of freight and a list of stops. The driver needs a clear order, the office needs to know where everyone is, and the customer wants a rough arrival time. Doing this by hand — or with a spreadsheet and phone calls — eats time you don't have.

This article walks through how a StopSorted run works, step by step: load the stops, sort them, send to drivers, and watch the day unfold. It's written for fleet controllers and owner-drivers who want fewer phone calls and more deliveries.

How it works: the short version

StopSorted takes your list of stops and turns it into a numbered sequence for each driver. The numbers are the order the driver should tackle them, based on real roads and the way they drive. You can tweak the order with VIP areas (for rush jobs), then send it to a phone. Once live, you see progress on a map and can share a tracking link with customers.

It's not about fancy algorithms — it's about giving everyone the same picture so the day runs smoother.

Step-by-step: from load to live

Here's the typical flow for a depot using StopSorted.

1. Load the stops

• If multiple phones are running, use Build Route to spread stops across drivers.
• For a single driver, just send the list to their device.
• You can type addresses, paste a list, or import from a file. Address search helps you find each spot quickly.

1. Sort the run

• StopSorted calculates the best stop order for the roads they drive.
• You'll see the sequence on a map. If a job must go first, draw a VIP area around that suburb or street. You can draw as many VIP areas as you need.
• The sort updates instantly — no need to manually drag pins unless you want to fine-tune.

1. Send to drivers

• Hit send. Each driver gets their numbered stops in the app.
• Those numbers are also the pick sequence on freight — so loading the van follows the same order.
• Important: Once a run is live, don't re-sort just to tidy the order. It confuses drivers and can break the pick sequence. If a new urgent job comes in, add it as a new stop or use a VIP area before sending.

1. Watch the day

• The live map shows where each driver is and which stops are done.
• Drivers mark Done or Skip (if they can't deliver). They can add an optional photo at the door.
• You can send the customer a tracking link so they see the arrival time.

That's the loop. Load, sort, send, watch.

What the driver sees vs what the office sees

Driver's phone:

• A clear list of numbered stops.
• Next stop highlighted, with a button to open Google Maps or Waze for turn-by-turn.
• Big Done and Skip buttons.
• Option to snap a photo as proof of delivery.

Office / fleet controller:

• A live map with all active drivers.
• Status of each stop (pending, done, skipped).
• Ability to add stops or adjust VIP areas if needed.
• A tracking link to share with customers.

Customer:

• A simple link showing the driver's arrival time (no app needed).

Everyone sees the same run, just from different angles.

A worked example: 12 stops in the suburbs

Before StopSorted, a depot in Australia had a driver doing 12 stops across three suburbs. The controller spent 20 minutes on the phone giving directions and reordering stops because of a rush job. The driver wasted fuel doubling back.

With StopSorted:

• The controller loaded all 12 addresses and hit Build Route.
• The sort put the stops in a logical loop, but one customer needed delivery before 10 AM. The controller drew a VIP area around that street.
• The run was sent to the driver's phone. The driver saw numbered stops and loaded the van in that order.
• Mid-morning, a new urgent pickup came in. The controller added it as a stop and used another VIP area to put it early.
• The customer got a tracking link and knew when to expect the driver.

Result: no phone calls to reorder, less fuel, and the driver finished earlier. The controller could focus on other tasks.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the order after sending? You can add stops or adjust VIP areas, but avoid re-sorting a live run just to tidy it. If you must reorder, communicate with the driver first. The numbers are the pick sequence, so changing them mid-run can cause confusion.

What if a driver can't deliver? They tap Skip and can add a note. You'll see it on the map and can decide whether to reschedule or reassign.

Do customers need an app to track? No. You send a link; they open it in a browser and see the arrival time.

How many VIP areas can I draw? As many as you need. They're handy for rush jobs or areas with time windows.

Is StopSorted available in my country? Australia is live today. Coverage grows country-by-country, and you can request your country from the coverage page.

Ready to sort your next run?

StopSorted is free to start. Fleet pricing is $69/month for 2 phones, then $20/month per extra phone that runs. Solo drivers can use the Google Play app for $24.99/month, with a 14-day free try (1 run/day, up to 10 stops).

See how it works in detail: How a sorted run works.

Start your first run this morning: Get sorted runs live this morning.

Check pricing and coverage: /pricing and /coverage.

No credit card needed to start. Add one only when you activate paid phones.