Sort on the Phone: Draw VIP Zones or Keep Your Order

You're about to leave the depot. Your run sheet has 20 stops, but you know two customers need their freight before 10 am. Or maybe you just want to keep the order you typed because you know the area better than any app. Either way, you need to sort your stops on the phone—fast—without calling the office.

This article shows you how to sort your delivery route on the StopSorted driver app. You'll learn to draw VIP zones, optimize normally, or keep your exact order. No guesswork, no extra calls.

How sorting works on your phone

Sorting means the app reorders your stops to create a sensible driving route. You can choose to give some stops priority—VIP jobs that must come first—or you can keep the list exactly as you entered it.

When you sort, the app looks at addresses, road distances, and your break time if you take one. It then numbers your stops 1, 2, 3, and so on. After sorting, you can start navigation and follow the turns.

If you mark VIP stops, the app draws areas on the map. Area 1 is done first, then area 2, then area 3. The sorter finishes one area completely before moving to the next. That way, you don't zigzag back and forth.

Step-by-step: sort your run before you leave

1. Add at least two stops. Search an address or import from the office. Before sorting, each stop shows Edit and Remove, plus More for Position (First / Next / Last). Position pins outrank VIP zones for that specific stop. See Before suburb, before stop, or last.
2. Tap Ready to optimize when your list is complete.
3. If asked VIP stops first? choose one:

• Yes — mark VIP to draw an area on the map, or tap Pick stops and tick jobs one by one. Then tap Apply—sorting starts right away.
• No — sort the route for a normal sort.
• Keep this order to skip sorting. The app numbers your list as you typed it (1, 2, 3…) and locks those numbers.

1. If you chose to sort (VIP or not) and the office lets you choose, pick a break start time, then tap Sort the route. See Pick a break time. Keep this order does not ask for a break time.
2. After lock, tap Start navigation. The menu also has Re-optimize route, VIP stops, and Unlock route when needed.

Drawing a VIP area is simple: pan and pinch the map, long-press then drag to draw, and lift your finger when you're back near the start. Tap the × on an area to drop just that one, or Clear to drop all and keep drawing. Clear does not sort the run—Apply does. If you only need a few VIP jobs, use Pick stops instead of drawing.

Drawn areas stay on the map after you leave VIP mode, close the app, or open the run again. They also travel with the run when you share it or when the office sends a copy. Older runs that only have VIP numbers (no saved drawing) show a rough outline around those groups.

If you add a stop later and the VIP area is still on the map, the next sort puts that stop in the right VIP group automatically—no redrawing needed.

The stop order locks as soon as sorting finishes (or as soon as you tap Keep this order). The blue road line on the map may appear a moment later while the route shape is drawn. Once locked, freight numbers are final; new stops can insert as N.1 style stops.

What you see vs what the office sees

As the driver, you see your stop list in order, with clear numbers. You can navigate stop by stop. You also see any VIP zones you drew, and you can re-optimize or unlock if plans change.

The office or fleet controller sees the same sorted order and the same VIP areas. They can also set preferences like starting on the far side and working home, or starting on the side you drive into. They can choose to pick both sides of the street in one pass, or left/right kerb first. VIP areas still go first either way.

If you share the run or the office sends a copy, the VIP zones travel with it. Everyone sees the same priority areas.

Worked example: Maria's morning run

Maria drives for a courier company in Sydney. She has 15 stops. Two are medical supplies that must be delivered before 9 am. The rest are general freight.

Before: Maria would type the addresses in the order she received them, then drive. Sometimes she'd call the office to ask about priority. That cost her 10 minutes and a phone call.

After: Maria opens the StopSorted app, adds all 15 stops, and taps Ready to optimize. She chooses Yes — mark VIP and draws a small area around the two medical stops. She taps Apply. The app sorts the route, putting the medical stops first. Maria picks a break time and taps Sort the route. She starts navigation. The medical stops are numbered 1 and 2. She delivers them by 8:45 am. The rest of the run flows smoothly. No calls, no guesswork.

Frequently asked questions

What if I want to keep the exact order I typed? Tap Keep this order when asked. The app numbers your list as you typed it and locks those numbers. No break time is requested.

Can I change VIP areas after sorting? Yes. Open the menu and tap VIP stops to adjust areas. You can also Re-optimize route or Unlock route if the office agrees.

What happens if I add a stop after locking? New stops insert as N.1 style stops. Freight numbers are final after lock. If the VIP area is still on the map, the next sort will place the new stop in the correct VIP group automatically.

Do VIP zones override position pins? No. Position pins (First / Before suburb / Last) outrank VIP zones for that specific stop. See Before suburb, before stop, or last.

Ready to sort smarter?

StopSorted helps you take control of your run. Draw VIP zones, optimize normally, or keep your order—all from your phone. No more calls to the office just to sort your stops.

Try it free. See pricing for fleet and solo plans. Learn more about how it works or check coverage to see if your country is live. For detailed steps, read the Sort and VIP guide.