The Resource Schedule section of the On-demand application is designed to manage vehicle and driver availability. If a resource is scheduled on a day it is not available; the system will highlight it in red, indicating a scheduling conflict in dispatch-related functionalities.
Enabling Resource Schedules
In the Resource Schedules section under Configuration Parameters, users with the system_admin role administrators can toggle the functionality of vehicle and driver scheduling within the On-demand application. These settings determine whether scheduling features are accessible and specify if they apply to all locations or are location-specific:
Enable Vehicle Schedules: When set to 'Yes,' this activates the vehicle scheduling feature, making it accessible to users with dispatcher-level permissions or higher. This allows for the scheduling of vehicle availability and non-service days.
Enable Driver Schedules: Similarly, selecting 'Yes' for this parameter activates the driver scheduling functionality, allowing the assignment of driver shifts and off days.
Tick the checkbox to confirm the information and click Configure Parameters to save and apply changes. Users affected by this configuration may have to log off and log back in to view and access the Schedules module.
To create resource schedules, access the Schedules module from the system menu.
Navigating the Resource Schedules
The grids found in both the Vehicle and Driver Schedules list existing resources. Use the grid filters to restrict the grid view of resources. The grid displays active resources.
All: Displays all entries regardless of their current state.
Expired: Displays data entries that have expired, meaning the 'To' date has passed.
Active: Displays all "active," "in-progress," and "valid" data entries, including 'Future' entries.
Future: Displays all data entries where the 'From' date is in the future.
Creating a New Vehicles Schedule
The Resource Schedule allows for precise scheduling of vehicle availability. Vehicle schedules are configured to prevent overlapping; a vehicle cannot be double-booked.
To create a new vehicle schedule:
Select the Vehicle from the dropdown menu.
Choose the From and To dates to define the availability period.
Click Add a Comment to provide context or specific details about the vehicle's schedule.
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Starting in version 25.01, you can configure Recurrence patterns for vehicle schedules. This feature supports setting vehicles as unavailable for specific times of the day, reducing the need for multiple manual entries. The system automatically schedules vehicle availability based on the defined recurrence settings.
Daily
Weekly (e.g., every Monday and Friday)
Monthly (e.g., 7th of the month or 1st Monday)
Define the Start Date and End Date.
Click Save to update the vehicle’s availability status. Once saved, the vehicle will be displayed as inactive on the selected days and will be excluded from dispatch-related functionalities.
Editing a Vehicle Schedule
Users can edit existing vehicle schedules without deletion. To modify a schedule:
Right-click the scheduled entry.
Select Edit Occurrence to adjust a single instance. This option allows you to modify only the selected occurrence.
Select Edit Series to update all recurring instances. This option allows you to update all future occurrences within the recurrence pattern.
Modify the From and To dates, recurrence details, or comments as needed
Click Update to save changes, Delete to remove the schedule, or Cancel to discard changes.
API Updates: As of version 25.01, the Resource Schedule API supports the newly implemented Recurrence feature's fields and functionality. Key features include the new date format and time format described below: Date Format: yyyy-MM-dd Date Time Format: yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm Time Format: HH:mm
Creating a New Driver Schedule
The driver's availability can be managed similarly through the Resource Schedule.
To add a new driver schedule:
Select the Driver (or Helper) from the provided list.
Set the 'From' and 'To' dates to specify the working period for the driver.
Optionally, Add a Comment to provide context or specific details about the driver's schedule. After saving, the driver's availability will be reflected across the system, aiding in route assignment and ensuring compliance with work hours regulations.
Checking Schedule Unavailability
If a vehicle is scheduled on a day it is not available, the Route Template will be marked in red, indicating a scheduling conflict. This violation will be visible in the 'Selected Route' tab, with the vehicle column highlighted in red as well.
Drivers scheduled on unavailable days are highlighted in red. Violations of driver schedules are indicated in red in the route selection and driver columns.
Scheduling Resource Unavailability
Starting in version 24.07, the On-demand application allows users to schedule specific blocks of time when resources (such as vehicles and drivers) are unavailable instead of only blocking entire days. This provides greater flexibility in managing resource availability. When a resource is scheduled as unavailable, it will not be assignable to a route that overlaps any part of the set unavailability period. Additionally, the specified availability hours for a resource will take precedence over any route or profile settings.
Exporting Schedules
Schedules created within the system can be exported in CSV file format.
To export schedules:
Select the schedule you wish to export.
Use the Export icon.
Select the format for export and confirm the action. The CSV file containing the schedule information will be downloaded. It is in a structured format suitable for spreadsheet applications or other systems.
Alternatively, click the Printer icon to create a digital version or a hard copy of the selected schedules.