Route Editor Timeline – Monitor, Replay & Edit Routes & Sequences In The Route Editor

The Route Editor timeline gives you a visual, time-based view of a single route, showing every stop in sequence alongside planned and actual activity. Use it to monitor a dispatched route in real time, review how it unfolded, and make quick adjustments to keep your last mile route optimization on track. Similar to the route timeline on the Route page, it gives you a detailed, stop-by-stop view of your route’s timing.

Track a dispatched route’s progress on the timeline and compare planned & actual route execution to spot discrepancies.

NOTE: For a full breakdown of timeline features, see the Routes Page Timeline guide. Both timelines work the same way.

 

Table of Contents

 

Route Editor Timeline Overview – Controls & Navigation

To open the Route Editor timeline, drag the arrow button at the bottom of the page upward. Once opened you can:

  1. Drag the timeline up or down to expand or collapse it.
  2. Click the Timezone button to adjust the time zone.
    NOTE: By default, Route4Me uses your account time zone or local time if available.
  3. Use the zoom controls to zoom in, zoom out, or fit all destinations on the timeline so they are all visible.
  4. Click the Window Icon to open the timeline in a new window.

Use the display controls at the bottom right of the screen to to tailor the map view.

 

Timeline Settings – Customize Route Details & Presets

You can also select the Timeline Settings button to customize the details that appear and adjust functions, tailoring the timeline to your workflow. See the table below for more information about each available field.

NOTE: Learn more about customizing the Route Timeline’s fields.

You can drag, scroll, or zoom to navigate the Route Editor Timeline.

Routes Timeline - Timeline Settings

3 columns · 19 rows

 

After customizing the fields you want to see, you can save your selections as a preset and give it a name:

  1. To save changes as a new preset, select the Create Preset Icon (floppy disk with pencil).
  2. To save changes you make to an existing preset, select the Update Preset Icon (floppy disk without pencil).
  3. To undo changes you’ve made to a preset, select the Undo Icon (circular arrow).
  4. To delete a preset, select the Delete Icon (trash can).

View default Timeline settings or create your own custom settings.

 

Timeline View – Track Route Progress & Driver Activity

Route & Destination Details – View Route & Stop Information

To see detailed information about a route, as described in the table below, hover over the route’s name. To see details about a destination, described in the table below, hover over any destination on the timeline.

From the destination details panel you can also:

Hover a destination

Route Details

2 columns · 22 rows

Destination Details

2 columns · 11 rows

 

Destination Icons & Color Coding – Interpret Stop Status At A Glance

Once a route has been dispatched, all routing activity is automatically synced to the Route Editor. This enables you to follow along in real time as the driver uses the Route4Me mobile app to complete stops, collect proof of delivery, and more.

Icons and color coding appear directly on destinations to highlight important stop-level details, such as skipped or failed destinations, out-of-sequence visits, and other routing events. See the table below for further details.

Use Timeline Icons to review route status updates, notes, and events.

Routes Timeline - Legend & Icons

2 columns · 11 rows

 

Planned Vs. Actual Route Details – Track How Stops Shifted From The Route Plan

After a route has been dispatched, the timeline shows two rows: the planned route on top and the actual route directly beneath it, labeled “Actual”. This lets you compare when destinations were planned to be visited versus when they were actually visited.

A silver ribbon connects each destination in the planned row to the same destination in the actual row, showing how far each stop shifted from the plan. To see more details, hover over the ribbon.

Compare planned and actual route times on the timeline.

 

Route Replay Options – Replay A Full Or Partial Route

You can replay a route from the Timeline to review how it unfolded, useful for verifying driver activity and investigating delays.

  • To replay the entire route, select the Replay Icon (a circular arrow) next to the Route Name header. The route plays from start to finish.
  • To replay part of the route, drag the blue line to the point where you want the replay to begin.

Use the route playback feature to review route performance.

 

Manage Destinations On The Timeline – Reorder & Edit Stops

You can reorder destinations on the timeline using drag-and-drop. This lets you adjust the stop sequence quickly and easily. Your changes are automatically reflected in both the Route List and Route Map.

NOTE: After making adjustments, Route4Me recommends re-optimizing the route to ensure the most efficient stop sequence.

Drag and drop destinations markers on the timeline to re-sequence their route order.

 

You can also manage destinations directly from the timeline to make quick edits on the spot. Right-click a destination to open the action menu, described in the table below.

To manage a destination from the timeline, right click it to access the actions menu.

Destination Actions Menu

2 columns · 11 rows

 

 

Visit Route4Me's Marketplace to Check out Various Modules and Add-Ons:

Last Updated:

About author: Daniel Archer

Daniel ArcherWith a background in pedagogy and writing instruction, Daniel is a former tenured English Instructor who, after nearly 20 years of teaching, transitioned into content strategy and leading writing teams for global brands. Now, as Technical Documentation Manager at Route4Me, he translates complex logistics technology into clear, accessible content that empowers users.

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About Route4Me

Route4Me has over 40,000 customers globally. Route4Me's Android and iPhone mobile apps have been downloaded over 2 million times since 2009. Extremely easy-to-use, Route4Me's apps create optimized routes, synchronize routes to mobile devices, enable communication with drivers and customers, offer turn-by-turn directions, delivery confirmation, and more. Behind the scenes, Route4Me's operational optimization platform combines high-performance algorithms with data science, machine learning, and big data to plan, optimize, and analyze routes of almost any size in real-time.