Best Route Assistant
Updated 1 week ago
by
Małgorzata
Who can use this function? The function is available to users of the carrier product line (TFC - Trans For Carriers) and forwarding (TFF - Trans for Forwarders) under conditions specified for each line. |
From this article you will learn:
- how to plan a route taking into account PTV environmental fees
- how to plan alternative routes, avoid toll roads and exclude locations
- how to take into account the vehicle profile and emission class
- how to use the calculation tabs of the Best Route Assistant
Where can you find the Best Route Assistant?
The Best Route Assistant is available in the following places:
- Search loads
In the Search loads module, click on the offer you are interested in (regardless of which tab you are in). A window with details will open. Then click the Route tab. The Best Route Assistant section and a small map will appear.
You will see a similar view:
- In the Freights module - click on the offer you are interested in. A window with details will open, click the Route tab. The Best Route Assistant section and a small map will appear.
- In the Vehicle exchange module - click on the offer you are interested in. A window with details will open, click the Map tab. The Best Route Assistant section and a small map will appear.
- In the Orders module - click on the offer you are interested in (regardless of which tab you are in). A window with details will open, click the Map tab. The Best Route Assistant section and a small map will appear.
- Maps
Click the Maps module, then enter the starting and ending points of the route. The Best Route Assistant section and a large map will appear.
Route parameter settings
When planning a route with the Best Route Assistant, you can set the following parameters:
- Route points
If you plan a route based on an existing offer or order, the route points will already be completed. If you are planning your own route, enter the starting and ending points.
You can also add additional route points.
- Show alternative routes
This option is available from the large map view, for routes with two points (start and end). If you are in the offer details view (small map), click the Show on large map button.
- Check the Show alternative routes option if you want to calculate other route options.
- You will see a maximum of 3 alternative routes on the map, marked in gray. When you hover your mouse over one of the alternative routes, its color changes to light blue.
- There will also be a table with information about: distance, time, CO2 emission level and road toll amounts for the main and alternative routes.
To change the route to one of the alternative routes, click on the selected route on the map or in the table.
- Departure date, time and load weight
Specify the departure date and time. This information is essential for considering restrictions (occurring on specific days and times) and tonnage restrictions. It may also be important when calculating tolls (e.g. for routes through the Czech Republic or Austria, road tolls are not calculated without providing a date).
- Vehicle profile:
In the Vehicle profile, you can:
- choose one of the default profiles:
- Semi-trailer (<40 t GVW)
- Van (<3.5 t GVW)
- Solo (<7.5 t GVW)
- Double trailer (<40 t GVW)
- you can also select "Create your own vehicle profile".
- A form will appear allowing you to create a new vehicle profile. Enter your vehicle's parameters and then click Save profile.
- The Custom profile option will appear in the drop-down list in the Vehicle profile section.
- Emission class
Determining the emission class affects the calculation of road tolls. By default, this value is set to "4". This parameter is used to calculate fees for Germany and Austria, and the list of such countries may change.
- Avoid tolls
Select this option to have the route recalculated, avoiding tolls. When it will not be possible to avoid them completely, costs will be minimized.
- Exclude locations
This option allows you to select the country you want to avoid when planning your route.
- Select Prohibit countries, then select the countries you want to exclude from your route.
- You can also use quick exclusions:
- Click Switzerland to exclude this country from your planned route
- Click Non-EU to exclude all countries that are not part of the European Union from your route
If your previous route passed through excluded countries, the route will be changed to avoid these locations.
- Include PTV ecological restrictions
Check it if you want to consider ecological restrictions when planning the route.
- ADR
Check this box if you want to take into account restrictions regarding the transport of hazardous materials when calculating your route.
Calculation tabs
Default settings
Before you go to the calculation tabs, it is worth setting default values for each field in the Best Route Assistant. Once saved, you will see them in the tool without having to re-enter them. You will still be able to edit each value.
- Click the settings icon.
- You will see a window with parameters that you can edit.
Calculation tabs
Once you have decided on the route parameters, you can use the three available calculation tabs.
- Costs - here you will see the sum of all costs calculated for a given route. They include the following items:
- Fuel - here you can check the expected fuel costs and the number of liters used. You can also edit the values yourself. To do this, click on the pencil icon to change:
- the amount of liters that you expect to use on the calculated route,
- rate per liter of fuel (we will save the entered price for next calculations).
The fuel amount and total costs will be updated.
- Tolls - in this item you will find all paid elements of road infrastructure (e.g. highways, bridges or tunnels). Click on the pencil icon to see details.
NOTE: This field does not include costs related to ferry crossings.
- Other costs - click on the pencil icon to enter your own fees, i.e. the average fixed costs you incur.
- Total - here you will see the total sum of costs and the converted costs per kilometer.
- Route and time - here you can see the distance and suggested travel time on a given route (without taking into account approaches), as well as information on the expected CO2e emissions.
- Rate - in this tab you can perform a standard estimate of the kilometer rate for the main route and approaches (if any) and check how it compares to the expected costs calculated in the assistant. You will see the sections:
- Rate - the number of kilometers on the route multiplied by the rate per kilometer. Click the pencil icon to edit the kilometer rate and change the currency.
- Profit - i.e. the rate minus the total costs.
