The route MyWay produced doesn't look correct?
Learn why routes might not look optimal at first glance.
MyWay calculates your optimal route by simulating thousands of combinations to see which order is the most efficient.
With access to the most up-to-date maps, addresses, and places databases from Google Maps, Mapbox, Here, and OpenStreetMap, we build a route based on hundreds of parameters and many stop settings (like stops priorities and time windows) as well as route optimization settings like allowing u-turns, roadside, etc. All those settings may significantly affect an optimized route, so we recommend sticking to default settings (Optimization type, Any Road Side, Snap Location to the Road, and Allow U-turns), all turned on if you want to get the "most optimal route ever". However, sometimes having some of those settings changed to your specific needs might serve you better. Even if it increases the route distance, it can provide you with much convenience in return.
Your first option is to choose the fastest or shortest route. Your second option is to choose a route that considers all the factors, including weather, road conditions, customer delivery time preferences, vehicle capacity constraints, left turns, tolls, and tunnels. MyWay Route Planner takes all those parameters into account to provide you with the most optimal route (even if it does not look like it from the first look).
The most efficient route will most likely have a clover shape. That's why in some cases, you'll end up returning to the same neighbourhoods in one route. It might look bizarre from the first point of view. It happens because of two parameters in the app settings: Optimization type, Allow U-turns and Road Side (Any Road Side by default). By changing these settings, you can find the best possible result in optimization that works for you.
Optimization type. This is one of the most fundamental settings that affect route optimization. There are two options available. Optimization by time (more efficient) and optimisation by distance. Clearly, the “best route” means different things to different people. For most people, the best route would be the fastest one. For some, though, it may be the shortest path. And some may prefer a trip that uses highways or avoids tolls and tunnels. Besides, the fastest or shortest route may not always be the most efficient. For instance, the quickest route might have many left turns, and the shortest mileage route may drive through heavy traffic. In both these route options, your fuel consumption will go up significantly. Also, what if the fastest route is three minutes faster but several miles longer? Is it still an efficient one? What if the shortest path allows you to drive 5 miles less but makes you go through two tolls? Is it an efficient one? Pick the one you believe will serve you better or keep Optimization by time by default.
The app can build more efficient routes if you turn on Allow U-turns settings in the app settings (it's turned off by default). The downside of this is going to be more u-turns which in most cases are less efficient from the time perspective and less safe if you drive a longer vehicle. Below you can see an example on how this setting affect route optimization.
Allow U-turns turned ON
Allow U-turns turned OFF
Road Side setting, on another side, is responsible for app behaviour that builds routes taking into account your personal (as a driver) preference to cross the road. If you choose "Any roadside," the app will build the most optimal route, but sometimes you have to park on another side from your stop and cross the road. If you choose "Same Side, " you don't have to cross the road, but the road will be longer.
Examples:
If you need the most efficient route, please choose optimization type by time, turn off allow u-turns setting and pick the roadside you want (or keep default settings). In this case, the route might look like a clover shape.
If you need the best-looking (but not optimal) route, please choose optimization by distance, allow u-turns and keep the roadside setting by default (any side of the road).
Vehicle Type, the last but not least setting that has an effect on the optimised route. If you choose "car" it's pretty straightforward, and you don't need to change anything. However, if you are a van or truck driver, the optimization algorithm will try to avoid small roads and penalise intersections. The algorithm also knows which areas are not allowed for truck drivers (like tunnels, bridges or restricted roads) and will avoid that, so your route will look not optimal but will be correct for your specific vehicle type. Also, pick "truck" as a vehicle type only when you drive a big truck and not a small one. For the van option, stick to "van" or even a "car".
None of the route planners has the concept of forward/backward routes, as the app simply builds the most efficient route based on time windows, start location and finish location. If your route looks like "backward" route, you simply can delete the end location and leave it blank. It does not mean the app will build a route precisely as you need (for this use case, you can build route without optimisation in the order you want), but the chance of getting a backward route will be much lower.
In MyWay Route Planner, click on a menu icon in the top right. Then go to "My Trips," click on three dots next to the trip and choose the option "Problem with this Route?". Write down a message to us, and we will try to fix optimization for you. Please also share a screenshot that highlights the issue, so we can easily see a problem on our side.
Also, you can report lousy optimization when you have an active route. Please click on the three dots at the top left side when you have an active route and choose the option. "Problem with this Route?". Write down a message to us, and we will try to fix optimization for you.
The app can optimise not just full-loop routes but even routes without an endpoint. We work with thousands of drivers across the globe to make sure the optimisation works as efficiently as possible.