How to plan a multi drop delivery route that actually works on the road

Working out how to plan a multi drop delivery route is where theory meets the hard edge of the road. I have seen plenty of tidy plans fall apart by the second drop. The quickest way to get something workable is to start with a proper planning tool, not a scribbled list, and the free CTS multi drop route planner gives you a clean starting point without any sign up. It lets you enter a depot postcode, load up to 12 UK postcodes in total and build a route that reflects distance, time and dwell at each stop. That matters, because the gap between a paper plan and what a driver can actually complete in a day is usually found in the details people skip.

What the CTS planner does and who it suits

The planner is built for operators, traffic offices and buyers who need a quick, sensible order of drops without spending half the morning on it. You enter a start postcode as the depot, add your delivery postcodes and set minutes per drop. From there it returns an optimised visiting order, total mileage, estimated HGV drive time, a cumulative schedule and a live route map. You can copy the order, import a list or download a PDF, which is useful when you are briefing a driver or passing work to a subcontractor.

It fixes the first stop as your depot and then works out the most efficient order for the rest. It does not force the vehicle back to base, which reflects real work where the last drop might be closer to the driver’s home or the next job. For firms buying in capacity, especially through services like CTS contract courier services, that clarity on route and timing makes it easier to brief and price a job properly.

The practical maths behind a workable plan

Postcodes are turned into map coordinates using postcodes.io, built on Ordnance Survey and ONS open data. The stop order itself comes from the OSRM trip service, which uses OpenStreetMap road data to solve the sequence. That is the engine doing the heavy lifting, but it is only as good as the assumptions you apply on top.

Drive time is the first adjustment. OSRM gives a car based time, which is optimistic for a loaded vehicle. The planner applies a 0.85 speed factor, roughly 18 percent longer, to bring it closer to HGV reality. Then there is dwell time. The default is 15 minutes per drop, added to each stop to build a cumulative schedule. Anyone who has waited on a busy yard or hunted for a loading bay knows that figure can make or break the day, so it needs to reflect the actual work.

If the main routing service is not available, the tool falls back to a nearest neighbour order using straight line distances multiplied by 1.25. It is clearly marked as an estimate, which is fair. Finally, remember this is planning grade, not a legal record. Under GB and EU rules a driver must take a break of at least 45 minutes after no more than 4 hours 30 minutes of driving, so any long day still has to be shaped around the limits set out on gov.uk.

Set the job up properly

Have the depot postcode, delivery postcodes and an allowance for time on site ready, then run the planner in one pass.

1. Open the CTS multi drop route planner and enter the start postcode for the depot.
2. Paste or add the delivery postcodes, up to 12 UK postcodes in total.
3. Set the minutes per drop to match the work rather than accepting 15 minutes by default.
4. Run the planner and review the stop order, mileage, HGV drive time, schedule and map.
5. Copy the route order, import a list or download the PDF for the traffic office and driver.

The dwell figure needs a proper look. Different jobs need different time on site, so set it to reflect the round. Check every postcode. The first stop stays fixed as the depot, the rest are arranged for efficiency and the route is not forced back to base, so add that leg yourself if it is required.

Read the output as a plan, not a promise

Start with the stop sequence and the map. The order comes from the public OSRM trip service using OpenStreetMap road data, so it is an operating plan.

Then separate the figures. Total mileage shows the scale of the run, and the drive time is the HGV adjusted figure described earlier, so treat it as realistic driving rather than a car sat nav reading. The cumulative schedule adds your dwell time at each stop. It is planning grade, not a drivers' hours record.

Watch the status message. If it shows the straight line fallback estimate, recheck the route later before anyone commits to it. On longer rounds, make sure the schedule leaves room for the legal driving break covered earlier, because a plan that ignores it will not survive contact with the day.

For a quick answer to how to plan a multi drop delivery route, run the postcodes through the free CTS multi drop route planner and use the result as your starting plan. There is no account to create. For firm prices from vetted operators, request transport quotes from CTS.

Frequently asked questions

How many stops can I include in a multi drop route plan?

The CTS planner handles up to 12 UK postcodes including the start point. You enter a depot postcode and then add or paste the delivery postcodes.

Is the driving time accurate for an HGV?

The base time comes from OSRM as a car journey. CTS applies a 0.85 speed factor, which makes it about 18 percent longer to reflect HGV conditions.

Does the planner account for drivers' hours and legal breaks?

The schedule is planning grade and not a compliance record. You must still apply the rule of a 45 minute break after no more than 4 hours 30 minutes of driving using the guidance on gov.uk.