How to Plan a Delivery Route for Multiple Stops: A 6-Step Checklist
To plan a delivery route for several stops: collect every address, check them, put the stops in the quickest order, move the stops that cannot wait, load the van in reverse, then drive and record each drop. Six steps, and the second and third are where most time is lost.
This guide is for anyone who delivers from one van or car: couriers, small shops, florists, caterers and tradespeople with parts to drop off. It gives the full routine, the reasons behind each step and a real example.
Key takeaways
- Collect every address in one list, and pick each one from the suggestions so the map knows exactly where it is.
- Put the stops in the quickest order; do not use the order the orders arrived in.
- Move the stops that cannot wait to the top, and let the planner order the rest.
- Load the van in reverse, so the first stop is at the door.
- Record each drop with a photo or signature.
- One real London run: 40.2 km as listed, 23.9 km in MiliRoute's order, on a list that was far from the best order.
What are the six steps to plan a multi-stop delivery route?
- Collect every address in one list. Orders usually arrive in pieces: phone, email, a printed sheet, a message. Put them in one place before you plan. You can type them, paste them, or scan the labels with a phone camera.
- Check each address. A wrong unit number or suburb costs more than a bad route. Pick each address from the search suggestions so the map knows where it is.
- Put the stops in the quickest order. Do not use the order the orders arrived in. For 9 stops there are 362,880 possible orders, and for 12 stops there are 479,001,600. Nobody tries those by hand, so use a route planner that does it for you.
- Move the stops that cannot wait. If a delivery has to arrive first, put it first and let the planner order the rest. You stay in charge of the order.
- Load the van in reverse. The last stop goes in first, so the first stop is at the door.
- Drive it and record each drop. A photo or signature at the door settles "it never came" calls later.
The rest of this guide explains each step in turn.
Step 1: how do you collect the addresses?
The mistake at this stage is planning before the list is complete. A late order that arrives after you have planned changes the best order for the whole day, not just one stop at the end. So collect first, plan second.
If you have printed labels, scan them with the phone camera instead of typing. MiliRoute's scanner reads labels and recognises Australian postcodes, US ZIP codes, Canadian postal codes and UK postcodes. Regular customers can be saved as favourite addresses, so you only type them once.
Step 2: how do you check an address?
Pick each address from the suggestions, not from a free-typed line. The suggestions come from a map database, so each one has a precise position. If an address has no suggestion, it may have a typo or be a new building. Check it before you plan, not at the door.
Two common problems are the same street name in two suburbs, and a unit or level that is missing. If a customer gave you "Unit 5", add the building number too.
Step 3: how do you find the quickest order?
By computer. The human way is to look at the map and pick what looks close. That is the closest-stop method, and it often leaves a long drive back at the end; the article on closest stop vs fastest route shows why.
A route optimizer tries many orders using driving times between every pair of stops, and returns a quick one. MiliRoute uses Google's estimated driving times for average traffic. Here is one real run: eight well-known places in London, listed in no particular order, on 24 October 2026.
| Driving distance | Driving time | |
|---|---|---|
| Order as listed | 40.2 km | 2 h 47 min |
| MiliRoute's order | 23.9 km | 1 h 33 min |
That is 16.3 km and 1 hour 14 minutes less. The list was far from the best order, so if you already plan carefully, your gap will be smaller. The only fair test is your own stops. The stops and a screenshot are on the London example.
Step 4: how do you handle a stop that cannot wait?
Some stops have a deadline: a hospital delivery, a perishable item, a customer who leaves at noon. Set that stop to go first, and let the planner order the rest around it. In MiliRoute each stop can be set to First, Auto or Last. Use it sparingly: every pinned stop reduces the planner's freedom, so pin only what truly cannot move.
Step 5: how should you load the van?
In reverse order. The last stop goes in first, the first stop goes in last. It saves minutes at every stop because you do not dig through boxes. For larger loads, put heavy parcels on the floor and keep fragile ones where they will not slide.
Step 6: how do you record each drop?
A photo of the parcel at the door, with the house number in the frame, is the most common proof. A signature suits high-value items. A short note covers "left with neighbour". In MiliRoute each stop can record a signature, a photograph and a delivery note, all optional. The proof of delivery guide explains each.
What do you need to do all this?
- A phone with a route planner. MiliRoute is free for routes of up to 10 stops, with no credit card (price comparison).
- Google Maps for the driving itself. It allows up to 9 stops and keeps the order you type, which is why the ordering step comes first (the limit explained).
- Five minutes the evening before.
Questions
How do I plan a delivery route for 20 stops?
Collect and check all 20 addresses, then use a route planner to order them. Google Maps alone stops at 9 stops. A free plan with a limit of 15 will not cover 20, so check the limit before you start; the stop limits are compared here.
Should I deliver the closest stop first?
Not necessarily. The closest-stop method looks sensible but often leaves a long drive back across the area at the end. A planner compares whole routes, not one step at a time.
What if a new order arrives after I have planned?
Add it to the list and plan again. A late order can change the best order for the whole day, so re-plan rather than adding the stop at the end.
How long does planning take?
Collecting and checking the addresses is the slow part. The ordering step takes seconds in a route planner.
Do I need a different app for each step?
No. One route planner usually covers address entry, ordering and proof of delivery. You still drive with a navigation app.
Sources
- Google Maps Help: multiple destinations
- MiliRoute optimizer run on 24 October 2026, eight public addresses in London, Google driving-time estimates for average traffic
Last updated 28 October 2026.