Schedule your jobs so that you make a profit

You've picked a bunch of jobs from the job board, now you need to schedule them so that your delivery run makes you a profit.  Small changes to the order can make a big difference to your profits, so pay attention and do this carefully.

 

Each of your jobs has a collection and delivery point, you need to schedule all of these different pickup and drop off points into the most efficient order.  You don't have to do all of the collections and then all of the deliveries, you can mix the pick ups and deliveries up to keep your van running full.  The only rule is that you need to pick up and individual consignment before you can deliver it.

 

Each pick up and each drop off is a destination point, a task, so what you need to do is go through all of your destinations and work out which order you want to do them in.  You need to aim to do them in the most efficient manner, and for a courier business, that means the minimum number of miles.

 

As an example, if you have 4 jobs on your job schedule, you have 8 destination points, you need to give each pick up or drop off is a number between 1 and 8, 1 being your first pick up, and 8 being the last drop off.  The in-between the pick ups and drop off can be in any order you like just so long as you collet each individual consignment before you drop it off.  And no duplicates.

 

OK.  So you've done that, what else can you do here?  Well if you think that there's a bit of a gap in your schedule, that you're driving too many miles with not enough jobs on board, then click "Job Board" to go back and pick up some extra jobs. 

 

Or, if you've pick a job that just isn't working, then click on the consignment and selecte "cancel job" and delete it from your schedule.

 

Just remember to make sure that you update the task orders to keep everything right.  You can use the "Calculate" button to check the number of miles that your route involves.

 

Once you've got your consignments and tasks all ordered you need to "Allocate Driver" and "Allocate van".  When you're all done and dusted, all that's left is to "Send Driver Out".    And the game will run your schedule, work out how many miles, how many hours, how much it's cost you and how much you've earnt, and whether all of the effort made you a profit.

 

But remember, life is rarely simple and straightforward, particularly when earning a living depends on the UK's roads and traffic, so be prepared for some unknown events.