Creating a coverage allows you to define a specific geographic area where operations will take place. This helps structure your service zones and ensures accurate shipment assignment when using the Routing Engine.
This article walks you through how to create a coverage and define its geographic boundaries correctly.
What’s a Coverage
A coverage is a defined geographic service area where specific drivers operate. It is used within the Planning module to structure how shipments are handled based on where they are delivered.
Important Note
Coverage zones are only applied when shipments are automatically assigned using the Routing Engine within the Plans module.
When assigning shipments manually, coverage zones can be overridden, allowing drivers to handle deliveries outside their defined zones.
How to Create a Coverage
You can create a coverage by defining its geographic area using one of the following methods:
Draw on the map: Draw a custom polygon directly on the map to represent the coverage’s geographic area. This method offers more flexibility and allows you to precisely match your operational zones.
👉 Follow this step-by-step guide to see how to create a coverage by drawing a polygon
Search bar: Search for a specific area and select it; a corresponding polygon will be automatically generated and highlighted on the map for quicker setup.
Modifying a Coverage
If a polygon is defined incorrectly or needs to be updated due to operational changes, you can modify it by either trimming specific parts using the scissors tool or removing it entirely to redefine it from scratch:
Cutting a Polygon: Use the scissors tool to cut and remove parts of a coverage's polygon, excluding unwanted areas and making it more precise.
Note: This can be applied whether the coverage was created by drawing directly on the map or by selecting areas using the search bar.
👉 Follow this step-by-step guide to modify a coverage using the scissors tool.
Removing a Polygon: Selecting a polygon and using the bin tool removes it entirely, allowing you to redefine it from scratch.
👉 Follow this step-by-step guide here to Remove a Polygon from a Coverage
Coverage Visibility
The left-side panel displays a list of all created coverages, allowing you to quickly view and access them.
Each coverage is represented on the map (on the right) by a unique alphabetical letter, which matches the letter displayed next to the coverage name in the left-side list.
Additional Notes
A coverage can be modified at any time after it has been created to accommodate operational changes.
A single coverage can include multiple zones: You can draw multiple areas on the map and/or select multiple locations using the search bar, all within the same coverage.
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