Break Management
Breaks are essential for driver safety, legal compliance, and operational efficiency. This guide covers how to configure various break types, locations, and timing constraints in your routing optimization.Break Configuration Basics
Breaks are defined within resource shifts:Break Types
Windowed Breaks
Can occur flexibly within a time window:Flexible Windowed Breaks
Flexible timing within a wider window:Drive Breaks
Reset continuous driving time:Unavailability Breaks
Mark resource as unavailable:Break Locations
Location Options
Location Impact:
DEPOT
: Adds travel time to/from depotANY
: No travel time, taken at current location- Specific location: Travel time to break location
Break Timing Constraints
Break Before Finish
Ensure breaks complete before shift end:Multiple Breaks Example
Integration with Resumable Jobs
Breaks can interrupt long service jobs:Result: Installation runs 8:00-12:00 (4 hours), break 12:00-13:00, resumes 13:00 to completion
Complex Break Scenarios
Legal Compliance Example
EU driving regulations:Field Service with Breaks
Best Practices
1
Plan for Travel Time
Depot breaks require round-trip travel time - position routes accordingly
2
Use Flexible Windows
Windowed breaks give solver more optimization options than fixed breaks
3
Consider Job Locations
“ANY” location breaks avoid unnecessary travel
4
Account for Regulations
Implement legal break requirements as hard constraints
Break Impact on Routes
The solver automatically:- Schedules breaks within allowed windows
- Adds travel time for depot/specific location breaks
- Splits resumable jobs around breaks
- Ensures breaks don’t violate time windows
- Optimizes break placement to minimize disruption
Common Issues:
- Insufficient time for depot breaks including travel
- Break windows conflicting with job time windows
- Too many fixed breaks reducing flexibility
Performance Considerations
Break Complexity Impact
Break Complexity Impact
Low Impact:
- Single break per shift
- “ANY” location breaks
- Wide time windows
- Multiple breaks per shift
- Depot return requirements
- Moderate time windows
- Many fixed-time breaks
- Specific break locations
- Tight break windows
- Multiple driving breaks
Troubleshooting
Breaks Not Scheduled
Breaks Not Scheduled
Causes:
- Break window too restrictive
- Insufficient time in shift
- Travel time to break location too long
- Widen break windows
- Use “ANY” location when possible
- Verify shift duration accommodates all breaks
Inefficient Break Placement
Inefficient Break Placement
Causes:
- Fixed breaks at suboptimal times
- Depot breaks causing excessive travel
- Use windowed breaks for flexibility
- Consider multiple smaller breaks
- Place depot breaks strategically
Jobs Interrupted by Breaks
Jobs Interrupted by Breaks
Causes:
- Non-resumable jobs conflicting with breaks
- Poor break window alignment
- Make long jobs resumable
- Adjust break windows
- Use job relations to control scheduling