Route Redesign Route Redesign Using GPS Using GPS A case study on Claremore, OKA case study on Claremore, OK

Presented by Presented by Tim MillerTim MillerDirector of Utilities Director of Utilities Claremore, OK Claremore, OK

Why Redesign Routes Why Redesign Routes

Routes were done in an employees head, no formal routes were Routes were done in an employees head, no formal routes were written down.written down.

Employee turnover meant that new hands were trained on what Employee turnover meant that new hands were trained on what previous employee could remember about route and many things previous employee could remember about route and many things were forgotten as information was passed down. were forgotten as information was passed down.

As new employees learned routes, each driver had preferences As new employees learned routes, each driver had preferences on where to start and where to “break-off” to go to the dump. With on where to start and where to “break-off” to go to the dump. With little to no standardization, drivers were constantly changing little to no standardization, drivers were constantly changing routes to fit their personal desires and in many cases, duplicating routes to fit their personal desires and in many cases, duplicating work. work.

As a result there were 4 trucks needed and we received many As a result there were 4 trucks needed and we received many complaints about missed trash and untimely pickups. complaints about missed trash and untimely pickups.

In addition to customer complaints there were regularly large In addition to customer complaints there were regularly large amounts of overtime, making the operation too costly to continue amounts of overtime, making the operation too costly to continue in this same manner. in this same manner.

How to Redesign Using GPS How to Redesign Using GPS TrackingTracking

Set GPS units on vehicles to track their daily routesSet GPS units on vehicles to track their daily routes Units can be installed simply with 12-volt power and antenna space Units can be installed simply with 12-volt power and antenna space

Compile raw data to analyze routesCompile raw data to analyze routes Determine where routes overlap Determine where routes overlap

Intersection crossovers Intersection crossovers Streets used more than once for travel instead of pickupStreets used more than once for travel instead of pickup Duplication of routes and areas covered in more than one manner (i.e. 2 Duplication of routes and areas covered in more than one manner (i.e. 2

drivers covering the same road). drivers covering the same road). Utilize professional route optimization company to redesign routesUtilize professional route optimization company to redesign routes

Benefits – Specialized company redesigns routes, ensuring accuracy Benefits – Specialized company redesigns routes, ensuring accuracy and feasibility and feasibility

Constraints – Professional optimization is costly, smaller cities may Constraints – Professional optimization is costly, smaller cities may not have funds for a project of this nature. not have funds for a project of this nature.

Using a GPS system to do “In-House” routing is a one time event, Using a GPS system to do “In-House” routing is a one time event, the system will not update itself or compile routes for you. the system will not update itself or compile routes for you. Software can be purchased for the types of operations.Software can be purchased for the types of operations.

Route Redesign Route Redesign ParametersParameters

Routes must be designed for success. Use some simple mathematic formulas to Routes must be designed for success. Use some simple mathematic formulas to ensure that your proposed route will be feasible. ensure that your proposed route will be feasible.

Utilize raw data to redesign routes Utilize raw data to redesign routes Work with route drivers to redesign routes Work with route drivers to redesign routes

Utilize driver knowledge and experience to ensure feasibility of redesigned routes, making sure Utilize driver knowledge and experience to ensure feasibility of redesigned routes, making sure that you are interpreting the map in the same way. This keeps you from assuming a street is that you are interpreting the map in the same way. This keeps you from assuming a street is connected where is it actually a dead end. connected where is it actually a dead end.

Gauge average waste per household (WPH) to determine roughly where the “break-off points” will Gauge average waste per household (WPH) to determine roughly where the “break-off points” will be:be:

These will be determined by the carrying capacity of your collection vehicle (CCV) divided by the WPH. These will be determined by the carrying capacity of your collection vehicle (CCV) divided by the WPH. CCV/WPH = # of average households vehicle can carryCCV/WPH = # of average households vehicle can carry Example Example Vehicle holds 8 tons, WPH = 30lbs. (Claremore avg.) Vehicle holds 8 tons, WPH = 30lbs. (Claremore avg.) 16,000/30 = 533 Houses per load (average) 16,000/30 = 533 Houses per load (average)

Use national benchmarks to ensure that vehicles have enough time to pickup their route Use national benchmarks to ensure that vehicles have enough time to pickup their route stopsstops

National standard ranges from 2.5 to 1.5 households per minute National standard ranges from 2.5 to 1.5 households per minute Factor in dump time for each vehicle so that employees are not working overtime to complete Factor in dump time for each vehicle so that employees are not working overtime to complete

standard routes. standard routes. Get routes as even as possible so that workday is constant throughout week and vehicles are not Get routes as even as possible so that workday is constant throughout week and vehicles are not

overweight on roads. overweight on roads. Example Example 8-1.25(dump trip time) * 60 = 405 route minutes8-1.25(dump trip time) * 60 = 405 route minutes 405*1.5 = 607.5 households per day 405*1.5 = 607.5 households per day

Collection vehicle holds 533 houses so plan for excess of 74 households or 1.14 dump trips per vehicle per Collection vehicle holds 533 houses so plan for excess of 74 households or 1.14 dump trips per vehicle per day. day.

Contingency Plans Contingency Plans Developed for worst case scenarios to ensure Developed for worst case scenarios to ensure

two backup plans are in place because trash two backup plans are in place because trash must be picked up each day must be picked up each day

Plan 1 Plan 1 If a truck goes down, the routes can be completed If a truck goes down, the routes can be completed

with only 2 residential trucks, but 3 hours of overtime with only 2 residential trucks, but 3 hours of overtime per truck will have to be usedper truck will have to be used

Plan 2 Plan 2 If 2 trucks go down, the commercial polycart truck will If 2 trucks go down, the commercial polycart truck will

be utilized to pick up the rest of the route. Overtime be utilized to pick up the rest of the route. Overtime will depend on the amount of the route left to will depend on the amount of the route left to complete. The commercial polycart truck has a lifter complete. The commercial polycart truck has a lifter arm on the back and the polycarts have wheels so arm on the back and the polycarts have wheels so there is a reduced chance of a worker’s comp injury there is a reduced chance of a worker’s comp injury during this processduring this process

Route Redesign ResultsRoute Redesign Results

Reduced active automated route trucks from 4 to 3. Reduced active automated route trucks from 4 to 3. 44thth vehicle is for contingency plan and to rotate vehicles on vehicle is for contingency plan and to rotate vehicles on

maintenance schedule. maintenance schedule. Increased profitability of department by over 200%Increased profitability of department by over 200%

FY 05/06 Profit - $248kFY 05/06 Profit - $248k FY 06/07 Profit - $550kFY 06/07 Profit - $550k

Profit increase was through reduced operational costs, not Profit increase was through reduced operational costs, not increased rates or new accounts. increased rates or new accounts.

Reduced sanitation rate by 8%Reduced sanitation rate by 8% Introduced “Senior Rate” at $1/Mo. Lower than regular Introduced “Senior Rate” at $1/Mo. Lower than regular

residential rate. residential rate. Reduced employee overtime Reduced employee overtime