Creating a route

The route planning module allows you to create a route with any number of stops. When you start route planning, you will see the map view.

To create a route, proceed as follows:

You can use the search bar on the left-hand side to search for specific locations to add them as a stop on your route.
As soon as you enter search text in the field, possible search results are displayed. Your search will be narrowed down step by step until you reach the desired result. If you navigate in the results list using the up or down key on your keyboard, the map view zooms in on the location of the selected hit to help you. You can also use the mouse to click on the crosshair symbol to the right of each hit to zoom in on the location of this hit. Alternatively, you can also add a stop to your route by clicking on the desired location on the map. Via the three dots, you can open a context menu. Here, you can copy the coordinates of the stop to the clipboard using the symbol .
The first stop is the starting point of your route - the map zoom focuses on this first stop. Once you have added a stop, you can make various settings for this stop to calculate a route (see "Editing a stop"). As soon as you have added more than one stop, the zoom in the map view adjusts so that all stops on the route are displayed. If you move the mouse over a stop, it will be highlighted in colour. Here you can click on the crosshair symbol to the right of the stop to zoom in on this stop. Before you calculate the route, you can define the desired vehicle profile. To do this, use the drop-down field in the list header (further details can be found below under "Select a vehicle profile"). If you want to use a different cost profile for this vehicle than the one assigned to the vehicle by default, you can select a different cost profile using the € symbol. Now you need to specify whether the calculation of the route: on standardized route planning values (Standard) or on additional parameters such as time slots, driving times and rest periods, etc. (Dynamic).
If you have selected dynamic mode, you can make settings for the stops that are to be included in the calculation. For example, you can specify the start or arrival time of your route. Detailed information on editing stops for dynamic calculation can be found in the section Editing a stop. You can now calculate the route by clicking on <Results>.

Note: Instead of clicking on the button <Results>, you can also start the calculation of the route(s) using the F9 key or the key combination Ctrl/Cmd + Enter.

Note: You can change the order of the stops by moving a stop within the list with the mouse using drag&drop. To do this, grab the number of the stop to be moved with the mouse and drag the stop to the desired position within the route.

If the route had already been calculated in its previous order, it is now necessary to click the button Results> again, as the route result is automatically reset when the stops are changed.

The calculated route is now displayed on the map. The rough route is listed on the left-hand side of the window. Information on distances, times, costs, tolls, emissions and consumption is displayed in the right-hand pane. This information is based on:
- the settings in your cost and vehicle profiles (standard and dynamic),
- the settings you have made for the individual stops (Dynamic).

Reverse the order of a route

To reverse the sequence of a route (e.g. to drive the same route again the next day in the reverse direction), click on the <Reverse sequence> button in the bottom right corner of the “Add stop” input field.
The route is then built in reverse order and can be recalculated:

Create a route with return to start

If you want to define a route where the destination is the same as the start (i.e. a round trip), you can simply re-enter the starting point in the “Add stop” field. However, to save you having to re-enter the address, you can alternatively click on the “Return to Start” button to the right of the input field.

This duplicates the first stop, i.e. the starting point (in our example “Frankfurt am Main”) and adds it to the end of the stop list.

Create routes with ferry connections

When you calculate a route, a route that avoids ferry connections is usually sought. If a ferry connection can be avoided, e.g. through a tunnel or a reasonable detour, no ferry connection will be selected for this route.

However, if you want to route a route specifically via a ferry connection, you can search for a ferry connection and include it in your route.

To do this, proceed as follows:

Select a location that is close to the ferry connection and click on it on the map. This location is now displayed on the map with the context menu.

Now click on the button < Ferry> to search for ferry connections in the vicinity of the location. The ferry connections found are displayed in the results list on the left.

Click on the desired ferry connection to display further details.

The vehicle symbols indicate the vehicle types for which the ferry is authorised. Click on the crosshair symbol to display the starting point of the ferry connection centred on the map.

If this is the desired ferry connection, you can add it to the stop list by clicking on the symbol.
The map view now shows all the stops already selected and the ferry connection (including journey time) is included in the stop list on the left.

Attention: The ferry connection is automatically added to the end of the stop list. However, a ferry connection must not be defined as the start or end point of a route.

You must therefore either add further stops after the destination point of the ferry connection or move the ferry connection manually within the stop list - if further stops have already been defined.

As long as the ferry connection is still in the first or last position in the stop list, the route cannot be calculated and a corresponding message is displayed below the ferry connection.

In the detailed view of the stop, the ferry duration is displayed for the ferry in addition to the address and the coordinates of the starting point. It is not possible to edit this stop, apart from deleting it.

Select a vehicle profile

To select a suitable vehicle for your planned route, click on the drop-down button in the route creation header. The favorites list of available vehicles is displayed. You can select the desired vehicle profile here. If the desired vehicle is not included in the favorites list, you can access a list of all vehicles via the <See more standard vehicles> or <See more vehicles> button.
This list is organized by vehicle category. For electric vehicles, additional information is available for each vehicle. You can select your desired vehicle from this list by clicking on the respective arrow button. Via the star icon, you can add the vehicle to your favorites list.

Note: When using the route planner for the first time, the favorites list may be empty.

It is therefore necessary that you select at least one of the existing vehicles via the button <Show more standard vehicles> / <Show more vehicles> or add one or more vehicles to your favorites list.

As long as you have not yet selected a vehicle or have no vehicle in your favorites list, the route calculation cannot be carried out. The button <Results> is then not yet selectable and a corresponding tooltip is displayed.

Optimizing the sequence of a route

To plan a route as efficiently as possible and reduce unnecessary distances (and the associated costs), you can use the corresponding function in the route planning via the button <Optimize sequence> below the stop list. The route planner will then try to reorganize the stops on your route so that the entire route can be kept as short as possible. The start and end points are fixed and are not included in the optimization.

Next to the button <Optimize sequence> you will find the drop-down button <Optimize selection> which you can use to select the route section for which the optimization is to be carried out based on the affected stops.

Note: The "Optimize sequence" function is only available for the "Standard" calculation mode. In "Dynamic" calculation mode, the button is displayed but cannot be used – a corresponding tool tip is displayed.

Note: The "Optimize sequence" function can only be used if your route/stop list contains at least 4 stops.

Note: The "Optimize selection" function can only be used if your route/stop list contains at least 5 stops.

Example:

The route shown here includes stops in Berlin, Karlsruhe and Hamburg on the way from Warsaw to Lyon.
By optimizing the sequence for all intermediate stops (stops 2-4), the stops in Hamburg and Karlsruhe are automatically swapped, resulting in a saving of around 1000 kilometers on the journey.

However, if only stops 2 and 3 or 3 and 4 are selected for the optimization, this will not lead to any improvement.