This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step approach to correcting inaccurate Pickup and Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) times by adjusting the speed settings within MediRoutes Desktop.
In rural areas, it is not uncommon for the estimated travel times in the MediRoutes system to be inaccurate. This discrepancy often arises because long-distance trips typically utilize highways or interstates that feature higher speed limits and shorter travel durations. If you notice a significant difference between the travel times estimated by MediRoutes and those provided by Google Maps, Bing Maps, or other navigation tools, the following step-by-step instructions will guide you on how to make necessary adjustments.
Here is an example of a trip located in a rural area that involves a lengthy journey on an interstate:
Upon checking the directions on Bing Maps, you will notice that the estimated travel time for this journey is 39 minutes.
In this example, it's important to highlight that many rural interstates in South Dakota have speed limits reaching up to 80 mph on various sections. Below, you will find the default speed settings in MediRoutes specifically for trips ranging from 20 to 100 miles.
In rural regions (similar to South Dakota), it's common to experience notable discrepancies in estimated travel times, particularly for longer trips exceeding 20 miles.
If you consistently notice discrepancies in estimated travel times for your area, you can adjust the speed settings in MediRoutes to improve accuracy. To do this, navigate to the Data tab, then select the Scheduling Tab, followed by the Vehicles Tab, and finally access the speeds section. Be sure to choose the distance range of 20-100 miles, as highlighted in the screenshot above.
For this specific example, I will set the speed to 65 miles per hour for trips exceeding 20 miles.
Once you have adjusted the Speed Settings, it may be necessary to completely log out of the Desktop application to ensure that the changes take effect properly.
Please be aware that any changes made to the speed settings will not immediately affect trips that have already been created in your system. To update an existing trip after adjusting the speed settings, follow the steps outlined below. However, if you create a new trip after making these adjustments, the new speed settings will be automatically applied.
To apply the updated speed settings to an existing trip, go to the Home tab and select the Edit button associated with the trip you wish to modify:
If the setting is enabled, you may need to select the option to Allow updates for the trip; if it is not enabled, you can proceed to the next step.
Select the appointment time displayed in the Location and Time box, and then click on the Pickup time box. There’s no need to make any adjustments; simply click from one box to the other.
You will notice that the Pickup time updates to reflect the adjustments made to the speed settings. Once the updated Pickup time appears, simply click the green save button to confirm your changes.
Once you have made the necessary changes to the trip, you can reassign it to the appropriate Run. This adjustment will bring the estimated travel time in line with the travel time indicated by Bing Maps, resulting in a more accurate representation of your journey.
