Pathroute Dispatch Platform

Last-Mile Delivery Dispatch Software for Small Fleets

Reduce failed deliveries and proof disputes with last-mile delivery dispatch software for small fleets. Optimize routes, capture POD, and bill fast.

Last-Mile Delivery Dispatch Software for Small Fleets

Last-mile delivery is where the customer experience is made or broken. The warehouse can pick, pack, and ship perfectly, but if the final delivery fails, that is what the customer remembers. For small fleets handling 50, 100, or 200 stops per day, last-mile operations require precision that spreadsheets and group texts cannot provide.

Pathroute helps last-mile delivery teams complete more stops per route, capture proof at every door, and handle failed deliveries without drowning dispatchers in phone calls.

Pain Points Specific to Last-Mile Delivery Operations

Last-mile is the most expensive leg of the delivery chain, and the most visible to customers. Failed deliveries mean reattempts, which mean double the cost and frustrated customers. Proof disputes mean chargebacks and lost revenue. And without tracking, customers call dispatch constantly asking for ETAs.

The operational pressures are relentless:

  • High stop counts strain driver capacity and attention

  • Failed deliveries require costly reattempts

  • Proof capture is inconsistent across drivers

  • Customer complaints spike when tracking is unavailable

Small fleets competing with large carriers need operational discipline to stay profitable. That discipline starts with dispatch.

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Proof of Delivery That Holds Up in Disputes

In last-mile delivery, proof is not optional. Customers claim packages were never delivered. Shippers demand documentation for chargebacks. Without consistent proof capture, every dispute becomes a guessing game.

Pathroute enforces proof capture on every stop. Drivers photograph the package at the door, collect a signature, or scan a barcode. Each proof is timestamped, geotagged, and attached to the job record.

For last-mile teams, proof serves multiple purposes:

  • Photo proof shows the package was left in a safe location

  • Signature confirms direct handoff to the recipient

  • Timestamps prove delivery occurred within the window

When a customer calls claiming non-delivery, dispatch pulls up the proof in seconds. Dispute resolved.

Exception Handling for Failed Deliveries

Last-mile delivery has a high failure rate compared to other delivery types. Customers are not home, addresses are wrong, buildings have restricted access. The question is not whether deliveries will fail, but how efficiently you can recover.

Pathroute logs every exception with a reason code and triggers a structured workflow. Common exception scenarios include:

  • No safe place to leave the package

  • Customer not home during delivery window

  • Wrong address on shipping label

  • Building access denied

When an exception is logged, dispatch sees it immediately. No waiting for the driver to call. Reattempts can be scheduled, jobs can be reassigned, and customers can be notified automatically.

The goal is to reduce reattempts, not just document failures. With structured exception handling, dispatchers can identify patterns, address root causes, and improve first-attempt success rates over time.

Route Optimization Built Around Daily Dispatch

Last-mile routes can have 50, 75, or 100+ stops. Building these routes manually takes hours and rarely produces optimal results. Drivers backtrack, time windows are missed, and overtime costs eat into margins.

Pathroute optimizes routes automatically, respecting time windows, balancing driver loads, and minimizing drive time. When a route needs to change mid-day, whether because of a late addition or a failed delivery, the system recalculates instantly.

Typical job types for last-mile delivery include:

  • Parcel drops to residential addresses

  • Scheduled deliveries with time windows

  • Returns pickup from customer locations

  • Multi-package deliveries to single addresses

Route optimization is not just about drive time. It is about completing more stops per route without sacrificing proof capture or customer experience.

Billing and Invoice Exports That Close Faster

Last-mile fleets often bill by the stop or by the package. At scale, that means hundreds of line items per week, each needing accurate job data and proof documentation. Manual billing is a bottleneck.

Pathroute exports invoices with all job details attached: stop address, delivery time, driver name, and proof link. Shippers can verify deliveries without calling dispatch. Exception reports show which stops failed and why.

Billing workflows for last-mile teams include:

  • Per-package or per-stop billing

  • Weekly exports by shipper or client

  • Exception reports for dispute resolution

Faster billing, fewer disputes, and cleaner cash flow.

Why Last-Mile Delivery Teams Choose Pathroute

Competing in last-mile delivery requires the efficiency of a large carrier with the flexibility of a small fleet. Pathroute bridges that gap with route optimization that scales, proof capture that is enforced, and exception handling that reduces reattempts.

Every stop is documented. Every route is optimized. Every exception is handled.

FAQs

  • Q: How many stops can a route handle? A: Routes can include hundreds of stops, optimized in seconds.

  • Q: What if a customer is not home? A: Drivers log an exception with a reason code and photo, triggering a reattempt workflow.

  • Q: Can we bill per package or per stop? A: Yes. Billing exports support per-stop and per-package pricing.

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