Uploading a CSV file to Create Routes

Samsara allows you to quickly and easily create a large number of routes for your Fleet by uploading a CSV file with up to 1,000 rows of data.

Follow the instructions below to format your CSV file and then navigate to Dispatch > Routes > More Actions > Upload CSV. 

Data Formatting 

Bulk uploading routes requires that you follow a set template to ensure that all of the correct information is provided. You can download the template at the bottom of this article for additional reference.

At a high-level, each row in the file represents a stop on a route, with multiple rows collectively representing an entire route. The first row for a given route represents the starting location & time.

The following columns must exist in the file and be named as such in the top row of the file:

• Route Name: This field is mandatory.  
• Assigned Driver Username: This field can be blank. If both “Assigned Driver Username” and “Assigned Vehicle Name” are blank, the route will be created as unassigned. However, both of these columns should not be filled in as a route can only be assigned to either a driver or a vehicle.
• Assigned Vehicle Name: This field can be blank. If both “Assigned Driver Username” and “Assigned Vehicle Name” are blank, the route will be created as unassigned. However, both of these columns should not be filled in as a route can only be assigned to either a driver or a vehicle.
• Stop Name: This field should be blank for the first row in each route (the route start location) but should be filled in for the remaining rows in the route.
• Stop Arrival Time: This field must be filled in. For the first row of a route, this field represents the Scheduled Start Time for the entire route. The date/time can be provided in any of the following formats. All date/time values in a single CSV file must be in the same format:
  • yyyy/m/d h:mm (e.g. 2019/1/25 8:40)
  • yyyy-m-d h:mm (e.g. 2019-1-25 8:40)
  • m/d/yy h:mm (e.g. 1/25/20 8:40)
  • m/d/yyyy h:mm (e.g. 1/25/2020 8:40)
• Stop Departure Time: This field is optional and can be left blank. For the first row of a route, this field represents the Scheduled End Time for the entire route. The date/time can be provided in any of the following formats. All date/time values in a single CSV file must be in the same format:
  • yyyy/m/d h:mm (e.g. 2019/1/25 8:40)
  • yyyy-m-d h:mm (e.g. 2019-1-25 8:40)
  • m/d/yy h:mm (e.g. 1/25/20 8:40)
  • m/d/yyyy h:mm (e.g. 1/25/2020 8:40)
• Stop Notes: This field can be blank.
• Address Name: This field can be blank. If filled in, this route stop will be created using the geofence of the Address Book entry with the same name. (If not using the Address Book entry with the Address Name field, all three fields below, Latitude, Longitude and Full Address are required for successful upload.)
• Latitude: This field can be blank but is required if no “Address Name” is provided. The Latitude, Longitude, & Full Address fields can be used to create a route stop without relying on an Address Book entry.
• Longitude: This field can be blank but is required if no “Address Name” is provided. The Latitude, Longitude, & Full Address fields can be used to create a route stop without relying on an Address Book entry.
• Full Address: This field can be blank but is required if no “Address Name” is provided. The Latitude, Longitude, & Full Address fields can be used to create a route stop without relying on an Address Book entry.

To aid in understanding the route file format, you can reference the attached Excel file at the bottom of this article and the image below. 

Route_CSV_Upload_Template (4).xltx 

Additional Formatting Notes

• There are two tabs on the template — the first one represents creating routes using the Address Book and the second one represents creating routes using raw addresses (Latitude, Longitude, Full Address). It is also possible to mix & match these two methods in one file (with some rows using the Address Book and other rows using raw addresses).
• For both example tabs, you will need to replace the “Assigned Driver Username” inputs in the file with real driver usernames for your organization, or the upload won’t work. Alternatively, you can delete the driver usernames in that column and create the routes as unassigned.
• To upload to the dashboard, the CSV file must have one tab only.