Mobile App Setup

Drivers access NextRoute through the mobile app. This guide walks through installation, first-time login, required permissions, and basic operation.

Prerequisites

Before a driver can use the mobile app, an owner must invite them from the dashboard:

1. Go to Settings > Team
2. Click Invite Team Member
3. Set the role to Driver
4. Enter the driver's name and email
5. Click Send Invite

The driver will receive an email invitation valid for 24 hours.

Step 1: Accept the Invitation

1. The driver opens the invitation email on their phone
2. Taps Accept Invitation
3. Sets a password (minimum 6 characters)
4. Is automatically logged into the web view

The driver's account is not billed until they accept the invitation and set their password.

Step 2: Install the App

The NextRoute driver app is available on both platforms:

Search for "NextRoute Driver" in the App Store or Google Play Store and install the app.

Step 3: Log In

1. Open the NextRoute Driver app
2. Enter the email address used in the invitation
3. Enter the password set during invitation acceptance
4. Tap Sign In

The app authenticates via JWT and stores the session locally. Drivers stay logged in until they explicitly sign out or the token expires.

Step 4: Grant Permissions

On first launch, the app requests several device permissions. Each is important for full functionality:

Location Permission Details

• iOS: Select "Always Allow" when prompted. If the driver selects "While Using the App", background GPS tracking will not work. This can be changed later in Settings > NextRoute > Location.
• Android: Select "Allow all the time". On Android 12+, the app will request background location separately after the initial "While using the app" permission.

If location permission is set to "While Using", GPS pings will stop when the driver switches to another app or locks the screen. This creates gaps in live tracking data.

Step 5: Verify Setup

After logging in and granting permissions, the driver should see:

1. Today's routes — any routes dispatched to them for the current day
2. Empty state — if no routes are dispatched yet, a message like "No routes today" appears

To verify the setup is working:

1. From the dashboard, create a test route and assign it to the driver
2. Dispatch the route
3. Confirm the route appears on the driver's app
4. Have the driver tap Start Route and complete one stop

Using the App Daily

Viewing Routes

When the driver opens the app, they see all routes dispatched to them for today. Each route shows:

• Route name
• Number of stops
• Estimated duration
• Status (dispatched, in progress, completed)

Starting a Route

1. Tap on a route to see the stop list
2. Tap Start Route to begin
3. The app switches to navigation mode, showing the next stop

Completing a Stop

At each stop, the driver:

1. Taps Arrive (or the app auto-detects arrival based on GPS proximity)
2. Performs the service
3. Takes a photo if required by the account settings
4. Fills in any checklist items assigned to the stop
5. Taps Complete to mark the stop as done
6. The app navigates to the next stop

Skipping a Stop

If a stop cannot be serviced:

1. Tap Skip on the stop
2. Select a skip reason (e.g., "Gate locked", "No access", "Contaminated")
3. Optionally add a note or photo
4. The stop is marked as skipped and the driver moves to the next one

End of Route

When all stops are completed or skipped, the route is automatically marked as completed. The driver can review a summary showing:

• Total stops completed
• Stops skipped
• Total time
• Distance traveled

GPS Tracking

While the driver is on a route, the app sends GPS pings in the background. Each ping includes:

• Latitude and longitude
• Speed (mph)
• Heading (compass bearing)
• Accuracy (meters)
• Battery percentage
• Timestamp

These pings power the Live Tracking view in the dispatcher dashboard.

Troubleshooting

"No routes today"

• Check that a route has been dispatched (not just in draft status) for today
• Verify the route is assigned to this driver
• Pull down to refresh the route list

GPS not updating

• Ensure location permission is set to Always (not "While Using")
• Check that Background App Refresh is enabled
• Verify the device has a GPS signal (not in airplane mode)

Can't log in

• Confirm the invitation was accepted and a password was set
• Try the Forgot Password flow or ask an owner to trigger a password reset from Settings > Team
• Check that the email address matches exactly (case-insensitive)

Push notifications not received

• Verify notification permission is granted in device settings
• Check that Do Not Disturb is not active
• On Android, ensure the app is not being killed by battery optimization

Related Pages

• Team Management — inviting and managing drivers
• Dispatching — sending routes to drivers
• Live Tracking — monitoring drivers in real-time
• Photo Proof — configuring photo requirements
• Checklists — assigning checklists to stops