Skipping this step means missing out on valuable “insider” knowledge that isn’t written down anyplace. It’s important to know when customers are closed or expect deliveries on a particular day. You might not choose to honor every request, but at least it won’t be a surprise down the road.

Tip: Let the drivers know that not every idea will be fulfilled. Sometimes the only suggestions are ones that tend to leave the route basically unchanged. That’s particularly true for high dollar commission routes that are well established.