Job scheduling that accounts for drive time
Stop guessing how long it takes to get between jobs. Arrively calculates real drive time and only shows customers time slots you can actually reach.
How does drive-time aware scheduling work?
Arrively calculates real drive time between jobs and only shows customers time slots the contractor can physically reach. When a customer selects a slot on your booking page, the system checks your existing appointments, factors in travel duration using live traffic data, and removes any time windows that would require impossible drives. This means every booked appointment already accounts for the commute, so you arrive on time without rushing. According to FieldConnect, travel time consumes approximately 30% of a field technician's day — drive-time aware scheduling reclaims that lost time by preventing unreachable bookings before they happen. Setup takes about two minutes: add your services, define your service area, and share your booking link.
Set your services and area
Add the services you offer, set your prices, and define your service area. This takes about 2 minutes.
Share your booking link
Customers visit your booking page and see only the time slots you can actually reach based on your existing schedule and location.
Manage from your phone
View your day, update job statuses, and handle changes on the go. Your schedule stays accurate and your customers stay informed.
Why is travel time important for mobile service scheduling?
Travel time is the hidden cost that breaks most mobile service schedules. Without accounting for drive time, technicians end up with back-to-back appointments that are geographically impossible to reach, leading to late arrivals and frustrated customers. Research from Zuper shows that 47% of technicians say appointments have not gone as planned due to insufficient travel time planning. Arrively prevents this by calculating real drive time between every job and automatically blocking overlapping slots. Personal calendar events also block availability, so your schedule reflects your full day — not just your work appointments. The result is a realistic, achievable schedule every single day.
How do mobile service workers stay updated in the field?
Mobile service workers stay updated through Arrively's mobile app, which pushes real-time notifications for new bookings, cancellations, and schedule changes directly to their phone. Your schedule changes throughout the day as customers book, cancel, or reschedule. Arrively keeps everything in sync so you always know what is next and your customers always know when to expect you. One-tap status updates let you mark jobs as en route, arrived, or complete, and each status change automatically notifies the customer. With Zuper reporting that 30% of a technician's day is spent on admin tasks, these automated updates eliminate manual communication and let you focus on billable work instead of fielding phone calls.
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Last updated: April 2026
Frequently asked scheduling questions
How does drive-time aware scheduling work?
When a customer books an appointment, Arrively calculates the real drive time from your previous job location to the new one. It only shows customers time slots that you can physically reach, accounting for travel time. This means no more rushed drives or late arrivals.
Can I prevent double-booking?
Yes. Arrively automatically blocks overlapping time slots. When a slot is booked, it is removed from availability for both customer self-booking and manual scheduling. Drive time buffers are also accounted for, so you will never have back-to-back jobs that are geographically impossible to reach.
How do customers book appointments?
Customers use your public booking page to select a service, see available time slots, and confirm their appointment. They only see slots you can actually reach based on your existing schedule and location. No app download is required.
Can I manage my schedule from my phone?
Yes. The Arrively mobile app gives you full control of your schedule on the go. You can view your day, reschedule jobs, add new appointments, and update job statuses — all from your phone in the field.