Why did operators use plots?
Before GPS in every car, plots were a fair way to share work: first in, first served within an area. Drivers still like the predictability.
What are the downsides?
The first car in the plot queue may be further away than a free car just over the border, so pick-ups take longer and empty miles rise. Many operators now combine plots with nearest-car rules.
How do zones and plots relate in software?
A plot is a zone used for dispatch queues. You can draw zones and dispatch by them (zones) or set rules for how jobs are offered (dispatch rules).
Frequently asked questions
Is a plot the same as a zone?
Nearly: plot is the UK trade word for a dispatch zone with a driver queue.
What is 'plotted up'?
A driver who has joined a plot's queue and is waiting for a job there.
