Note: Drive Time tracking must be enabled in your Business Settings before the Dispatch feature is available to field workers.
Overview
When a field worker is ready to head to a job, they can use the Dispatch feature in the mobile app to get turn-by-turn routing and automatically start their drive time clock. The app shows the route to the job site — including estimated distance, travel time, and approximate arrival — and starts tracking drive time the moment they tap Dispatch.
Drive time logged through Dispatch is tied directly to the work order or appointment, keeping your timesheets accurate without any extra steps from your team.
When to Use This Feature
A field worker is leaving for a job and you want their drive time automatically recorded.
You need accurate travel data tied to specific work orders for job costing or payroll.
You want workers to open navigation automatically when they head out, without manually searching for the address.
How to Use Dispatch
Open the MotionOps mobile app and navigate to your scheduled appointment or work order.
Tap the Dispatch button. This opens the Dispatch modal, which loads a map with the route from your current location to the job site.
Review the route details displayed:
Distance — total miles to the job site.
Duration — estimated travel time in minutes.
Approx. Arrival — estimated clock time you'll arrive based on current traffic.
Optionally, toggle Open Map on Dispatch on if you want your phone's default maps app (Google Maps, Apple Maps, etc.) to open automatically with the route pre-loaded when you tap Dispatch. This preference is saved on your device.
Tap Dispatch to confirm. Drive time starts recording immediately and is linked to the work order or appointment.
Tips and Best Practices
Enable "Open Map on Dispatch" if your workers prefer hands-free navigation — it launches their default maps app with the destination already loaded so they can start driving right away.
Tap Dispatch only when you're actually about to leave. Drive time starts the moment you confirm, so dispatching too early will inflate travel time records.
Make sure location permissions are set to "Always" on your device. The route and arrival estimate rely on your real-time GPS position.
Things to Know
The Dispatch modal only appears for work orders and appointments that have a service location set. It will not open for general or non-location-based events.
Route details (distance, duration, arrival) are pulled live from Google Maps based on your current location at the time you open the modal. Conditions may change before you depart.
The "Open Map on Dispatch" toggle is saved per device, not per user account. If you switch devices, you'll need to set it again.
Drive time must be enabled in Business Settings by an admin before this feature is available.
Location permissions must be granted on the device for the map and routing to load correctly.
Troubleshooting
The Dispatch button isn't showing on my appointment.
Check that the work order or appointment has a service location set, and that Drive Time tracking is enabled in your Business Settings. Both are required for the Dispatch button to appear.
The map isn't loading or route details are missing.
Make sure location permissions are set to Always on your device. Without background location access, the app cannot determine your current position to calculate the route.
My maps app didn't open after tapping Dispatch.
Check that the Open Map on Dispatch toggle is turned on in the Dispatch modal. Also confirm that you have a default maps app set on your device.
Still need help? Reach out via the support chat or email support@motionops.com.