Zapiet – Rates by Distance can calculate distances using either a straight line or a driving route. The option you choose affects how rates are calculated at checkout.
Distance calculation options
Go to Settings > General > Distance calculation. In the Distance calculation drop-down menu, there are two options:
Straight line
Driving route
Straight line
Straight line calculates distance as a direct line between your delivery location and the customer’s address.
This option is useful when you want simple, predictable distance calculations.
When Straight line is selected, all driving route settings are hidden.
Driving route
This option is calculated in real time and may change based on live conditions. For example, if there is a traffic incident or road closure, the calculated distance will reflect the current route conditions.
This option is useful when you want distance calculations to reflect real driving paths.
When Driving route is selected, an additional dropdown menu appears with driving route types.
Driving route types
When Driving route is enabled, choose one of the following:
Best route
Calculates the route using the recommended route from your configured geocoding provider.
If you installed the app after April 2025, this will be Google Maps. Otherwise, you can check your geoprovider in Settings > Route and address provider.
Fastest route
Calculates using the route that takes the least time, even if it is not the shortest distance.
When Fastest route is selected, you can also choose optional route preferences:
Avoid highways: Excludes highways from the route calculation.
Avoid tolls: Excludes toll roads from the route calculation.
Avoid ferries: Excludes ferry routes from the route calculation.
You can select one, multiple, or none of these preferences.
The Avoid options will prioritize routes that do not use any of the options you have ticked.
If the only way to reach a customer’s address is via a route that includes an avoided option, but the distance is still within the configured radius, the customer will still be able to proceed to checkout.
Shortest route
Calculates using the route with the shortest distance, even if it is not the fastest.
When Shortest route is selected, you can also choose optional route preferences:
Avoid highways: Excludes highways from the route calculation.
Avoid tolls: Excludes toll roads from the route calculation.
Avoid ferries: Excludes ferry routes from the route calculation.
You can select one, multiple, or none of these preferences.
The Avoid options will prioritize routes that do not use any of the options you have ticked.
If the only way to reach a customer’s address is via a route that includes an avoided option, but the distance is still within the configured radius, the customer will still be able to proceed to checkout.
Notes
Switching between Straight line and Driving route will update the rate calculation method for all locations.