How Spare uses live traffic data to improve transit routing and on-time performance
When traffic changes, your system should too
You can’t control traffic—but you can control how your team responds to it.
When late trips pile up or dispatchers scramble to adjust routes, it’s often because traffic data is outdated—or disconnected from your system altogether.
Spare has taken the lead in transit by integrating Google Maps Platform’s live traffic-aware routing directly into its optimization engine and Driver App—turning real-time road conditions into actionable, system-wide decisions.
Whether it’s a road closure, last-minute detour, or sudden congestion, Spare continuously adjusts routes every 60 seconds based on current road conditions—so drivers get the best path forward, and dispatchers stay hands-off.
How Spare uses Google Maps traffic data to improve transit routing
Most platforms surface live traffic as a map overlay for dispatchers—a useful reference, but not a true solution. Drivers still receive static directions, and dispatchers are left to manually intervene when delays happen.
Spare takes a fundamentally different approach. By integrating Google Maps Platform’s live traffic-aware routing directly into its optimization engine, Spare turns traffic data into automated, system-wide routing decisions every 60 seconds—no manual input required.
Turning traffic data into real-time, system-wide routing decisions isn’t simple. It requires deep integration between optimization algorithms and live road conditions—something Spare has uniquely achieved at scale in the transit space.
- 🧠 Spare Engine reshuffles trips system-wide every 60 seconds—making it one of the only platforms in transit to fully integrate and act on Google Maps traffic data in real time.
- 🚦 Spare Live Traffic reroutes vehicles minute-by-minute—without manual input.
- 🗺️ Built-in Google Maps means drivers get trusted navigation directly in-app—no need to switch tools or guess, reducing mental math and keeping them safe on the road.
Other platforms may link out to Google Maps—but Spare builds it in.
That difference matters. Deep linking forces drivers to switch apps mid-route, breaking sync with dispatch and increasing the risk of missed or late trips. Spare’s fully native integration keeps drivers and dispatch aligned—safer, smoother, and actually optimized in real time.
Unlike others who show traffic data, Spare uses it to power real-time routing decisions across every trip—every 60 seconds.
Transit operations checklist: Is your system truly built for live traffic-aware routing?
If you’re constantly putting out fires, your current system might be holding you back. Ask yourself:
✅ Are drivers stuck in traffic while your system just...shrugs?
✅ Does your system reroute automatically based on real-time traffic—or do dispatchers step in manually?
✅ Are drivers stuck in congestion while the manifest stays static?
✅ Do ETAs update dynamically, or do they drift off as conditions change?
✅ Is traffic visibility limited to your admin panel, with no direct impact on routing?
If you checked off even one of these, it’s time to consider a smarter way forward.
How real-time traffic-aware routing helps your team day to day
For operations teams:
- Less time spent fixing late trips manually
- Fewer headaches from last-minute changes
- Increased confidence in schedules and vehicle ETAs
For drivers:
- Familiar Google Maps interface
- Real-time reroutes during traffic disruptions
- Less stress, less confusion, and fewer training hours
For riders:
- Fewer surprises
- Fewer missed pickups
- More reliable service—even during rush hour or city-wide events
3 steps to improve routing and reduce delays with real-time optimization
🔍 Audit your current system
- How often does it recalculate routes?
- Are your drivers relying on external apps to stay on track?
- Do dispatchers spend more time reacting than optimizing?
📊 Quantify the impact of traffic delays
- What’s your average trip lateness?
- How many hours are spent on unproductive routing each day?
📅 Book a discovery call with Spare
We’ll walk you through how real-time optimization with Google Maps Platform live traffic-aware routing can help you reduce costs, boost on-time performance, and give your staff time back.
Start optimizing service with live traffic insights and Spare
With real-time rerouting, familiar navigation, and fewer manual interventions, Spare helps you stay on schedule—even when the road throws you a curveball.
From the blog
With the new system, the operational team, and dispatchers and schedulers have more time to focus on other tasks, such as more time for customer service, and think about other future services. One of our team members is very data driven, and she loves to see the metrics and how the system is working - she can do deep dives and has a lot of fun with it.
