Peak Hours

Configure peak hour time windows and pricing multipliers -- adjust fares automatically based on demand periods, weekdays, weekends, and special events.

The Peak Hours page allows you to define time windows when demand for transportation is high and apply pricing surcharges accordingly. By configuring peak hours, the system automatically adjusts fare calculations for bookings and trips that fall within these periods.

Navigation: Dispatch > Peak Hours

Purpose

Transportation demand fluctuates throughout the day and week. Rush hours, weekends, holidays, and special events all drive changes in ridership volume. The Peak Hours feature helps you:

Define specific time windows as peak periods
Set pricing multipliers that apply during peak hours
Differentiate between weekday and weekend peak patterns
Create special event overrides for holidays or one-off occasions
Ensure fair and transparent pricing that reflects real demand

Peak hour pricing is applied automatically when creating bookings and calculating trip fares. Dispatchers and clients can see when a peak surcharge is in effect, promoting transparency.

Peak Hours List

The main page displays all configured peak hour rules in a table.

Table Columns

Column	Description
Rule Name	A descriptive name for the peak hour rule (e.g., "Morning Rush", "Weekend Evening")
Days	The days of the week this rule applies to (e.g., Mon--Fri, Sat--Sun)
Start Time	The time the peak period begins
End Time	The time the peak period ends
Multiplier	The fare multiplier applied during this period (e.g., 1.5x, 2.0x)
Status	Active or Inactive

Creating a Peak Hour Rule

Click the Add Peak Hour Rule button to create a new configuration.

Rule Configuration Fields

Field	Type	Required	Description
Rule Name	Text	Yes	A descriptive name (e.g., "Morning Rush Hour")
Days of Week	Multi-select	Yes	Select which days this rule applies to (Monday through Sunday)
Start Time	Time	Yes	When the peak period begins (e.g., 07:00 AM)
End Time	Time	Yes	When the peak period ends (e.g., 09:30 AM)
Fare Multiplier	Number	Yes	The multiplier applied to base fares (e.g., 1.25 for 25% surcharge, 1.5 for 50%)
Minimum Fare Override	Currency	No	An optional minimum fare that applies during this peak period, overriding the standard minimum
Applies To	Multi-select	No	Restrict the rule to specific vehicle types. If left blank, the rule applies to all vehicle types
Status	Toggle	Yes	Active or Inactive

Common Peak Hour Configurations

Here are examples of typical peak hour setups for a fleet management operation:

Rule Name	Days	Start	End	Multiplier	Description
Morning Rush	Mon--Fri	07:00	09:30	1.3x	Weekday morning commute
Evening Rush	Mon--Fri	16:30	19:00	1.3x	Weekday evening commute
Friday Night	Fri	20:00	23:59	1.5x	Friday evening demand
Weekend Evening	Sat--Sun	18:00	23:00	1.25x	Weekend dinner and entertainment hours
Late Night	Mon--Sun	00:00	05:00	1.5x	Late night / early morning surcharge

Be careful when creating rules with overlapping time windows on the same days. If two rules overlap, the system applies the higher multiplier. Review your rules after creation to ensure there are no unintended overlaps.

Editing a Peak Hour Rule

Click on a rule row to open the detail view. Click Edit to modify any field. Changes take effect immediately for new bookings and trips. Existing bookings that were already priced before the change are not retroactively updated.

Activating and Deactivating Rules

Use the Status toggle to enable or disable a peak hour rule:

Active -- The rule is in effect and will be applied to applicable bookings and trips
Inactive -- The rule exists in the system but is not currently applied

This is useful for seasonal rules (e.g., a holiday surcharge) that you want to keep configured but only activate at certain times of the year.

Special Event Overrides

For one-off events (concerts, sports events, holidays), you can create time-limited peak hour rules:

Field	Type	Required	Description
Event Name	Text	Yes	Name of the event or occasion
Specific Date	Date	Yes	The exact date this rule applies to
Start Time	Time	Yes	When the surcharge begins
End Time	Time	Yes	When the surcharge ends
Fare Multiplier	Number	Yes	The multiplier for this event
Auto-Deactivate	Toggle	No	If enabled, the rule automatically deactivates after the end time passes

Special event rules take priority over regular recurring peak hour rules. If a special event override is active for a specific date and time, its multiplier is used instead of any regular peak rule.

How Peak Pricing Works

When a booking or trip fare is calculated, the system checks:

Is the pickup time within any active peak hour rule?
If yes, which rule applies (if multiple overlap, the highest multiplier is selected)?
The base fare is multiplied by the peak hour multiplier.
If a minimum fare override is set for the peak rule, the system uses the higher of the calculated fare or the minimum.

Example Calculation

Component	Value
Base Fare	AED 50.00
Peak Multiplier	1.3x (Morning Rush)
Calculated Fare	AED 65.00
Minimum Fare Override	AED 40.00
Final Fare	AED 65.00 (calculated fare exceeds minimum)

Tips

Review your peak hour configurations monthly. Compare them against actual booking volume data from the Dispatch Dashboard to ensure your peak windows align with real demand patterns.

When setting multipliers, start conservatively (e.g., 1.2x or 1.3x) and adjust based on client feedback and booking volume. Overly aggressive surcharges may drive clients to competitors.

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