Schedule Types
How to create and manage reusable shift templates that define working hours, breaks, and off-day patterns.
Schedule Types are reusable templates that define the structure of a shift -- including working hours, break times, and weekly patterns. Instead of manually entering times for every shift assignment, you select a schedule type and the system fills in the details automatically.
Navigation: HR > Work Schedule > Schedule Types
Purpose
Fleet operations typically have a handful of recurring shift patterns. Schedule Types allow you to:
- Define each shift pattern once and reuse it across the entire schedule
- Ensure consistency in shift definitions across all employees and departments
- Reduce data entry errors when building weekly or monthly schedules
- Quickly identify which shift an employee is working by its name and color
Viewing Schedule Types
The Schedule Types page displays a table of all configured templates:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The display name of the schedule type (e.g., "Morning Shift") |
| Code | A short code for quick reference (e.g., "MS") |
| Start Time | When the shift begins |
| End Time | When the shift ends |
| Break Duration | Total break time included in the shift |
| Net Working Hours | Total hours minus break time |
| Working Days | Which days of the week this schedule applies to |
| Color | The color used to represent this schedule type on the calendar |
| Status | Active or Inactive |
Common Schedule Types
Here are examples of schedule types commonly used in fleet management:
| Name | Hours | Working Days | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Shift | 06:00 - 14:00 | Mon-Fri | Early operations, dispatch, vehicle preparation |
| Day Shift | 09:00 - 17:00 | Mon-Fri | Office staff, administrative roles, customer service |
| Evening Shift | 14:00 - 22:00 | Mon-Fri | Afternoon operations, evening dispatch |
| Night Shift | 22:00 - 06:00 | Mon-Fri | Overnight operations, airport transfers |
| Split Shift | 06:00-10:00, 16:00-20:00 | Mon-Sat | Peak-hour coverage for drivers |
| Weekend Only | 08:00 - 20:00 | Sat-Sun | Weekend-only drivers or support staff |
| Rotating 12-Hour | 06:00 - 18:00 | Alternating | Long shifts with alternating on/off days |
Creating a Schedule Type
To create a new schedule type:
- Click Add Schedule Type at the top-right of the page.
- Fill in the configuration fields:
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | A descriptive name (e.g., "Night Shift - Drivers") |
| Code | Yes | A unique short code (e.g., "NSD") |
| Description | No | Details about when this schedule type should be used |
| Start Time | Yes | The shift start time in 24-hour format |
| End Time | Yes | The shift end time in 24-hour format |
| Break Duration | No | Total break time in minutes (default: 0) |
| Break Start Time | No | When the break begins (optional -- for display purposes) |
| Working Days | Yes | Select which days of the week this schedule includes (e.g., Mon-Fri) |
| Color | Yes | Choose a color for calendar display |
| Overtime Threshold | No | Hours after which time is counted as overtime |
| Night Shift Premium | No | Whether this schedule qualifies for night shift pay differential |
- Click Save to create the schedule type.
For overnight shifts where the end time is earlier than the start time (e.g., 22:00 - 06:00), the system automatically understands that the shift spans two calendar days. You do not need to enter separate dates.
Working Days Configuration
The Working Days field determines the default pattern for this schedule type:
| Pattern | Description |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | Standard five-day work week |
| Mon-Sat | Six-day work week with Sunday off |
| Sun-Thu | Common in some Middle Eastern countries |
| Custom | Select individual days for irregular patterns |
The Working Days setting is a default used during bulk assignment. When assigning shifts individually, you can override this and assign the shift on any day, regardless of the template's working day configuration.
Editing a Schedule Type
To modify an existing schedule type:
- Click on the schedule type row in the table.
- Update the fields you need to change.
- Click Save.
Impact of Changes
| Change | Impact on Existing Assignments |
|---|---|
| Name or Color | Display changes only -- no impact on shift times |
| Start/End Time | Only affects new assignments. Existing assignments keep their original times |
| Break Duration | Only affects new assignments |
| Working Days | Only affects new bulk assignments |
| Overtime Threshold | May affect how overtime is calculated for future attendance records |
Changes to a schedule type do not retroactively affect existing shift assignments. If you need to update times for already-assigned shifts, edit those assignments individually through the Shift Management page.
Deactivating a Schedule Type
If a schedule type is no longer needed:
- Open the schedule type detail.
- Toggle the Status to Inactive.
- Click Save.
When a schedule type is deactivated:
- It will not appear in the schedule type dropdown when creating new assignments
- Existing assignments using this type are not affected
- The type remains visible in historical data and reports
Split Shifts
A split shift is a working pattern where the employee works two separate blocks within the same day with a long break in between. To configure a split shift:
- Create the schedule type with the overall start and end times covering the full span.
- Set a long break duration that accounts for the gap between the two working blocks.
- In the description, clearly note the two working blocks (e.g., "06:00-10:00 and 16:00-20:00").
Alternatively, you can create two separate schedule types for each block and assign them both to the same employee on the same day.
Best Practices
- Use clear, descriptive names -- "Morning Shift - Operations" is better than "Shift A." Employees should immediately understand what the schedule type means.
- Keep codes consistent -- Use a logical code system (e.g., MS = Morning Shift, NS = Night Shift, DS = Day Shift) so codes are easy to remember.
- Limit the number of types -- Having too many schedule types creates complexity. Aim to cover your operational needs with as few types as possible.
- Set colors thoughtfully -- Use distinct, contrasting colors so shifts are easy to differentiate on the calendar view.
- Include overtime thresholds -- If your organization pays overtime, set the threshold on each schedule type so overtime is calculated correctly.
- Review annually -- As operations change, review your schedule types to remove obsolete ones and add new ones as needed.