A short route can still be an infeasible route.
The vehicle may not have enough capacity. A delivery may fall outside its service window. A driver shift may end before the final stop. Route planning starts by representing the conditions an operation must actually satisfy.
Separate requirements from preferences.
Vehicle capacity and delivery commitments often behave as hard requirements. Distance, fleet utilization, and operating cost may be objectives with room for trade-offs. Make that distinction explicit before comparing candidate plans.
Model the whole stop.
A delivery consumes more than travel time. Include service duration, pickup-and-delivery precedence where applicable, and the relevant time zone. A location without its operating rules is an incomplete planning input.
Keep exceptions visible.
An unassigned stop is information. Inspect whether the issue is capacity, timing, location data, or another constraint. Hiding the exception does not make the plan feasible.
Review before execution.
Compare the proposed plan with the operating context. Estimated distance and duration depend on the travel-time inputs and assumptions behind them. Give planners enough detail to make an informed decision.