The Local Delivery Drivers for WooCommerce Premium plugin gives you full control over how orders are assigned to drivers. Whether you prefer automation, manual selection, or driver self-assignment, the plugin makes it simple to manage delivery workflows efficiently.
Assignment Options
You can assign delivery drivers using four flexible methods:
- Auto-assign drivers when orders reach Processing status
- Allow drivers to claim available orders from their panel
- Manually assign a driver to a specific order
- Bulk assign drivers to multiple orders at once
Each method supports different workflows depending on how you operate your store.
Auto-Assign Drivers
When an order status changes to Processing, the plugin can automatically assign the most suitable driver based on your configured rules.
How to Enable Auto-Assign
- Go to Plugin Settings > Drivers Settings
- Enable the Auto-assign drivers checkbox
Auto-Assign Methods
Choose from six built-in assignment strategies:
By number of orders
Assign evenly based on how many deliveries each driver already has.
By shipping location + order count
Match by shipping zip code, city, state, country, and balance workload.
By shipping city
Assign if the shipping city matches the driver’s city.
By pickup location + order count
Use pickup address hierarchy to assign the nearest available driver.
By pickup city
Assign if the pickup city matches the driver’s city.
By shipping or pickup city
Assign if either city matches the driver’s city.
⚠️ Auto-assign will not apply to:
- Orders using a disabled shipping method
- Orders marked for local pickup
- Orders containing virtual products
Disable Auto-Assign for Specific Shipping Methods
You can prevent auto-assignment for specific shipping methods directly from the WooCommerce shipping method settings.
To disable auto-assign:
- Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping
- Edit the desired Shipping Zone
- Click Edit next to the shipping method
- Check the box: Disable auto-assign drivers
- Save your changes
When this option is checked, the plugin will not auto-assign drivers to orders using that method, even if auto-assign is enabled globally.
Pickup-based methods are also excluded by default.
Claim Orders: Let Drivers Assign Themselves
Drivers can log in to their driver panel and claim available orders if you allow this feature.
How to Enable Claim Orders
- Go to Plugin Settings > Drivers Settings
- Enable the checkbox: Allow drivers to claim orders
Claim Order Conditions
Drivers will only see orders that meet all of the following:
- Status is Processing
- No driver is assigned
- Order does not use local pickup
- Order does not contain virtual products
Drivers must also have claim permission, which you can grant:
- From the plugin dashboard
- From the Edit User page
- From the Users screen in WordPress
Claim Order Limitation
You can restrict which orders appear on the claim screen based on geographic match:
- All orders – No restriction
- Shipping city matches driver city
- Pickup city matches driver city
- Shipping or pickup city matches driver city
Set these rules under Plugin Settings > Drivers Settings > Claim Orders Limitation.
Assign a Driver Manually (Single Order)
If you prefer manual control, you can assign a driver directly from the order page.
How to Assign a Driver
- Go to WooCommerce > Orders
- Open the order
- Scroll to the Driver Assignment section
- Select a driver from the dropdown
- Click Update
Bulk Assign Drivers to Multiple Orders
Assigning several orders at once is fast and efficient with the bulk assignment feature.
How to Bulk Assign
- Go to WooCommerce > Orders
- Select the checkboxes for the orders you want to assign
- From the Bulk Actions dropdown, select Assign orders to delivery driver
- Choose a driver
- Click Apply
What Happens When a Driver Is Assigned
When a driver is assigned (via auto-assign, bulk, or manual):
- The driver receives an SMS notification (if enabled)
- The driver receives an email with full order details
- A note is added to the order showing:
- The name of the user who made the assignment
- The assigned driver’s name
- The order status is updated to Driver Assigned
SMS notifications are not sent when drivers claim orders themselves.
This flexible assignment system is built to suit every delivery workflow whether automated, manual, or hybrid. You’re in full control of how your team receives their deliveries.