Create Onfleet tasks from local Spreadsheets

1. Workflow Overview

This workflow automates the creation of Onfleet delivery tasks by importing data from a local spreadsheet file. It is designed for users who manage last-mile delivery operations and want to bulk-import delivery tasks directly into Onfleet’s platform without manual entry.

Target Use Case:
One-time or periodic batch import of delivery tasks into Onfleet from locally stored spreadsheets, enabling streamlined route planning and dispatch.

Logical Blocks:

1.1 Input Reception: Reads a local spreadsheet file containing delivery task details.
1.2 Data Parsing: Converts the binary file content into structured JSON data.
1.3 Onfleet Task Creation: Creates delivery tasks in Onfleet using the parsed spreadsheet data.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

1.1 Input Reception

Overview:
This block reads the local spreadsheet file in binary format from disk to prepare for further processing.
Nodes Involved:
- Read Binary File
Node Details:
- Node Name: Read Binary File
  - Type: readBinaryFile
  - Role: Reads a file from the local file system into binary data for subsequent processing.
  - Configuration:
    - filePath set to the absolute path of the spreadsheet file (e.g., /Users/jamesli/Downloads/Onfleet Import Google Sheet.xlsx).
  - Key Expressions/Variables: None.
  - Input Connections: None (starting point).
  - Output Connections: Connected to Spreadsheet File1.
  - Version Requirements: Standard node, compatible with n8n v0.150+.
  - Potential Failures:
    - File not found or path incorrect → node fails.
    - Permission denied on file → node fails.
    - Unsupported file types → downstream parsing may fail.
  - Notes: Requires the workflow runner to have access to the specified local file path.

1.2 Data Parsing

Overview:
Converts the binary spreadsheet file to structured JSON data representing each row as an object with columns as keys.
Nodes Involved:
- Spreadsheet File1
Node Details:
- Node Name: Spreadsheet File1
  - Type: spreadsheetFile
  - Role: Parses binary spreadsheet data (XLSX format) into JSON objects for processing.
  - Configuration:
    - Default options, no filters or sheet selection specified (assumes first sheet).
  - Key Expressions/Variables: None.
  - Input Connections: Receives binary data from Read Binary File.
  - Output Connections: Feeds JSON to Onfleet.
  - Version Requirements: Ensure compatibility with XLSX parsing in n8n v0.150+.
  - Potential Failures:
    - Corrupted or malformed spreadsheet → parsing error.
    - Unsupported spreadsheet format → error.
    - Large files may cause performance issues.
  - Notes: Users can add options for sheet selection or range if needed.

1.3 Onfleet Task Creation

Overview:
Creates delivery tasks in Onfleet for each row of parsed spreadsheet data, mapping spreadsheet columns to Onfleet task properties.
Nodes Involved:
- Onfleet
Node Details:
- Node Name: Onfleet
  - Type: onfleet (n8n Onfleet node)
  - Role: Uses Onfleet API to create delivery tasks with specified destination and recipient info.
  - Configuration:
    - Operation: create task.
    - Destination address is composed by concatenating spreadsheet columns:
      Address_Line1, Address_Line2, City/Town, State/Province, Country, Postal_Code.
    - AddressNotes is empty.
    - AddressApartment mapped to Address_Line2.
    - Additional fields:
      - notes mapped from Task_Details.
      - recipientName mapped from Recipient_Name.
      - recipientNotes mapped from Recipient_Notes.
      - recipientPhone formatted as +1 concatenated with Recipient_Phone (assumes US country code).
    - Credentials: Uses stored Onfleet API Key credential.
  - Key Expressions/Variables:
    - Expression syntax e.g., ={{$json["Address_Line1"]}} etc., to map spreadsheet columns dynamically.
  - Input Connections: Receives JSON objects from Spreadsheet File1.
  - Output Connections: None (end node).
  - Version Requirements: Onfleet API version compatible with n8n Onfleet node v1.
  - Potential Failures:
    - Authentication errors if API key invalid.
    - Address validation errors if address fields incomplete or malformed.
    - Phone number format issues if input inconsistent.
    - API rate limiting if large batch executed at once.
    - Missing required fields in input JSON → API call fails.
  - Sub-workflow: None.

3. Summary Table

Node Name	Node Type	Functional Role	Input Node(s)	Output Node(s)	Sticky Note
Read Binary File	readBinaryFile	Reads local spreadsheet file	None	Spreadsheet File1	Update the `Read Binary File` node with the absolute file path to your local spreadsheet.
Spreadsheet File1	spreadsheetFile	Parses spreadsheet to JSON	Read Binary File	Onfleet
Onfleet	onfleet	Creates Onfleet delivery tasks	Spreadsheet File1	None	Update Onfleet node with your Onfleet API key. Register at https://onfleet.com/signup
					For import templates visit https://support.onfleet.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023910131-Task-Overview#h_4667f289-d298-49bc-9faa-00898a922dab

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

Create Node: Read Binary File
- Type: Read Binary File
- Parameters:
  - filePath: Set to the absolute path of your local spreadsheet file (e.g., /Users/yourname/Documents/OnfleetImport.xlsx).
- No credentials required.
Create Node: Spreadsheet File1
- Type: Spreadsheet File
- Parameters:
  - Leave default options unless you need to specify a particular sheet or range.
- Connect output of Read Binary File node to input of this node.
Create Node: Onfleet
- Type: Onfleet node (requires Onfleet API credentials).
- Credentials: Configure using your Onfleet API Key credential. Create this credential in n8n by providing your Onfleet API key from https://onfleet.com/signup.
- Parameters:
  - Operation: create task
  - Destination:
    - Address: Use expression to concatenate address fields from spreadsheet data:
      ={{$json["Address_Line1"]}}, {{$json["Address_Line2"]}}, {{$json["City/Town"]}} {{$json["State/Province"]}}, {{$json["Country"]}}, {{$json["Postal_Code"]}}
    - Address Apartment: ={{$json["Address_Line2"]}}
    - Address Notes: leave empty or set as needed
  - Additional Fields:
    - Notes: ={{$json["Task_Details"]}}
    - Recipient:
      - Name: ={{$json["Recipient_Name"]}}
      - Notes: ={{$json["Recipient_Notes"]}}
      - Phone: =+1{{$json["Recipient_Phone"]}} (assumes US country code; adjust if needed)
- Connect output of Spreadsheet File1 node to input of this node.
Workflow Activation:
- After setting up nodes and connections, save the workflow.
- Trigger manually or via webhook to run once and create Onfleet tasks from the spreadsheet data.

5. General Notes & Resources

Note Content	Context or Link
To get an Onfleet API key, sign up at https://onfleet.com/signup	Onfleet API credentials
For Onfleet task import templates and field mapping, see Onfleet Support documentation	https://support.onfleet.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023910131-Task-Overview#h_4667f289-d298-49bc-9faa-00898a922dab
Adjust `recipientPhone` formatting if your delivery region is outside the US (+1)	Phone number formatting is hardcoded with +1 country code; modify expressions accordingly for other countries.
Ensure the n8n instance has read access to the local file path specified in `Read Binary File`	Local file system permissions

This documentation fully captures the workflow's design, node configurations, data flow, and integration points for both manual rebuilding and automated processing.

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