• -- use proper join syntax

    -- don't use double-quotes for identifiers unless absolutely necessary

    -- write queries using TOP 1...ORDER BY and ROW_NUMBER() and choose quickest of the two

    -- CROSS APPLY is often more readable than correlated subquery in SELECT list.

    SELECT

    x.[Route],

    T1.TO_ITEM,

    T1.FROM_LOCATION,

    T1.TO_LOCATION,

    ...............

    FROM Trans as T1

    CROSS APPLY (

    SELECT TOP 1

    [Route] = OM.ord_route

    FROM Trans T

    INNER JOIN [Order] OM

    ON OM.ord_key = T.ORD_KEY

    WHERE T.[From license number.] = T1.[From license number.]

    AND T.[Transaction type.] = 014

    AND (T.[Date record was created.] > T1.[Date record was created.]

    AND T.[Date record was created.] < T1.[Date record was created.] + 1)

    ORDER BY ...

    ) x

    WHERE T1.[From license number.] like '4%'

    “Write the query the simplest way. If through testing it becomes clear that the performance is inadequate, consider alternative query forms.” - Gail Shaw

    For fast, accurate and documented assistance in answering your questions, please read this article.
    Understanding and using APPLY, (I) and (II) Paul White
    Hidden RBAR: Triangular Joins / The "Numbers" or "Tally" Table: What it is and how it replaces a loop Jeff Moden