Yes, there is no clear and definite hyperspace road around the Maw because of the gravitationnal mass of the black holes that troubles hyperspace (remember one cannot jump in hyperspace near a planet because of its mass). As there is no clear road, smugglers have to calculate and do jumps themselves. Han Solo managed to calculate jumps to travel through less parsec than the usually used road.
Of course, a shorter road equals a faster travel.
I do believe this has been explained in one of the books of The Han Solo Trilogy