No More Left Turns for UPS

[EngineeredCivic]

No More Left Turns for UPS

Posted: June 9, 2008 05:31 PM CDT



The soaring gas prices are forcing UPS to cut corners literally.

To save gas, UPS is now cutting out left turns on driver's routes.

The delivery service is using computers to plot paths that only include right turns.

Officials tell us this will save time as well as gas money.

The right turn policy is saving UPS nationally, twenty nine million miles a year or three million gallons of gas.

http://www.klfy.com/global/story.asp?s=8454088

[louisb323]

Cool

[igo]

I heard that a year ago. Ups really has to be feeling the high cost of gas.

[Frankenstipe]

How does not turning left help?

[ebacherville]

Originally Posted by Frankenstipe

How does not turning left help?

I think it helps idling time.. you know you can turn right on red.. left you wait for lights? thats the only thing i can think of

Really if you could make those UPS trucks hybrids they make up some good MPG in town that for sure.. or tech all the drivers hypermiling

[mattW]

"You've got a lot a talents derek but hanging a louie ain't one of them" lol
-from zoolander

[dremd]

Originally Posted by EngineeredCivic

http://www.klfy.com/global/story.asp?s=8454088

Are you from Lafayette, Louisiana Area?

KLFY is my Local CBS station.

KSMB spent about 5 minutes this morning saying how stupid it was, almost make me call them . . . . .

[Yuri4x4]

I'm surprised a UPS truck gets 9.somthing MPG in prodomenantly city driving. Aren't the trucks gas-powered?

Honestly, this news story doesn't surprise me. UPS and most other trucking companies runs have been plotted by computers for years. It was only a matter of time before someone realized how much money they were throwing away in gas/diesel. The news calls it 'no left turns' for the shock value... I'm sure the trucks will still be able to turn left. It's just the computer program parameters have changed to give MPG more importance. And let's face it... if you're not sitting at a light trying to turn left, you're saving gas. Sure, they could have their drivers hypermile, but you're introducing the human element. Some drivers will do it, but others will still leave their truck running for heat/air, or just to 'screw the man'. A computer program route restructure is something that the corporation can do without 'people' even realizing it. That's pretty smart. I say, more power to 'em.

btw... 'No left turns' needs to be added to the hypermiling list.

[ttoyoda]

So I asked my UPS guy about this today. He says it is not exactly true. While they may plot routes to make LESS left turns and MORE right turns, they also use common sense to get a short route.

I am sure you are all as gobsmacked as I am to discover that a news report was not fully accurate.

[Arminius]

Glad to see the progress. Other companies will adapt it. I wonder if any consumer GPS units take right turns into account. I don't use my Garmin enough to know the answer.