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UPS saved 3 Million Gallons of Gas--By Not Turning Left »

Posted by: fizzleboink2 8 months, 2 weeks ago

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This realization--that when you operate a gigantic fleet of vehicles, tiny improvements in the efficiency of each one will translate to huge savings overall--is what led U.P.S. to limit further the number of left-hand turns its drivers make.

Read Full Story at nytimes.com

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Comments So Far: 24

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orlando378 months, 2 weeks ago

This is probably awesome for the environment and could help to lessen our dependency on oil as well.
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  vinovelo8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  Left hand turns are one of the biggest problems for fuel consumption
  and traffic management.
  Here in the Sf Bay Area there are so many sensored close left hand turns
  that trip the light for a vehicle that
  approaches that even when flow is light multi-lane
  blvds have to stop every 2/10 ths of a mile (or less!).
  Note: There are systems that vary this per time of day (rush hour) but
  other times of the day it's total chaos. One 4.5 mile route from my
  home has about 15 lights (1.5 miles is highway)
  There are cases I have seen where traffic had become SO congested that
  a real traffic engineer (not local ones) were called in to solve
  the problem. The result: Take out as many left hand turns as possible!
  (Sepulveda Blvd, LA, Rte 9 Framingham Ma). Flow improved
  markedly.
  My gut tells me that if this were done on a large scale it would make
  a big dent in fuel consumption and increase productivity.
  
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TimALoftis8 months, 2 weeks ago

great article and submission. I hate left hand turns especially during heavy traffic. Very dangerous.
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NelsonR8 months, 2 weeks ago

Congratulations to UPS. I also used to make fun with their drivers about the bald tires on these big brown trucks. For the last two years I haven't noticed bald tires or under inflated tires, another savings. Different management, must have since they have improved.
Well I had laughs for awhile.
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keepinreal8 months, 2 weeks ago

Now if they can only get the drivers to stop leaving my packages in the front yard!?!
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DebraJMSmith8 months, 2 weeks ago

Now, THAT is pretty cool. :)
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  coreyspring8 months, 2 weeks ago
  
  Yeah no kidding, I think that's awesome
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MeanMotherUSA8 months, 2 weeks ago

112-12-07
Re: Left About Turns...
You're All Still Missing BIG PICTURE,i,e. Dependence on Oil-Laugh...
Ethanol Corn Fed Cheap 81 Octane Gasolina Is Whiskey,Plus
Alcohol,Uses House Cleaners To Kick Up The Octane--
IT IS ONLY 15% -- OIL!
FED X Is Only 1's Leave Packages In Front Of Door-No Notice!
MeanMotherUSA
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aceofspades18 months, 2 weeks ago

Every time a see a car with a neocon bumper sticker make a left turn , I gotta laugh
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jimdoze8 months, 2 weeks ago

The country could save untold multiples of what UPS is saving by not turning left!
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KYRed8 months, 2 weeks ago

Everyone will do better if they don't turn left.
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loudawg8 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm impressed UPS can realize these operational efficiencies so quickly - can't say the same about my work.
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IcCaRus8 months, 2 weeks ago

good for UPS!
positive impact on the bottom line AND good for the environment. doesnt get much better than that...
Go Brown!
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Mr-opinion8 months, 2 weeks ago

makes perfect sense - propably prevented several accidents too
but it would have been nice to read the rest of the storry - I'm realy not interested in giving my info and signing up with everyone out there
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Petom18 months, 2 weeks ago

Can't turn left... can't turn left... definitely can't turn left... 'course it's 10 minutes to Wapner... Charlie... Charlie Babbitt...
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Charlson8 months, 2 weeks ago

They had to map out the shortest routes, eliminating as many left turns possible, to get you to your destination and save gas at the same time? This is smart and efficient business practice and it didn't cost any jobs among the rank and file.
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pongping8 months, 2 weeks ago

Having some background in operations, I wonder what took them so long. Oh, finally hired some MBA's from some of those other schools maybe!
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Harbeas8 months, 2 weeks ago

I avoid making left hand turns wherever possible.
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abntv8 months, 2 weeks ago

There goes another great reason for not going "left"
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OnionHead8 months, 2 weeks ago

So someone discovered the Euler circuit. Good for UPS.
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artists-and-writers8 months, 2 weeks ago

There is one MORE thing UPS did.
In Petaluma, California, UPS just leased some 42 electric ZAP Zebra three-wheelers deployed for their local deliveries from ZAP World of nearby Santa Rosa, as well.
I intend to retire soon, so I just bought 5000 shares of Zap. This is even better than the left turns.
See link below.
http://www.zapworld.com/
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carolnolan7 months ago

Have a great day! http://ozaukee.deteriorates.info/sitemap.html
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zackeryjoyner7 months ago

I think I will drop into this group a brief message. http://kocofox.sheerfill.info/sitemap.html
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kewellzaa3 months ago

The company employs what it calls a "package flow" software program, which among other hyperefficient practices involving the packing and sorting of its cargo, maps out routes for every one of its drivers, drastically reducing the number of left-hand turns they make (taking into consideration, of course, those instances where not to make the left-hand turn would result in a ridiculously circuitous route).
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