Posted on 04/06/2014 7:26:42 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
In 2004, UPS announced a new policy for its drivers: the right way to get to any destination was to avoid left-hand turns. Even if that means following this route that a UPS driver described to an incredulous press member:
"We're gonna make a right turn onto 135th to Western. We'll make another right on Western down to 139th. Righ turn on 139th and go down to the end of the block and we'll make another right turn."
When better tracking systems emerged in 2001, the package delivery service took a closer look at how trucks performed when delivering packages. As a logistics company with some 96,000 trucks and several hundred aircraft, much of UPS's business can be distilled to a series of optimization problems around reducing the amount of fuel used, saving time, and using space more efficiently. (Trucks in UPS facilities park just a few inches apart with their side mirrors overlapping to save space.)
UPS engineers found that left-hand turns were a major drag on efficiency. Turning against traffic resulted in long waits in left-hand turn lanes that wasted time and fuel, and it also led to a disproportionate number of accidents. By mapping out routes that involved "a series of right-hand loops," UPS improved profits and safety while touting their catchy, environmentally friendly policy. As of 2012, the right turn rule combined with other improvements -- for the wow factor, UPS doesn't separate them out -- saved around 10 million gallons of gas and reduced emissions by the equivalent of taking 5,300 cars of the road for a year.
Describing the policy in a speech, the CEO of UPS told his audience, "I can see a few of you smiling out there, and I know what you may be thinking. But it really works."
If you don't believe it, well, that's why Mythbusters exists. The program sent a truck out to deliver packages following a normal route and a left turn hating UPS route. They found the UPS approach saved gas but took a bit longer:
Mythbusters likely failed to save time on the route by following the rule even more stringently than UPS. While the no left turn rule has an appealingly simple and algorithmic quality to it, you will see UPS drivers take left turns on occasion, especially in residential neighborhoods without much incoming traffic. Asked how often UPS drivers turn right, a driver told ABC:
"A guesstimate, I would probably say 90%. I mean we really, really hate left turns at UPS."
Since UPS uses software to map out routes, it can send drivers on right turn heavy routes while making exceptions when a left turn is easier and faster. As an amicable senior VP of the company said in an interview about the rule, "That's why I love the engineers, they just love to continue to figure out how to make it better."
This is why you never see a UPS truck in a NASCAR race.
FedEx had, as part of their safe driving guidelines, a recommendation to avoid left turns whenever possible. (In the interest of disclosure, I worked for them many years ago - early 80s to early 90s. That’s how I know this.)
It’s true that many accidents occur as a result of someone making a left turn. It’s a metaphor for politics, too!
Now, if only our country could learn the same thing.
I’m left handed and I turned out all right.
Bump!
"Derek, that's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sure there are lots of people out there who can't...turn....I mean there have gotta be some people out there, just like you, who can't...turn...turn...left."
Watch out, the CEO will be fired.
I live on a dead end street and have a whole colony of UPS drivers living down here. I think they’ve gone feral and ate a FedEx driver who wandered in among them.
This is not new news.... Almost all delivery type companies like beer, soft drink, etc use programs like “road net” to sequence deliveries in the most efficient way possible.....
I used one for years and yes you do get some very weird looking routes....also depends on the information programmed into it....
As with any computer program.... Garbage in garbage out...
LOL Teamsters eating non-union workers eh?
I’m sure some day when “big gov” has implemented full vehicle controls, you will punch in your destination and “big gov” will offer up the “allowable” route.
I avoid left turns whenever convenient. I implemented the same rule informally, mostly to avoid potentially dangerous situations. I nearly always avoid dangerous intersections when it makes sense.
I knew a lady UPS driver that really knew how to do “a series of right-hand loops”,
Based on my local experience, their job adverts must read:
“NOW HIRING: World’s Most Aggressive and Obnoxious Drivers. Must be willing to cut off anybody at any time. Blemished driving record? No problem.”
Avoiding left turns has been official FedEx policy since 1978.
They will turn left, but it is very rare.
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