I came across this article and thought it was pretty interesting… especially now with the price of gas going up.
Right turn process saves money and the environment
On any given day, UPS delivers 15.8 million packages and documents around the world. Their delivery fleet consists of 93,637 package cars, vans, tractors and motorcycles. Those signature brown UPS trucks are everywhere! You can’t help but notice them on the road. But here’s something you may not have noticed: UPS trucks don’t turn left. Well, ok, sometimes they have to turn left. But 90 percent of the time, they only make right turns. It’s part of their operating procedures to avoid making left turns. Flickr Photo Credit to zyphbear
In 2004, after evaluating their CO2 emissions, UPS announced that its drivers would avoid making left turns. They calculated that the amount of time spent idling waiting to make a left turn would save millions of dollars in fuel costs every year. For example, in 2006 UPS trucks drove 2.5 billion miles, and with their unique package flow technology combined with their right-turn routes, they estimate saving 28,541,472 million miles, and three million gallons of fuel. Talk about improving the bottom line!
I had read that in 2006 UPS was going to test a hydraulic hybrid deasel engine that would improve gas efficiency by 65% and reduce emisisons. Does anyone know what happened with that?
I haven’t read of any UPS deployment, but subsequent to the 2006 hydraulic hybrid diesel testing announcements (partnered with International Truck, Eaton Corporation, the EPA, and the US Army), UPS does discuss next-generation hybrid electric and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) delivery vehicles as part of their sustainability program for ground fleet services.
Perhaps that would translate as only doing straight pulls with a 3 foot squeegee, to save on fuel? So FISH would only do the first floor & never do any 'french" windows?
My wife is fortunate enough to be a supervisor at UPS. It is amazing the things that they will put R & D money into to save operating expenses.
They are working on hybrids and CNG package cars (they really bristle when you call it the UPS truck - it’s a PACKAGE CAR!). There are a few scattered around the country, including right here in Elm Grove, where she works.
They invest millions of dollars in renewable resource programs, and better routing/flow programs for their packages and vehicles.
Flickr Photo Credit to zyphbear
