Filed under: Etc.
Left Out: UPS software minimizes left turns
What can Brown do for you? Not make left turns, for a start.
UPS uses proprietary software it calls "package flow" to increase efficiency in its logistical operations, including mapping out routes for each of its 95,000 delivery trucks. According to UPS, the software has already cut out some 28.5 million miles, 3 million gallons of fuel and 31,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide by optimizing the most efficient routes for delivery. The next step is to minimize the number of left-hand turns its trucks have to make.
Hanging a left entails more waiting at traffic lights and for circulation to clear at intersections than taking right turns, so UPS is reprogramming Package Flow to favor right turns instead. Naturally, it won't send its trucks around in circles if a left turn is in order, but seeing a big brown truck turn left could become a rarer sight from now on.
[Source: The New York Times Magazine via Winding Road]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mondo 8:40AM (12/13/2007)
Pretty standard business school operations management issue for UPS.
Cool software though. Maybe the tech will trickle down to my Tom Tom. I hate left turns too. Especially in unfamiliar places.
What can Brown do for us?
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H2oVento 8:41AM (12/13/2007)
Much like the state of NJ UPS does not like NASCAR. trying to get rid of all left turns.
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Guenther 8:49AM (12/13/2007)
UPS loves NASCAR. "We're gonna race the truck. People love the truck." They're just saving up the left turns for Sundays.
I plan my route into work the same way, because left turns onto main roads are the biggest congestion points after schools in my area.
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Dad 8:59AM (12/13/2007)
My mother has been doing this no left turns during her errands for decades. She plans her entire trip when doing errands based upon no left turns. Nice to see UPS thinks it is a good idea. She also drives her auto the furthest and then works her way back. That way her car has warmed up and minimizes emissions with each restart.
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gus 1:08PM (12/13/2007)
You have one smart mom.
J M C 3 9:09AM (12/13/2007)
Fact.75 percent of turns are right hand turns.Think about it(but not too long).
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mikomi 9:11AM (12/13/2007)
More than just saving time and fuel, I think it helps out their drivers. I personally do not like making left turns on busy roads or unfamiliar areas. But anecdotally it seems there's a large portion of left turn accidents because most accidents I've seen on the roads involved someone making a left turn. Whether that's statistically significant is another matter.
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mikomi 9:15AM (12/13/2007)
I forgot to mention left turn accidents are the bane of bikers.
Mulad 9:12AM (12/13/2007)
I'm not sure how much the no-left-turn idea has helped on saving fuel. It looks like most of their fuel savings has come from optimizing routes for length. If their vehicles drove 28.5 million miles less and they saved 3 million gallons, the trucks would have to be doing better than 9.5 mpg to have saved anything by reducing left turns. I'm somewhat doubtful that their vehicles can do much better than that.
Of course, reducing left turns has other benefits that might be much more relevant. In theory, time is reduced between stops, drivers are less stressed out, and there's less likelihood of crashing. They may have managed to reduce insurance costs with this, and that's no small piece of the pie.
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Jason Bird 9:18AM (12/13/2007)
I have friends who have worked for UPS for years...I kind of thought that this was common knowledge. UPS has been doing this for a very long time in our area.
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ThwartedEfforts 9:23AM (12/13/2007)
Only this morning UPS still quoted me £42 ($84) to take a small box weighing 7Kg just 14 miles down the road on their 'Express' service, and £41 ($82) on 'Express Saver'.
So they still have a few more savings to make until they're cheaper than any of the other European next-day companies such as DHL, CityLink or BusinessPost. Maybe they're still working to US gas prices? :)
The real shame for me and other UK customers is that Uncle Sam's brown vans offer a far better service overall than any local competitor...
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Chris 9:44AM (12/13/2007)
Uncle Sam doesn't own the big brown vans. At the rate of efficiency Uncle Sam works, you'd be paying 2x as much for half the distance. Just pray they're never doing business for you.
UPS is a publicly traded corporation.
ThwartedEfforts 9:52AM (12/13/2007)
I think you were taking me too literally. By 'Uncle Sam' I meant 'American' rather than 'owned and operated by the U.S. government'.
Luke 10:09AM (12/13/2007)
I am surprised no one has made any Zoolander references yet. I guess it will have to be me. ;)
Seriously, though, I can't wait until everyday navigation systems are smarter about this kind of thing. Left turns and gravel roads should have some kind of penalty in the system. If this is the case already, my apologies for my ignorance.
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Du 10:15AM (12/13/2007)
How will it handle "Michigan Lefts?"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Left
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Scotty 10:21AM (12/13/2007)
They'll just cut you off to cross 3-4 lanes to turn into the shopping mall, just like the rest of Michigan drivers. :P
Just kidding. I love the Michigan left system. Much better traffic flow compared to suburban Greater Toronto Area, where I'm originally from.
k.w.a 11:32AM (12/13/2007)
LOL!!!! ah, Michigan..don't miss that state one bit!
Johnnie 10:21AM (12/13/2007)
This is nothing new.
UPS has been doing this for nearly a decade.
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Andrew 10:58AM (12/13/2007)
Wow, look at that. Your sister site reported this a year ago:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/12/22/ups-expects-to-save-600-million-by-favoring-right-hand-turns/
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icu812ru469 11:15AM (12/13/2007)
What UPS needs to do is put a roaming red eye in the front, and turbo charge those trucks and give it TURBO BOOST so they can just jump the intersections instead.
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