Sunday, January 1, 2012

Useless Information



Did you know:

UPS trucks (drivers) HARDLY EVER make a left hand turn.

Corrected for the Wackman......
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13 comments:

OrbsCorbs said...

They're going around in circles all of the time? That's what I suspected.

January 1, 2012 at 2:26 AM
RWWackoStu said...

I call BS on this one.

January 1, 2012 at 3:50 AM
SER said...

Wackman...this is what UPS claims. Additionally all their trucks have a GPS which is connected to their computers and IF they do have to turn left, their computer recalculates an new route for them to follow.

They claim making left turns wastes too much time, because you gets stuck many times and have to wait for the next light to change and it’s all about the money; waste to much fuel and time sitting there.

In 2004 UPS announced that they would save fuel by minimizing left turns. Because drivers are idle at intersections while waiting to make left turns, UPS developed software that routes the day's packages with preference to right turns. Since UPS operates a fleet of over 100,000 ground vehicles,[42] the fuel savings are considerable. In 2005, UPS eliminated 464,000 miles (747,000 km) from its travel and saved 51,000 US gallons (190,000 l) of fuel.

Souce: Wikipedia

January 1, 2012 at 8:00 AM
kkdither said...

I was going to call you out on that one too, SER, but it is the holiday season... lol. Thanks for taking the heat, stu!

January 1, 2012 at 11:24 AM
Sassa said...

I've read that in a "save on gasoline mileage" article. Make as many right hand turns as you can, it saves on gas consumption. Less 'waiting' time.

January 1, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Toad said...

It never occurred to me before you brought this to our attention, but It actually makes LOT'S of sense. I will now forever (my New Year's resolution) make as few left turns as possible.

January 1, 2012 at 12:37 PM
OrbsCorbs said...

So, instead of turning left at an intersection, you should go up one block, turn right, turn right again a block later, and then again after a block. Now you're finally heading in the direction that you wanted and you're only a block behind your original position after all that driving.

January 1, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Sassa said...

I think the question is..Do you burn more gas idling 3 minutes or driving 2-3 blocks? Sometimes I do sit and 'idle' waiting for a chance to turn right.

January 1, 2012 at 9:18 PM
fungi said...

mythbusters dealt with this awhile back and it worked both in speed and fuel savings

January 1, 2012 at 9:21 PM
RWWackoStu said...

The reason why I called BS is that to get into my place of business you can only make a left turn. Also, with straight trucks and semi's, right turns are easier on the freight then left. Less movement of the cargo.

January 1, 2012 at 9:23 PM
OrbsCorbs said...

Because right turns are slower then left turns?

I never thought about this stuff.

January 1, 2012 at 10:39 PM
kkdither said...

Well, let me stir the pot even a bit further... and off topic. :) I heard that whenever a school bus shifts into reverse, a form HAS to (or is automatically generated) because of the safety issue. Not sure if that one is true.

January 2, 2012 at 8:23 AM
OrbsCorbs said...

Could they use some version of this software to lower fuel costs for school busing? Maybe not, because the school bus routes are set, whereas a UPS driver's route changes daily.

How much fuel is burned and spewed into the air every day to shuffle around kids?

January 2, 2012 at 8:07 PM

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