Business Opportunities Weblog

July 18, 2006 by Dane Carlson | 1 Comment

MultiChannel Merchant:

You wouldn’t think of something as benign as avoiding a left-hand turn could conserve fuel, but Atlanta-based United Parcel Service (UPS) swears by it. In fact, the parcel carrier has technology in its systems that help map this out routes that minimize the number of left turns the driver has to make. According to spokesperson Steve Holmes, avoiding left turns at intersections reduces idling which in turn lowers fuel consumption. “It seems small, but when you multiply it across 88,0000 vehicles making nearly 15 million deliveries every day during the course of a year, it adds up.

And at stop lights, making a right turn at an intersection tends to be faster than at a left turn, since you have only to wait for an opportunity to turn in one lane of traffic. You also have the option of “right on red” in most jurisdictions, unless otherwise indicated by traffic signs. “So even if you didn’t save fuel, you’re going to move more quickly through a route.

Photo by jurvetson.

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