Saving Gas Means
Making Right Turns

For some time, United Parcel Service (UPS) has been making mostly right turns. Managers used to drive routes and plot how to increase the number of right turns in order to save gas and time for route drivers. Now computers plot routes. UPS saves three million gallons of fuel each year.

As I plan my route, I also use this strategy. Not only does making more right turns save gas, it reduces time and stress. As customers are added, I go back over the route to make sure I’m idling as little as possible. I am doing some backtracking right now, but I plan to make some changes.

Despite asking customers to have bins out by 8:00 a.m., many know when I usually pick up and delay putting their bins out. Once I changed the order of the route just so I could get to a fast food drive-thru early enough for breakfast. Several customers emailed to say I missed them. So now, before I make any significant changes in the order of the route, I let customers know I’ll be coming earlier than usual.

Saving Gas Means Turning It Off

Another way I save gas is to turn the truck off when I pick up, even if it’s only for a couple of minutes. Notice that delivery drivers also do this just to walk from the street to your front door. I didn’t turn off my truck for a long time when I thought it would only take a few minutes to make a pick up. As soon as I started turning it off every time I stopped at a house, I started saving gas, almost a quarter of a tank each day, which would be 3-5 gallons.

I use the same habits when I go out for personal business. I plan my route so that I make right turns as much as possible and turn off the car when I have to wait at the pharmacy, fast food, or bank drive-thru. Many people are naturally doing this, but if you aren’t, give it try and let me know whether it makes difference.