Buzz
This year, United Parcel Service (UPS) celebrates its 110th anniversary, but don't expect the drivers to take a break for cake. With 4.9 billion packages delivered annually, their main goal is getting your packages to your doorstep while ensuring maximum efficiency.
To improve efficiency, UPS instructed its drivers in the 1970s to avoid left turns whenever possible. Though this might seem unusual, it’s proven to be the most efficient way to get packages delivered.
Turning left forces vehicles to go against the flow of traffic. This not only raises the risk of accidents, but it also causes delays as trucks—like those transporting Amazon packages—must wait for cross-traffic to clear, wasting both time and fuel.
To address this, UPS employs a navigation system called ORION (On-Road Integrated Optimization and Navigation), which guides drivers to take routes dominated by right turns. This approach helps the company save an estimated 10 million gallons of fuel annually while reducing delivery distances by six to eight miles on average.
Not all left turns can be avoided—UPS estimates that drivers make left turns about 10 percent of the time, with the frequency rising in more rural areas. Nevertheless, the general strategy is to stay right in order to maintain a timely schedule.
Would this method work for every driver? Not exactly. Traffic experts explain that regular commuters and non-commercial drivers usually follow the same routes, reducing the need for shortcut strategies.
