Comments on: The making of a UPS driver http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/making-of-ups-driver/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:26:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/making-of-ups-driver/#comment-5230 Anonymous Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:16:01 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/the-making-of-a-ups-driver/#comment-5230 Planning out a route that eliminates or even minimizes left turns? Yeah right. I cant even get these guys to put the deliveries in the correct sequence. The no left turns thing sounds really cool, but it doesnt exist in out there in real life. Planning out a route that eliminates or even minimizes left turns? Yeah right. I cant even get these guys to put the deliveries in the correct sequence. The no left turns thing sounds really cool, but it doesnt exist in out there in real life.

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/making-of-ups-driver/#comment-4173 Anonymous Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:20:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/the-making-of-a-ups-driver/#comment-4173 I saw on a news report that when they plan out each driver's route for the day they try to eliminate as many left turns as possible. I don't recall the report stating that they could eliminate them altogether. I saw on a news report that when they plan out each driver’s route for the day they try to eliminate as many left turns as possible. I don’t recall the report stating that they could eliminate them altogether.

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]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/making-of-ups-driver/#comment-3331 Mark Graban Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:54:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/the-making-of-a-ups-driver/#comment-3331 I don't think it's so untrue as to be "urban legend" but the supposed "no left turns" rule is a bit of an exaggeration.<br/><br/>From <a HREF="http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_10/b4024005.htm?chan=innovation_special+report+--+customer+service_customer+service" REL="nofollow">Business Week</a>, it says:<br/><br/>"So sophisticated is the software that it designs each route to minimize the number of left turns, thus reducing the time and gas that drivers waste idling at stoplights."<br/><br/>I think the key there is "minimize." This software is pretty new, so it seems like "minimize/no left turns" isn't an old company rule.<br/><br/>On <a HREF="http://message.snopes.com/showthread.php?t=6596" REL="nofollow">snopes.com</a> there was a discussion that included:<br/><br/>"UPS just stopped by our house to make a delivery, so I walked over to the truck and asked the driver, "So, is it true you guys aren't allowed to make left turns?"<br/><br/>He laughed and replied, "You know, they never told us anything about it. I thought it was a joke, but I keep hearing about it more and more."<br/><br/>I think "UPS drivers aren't allowed to make left turns" is a simplification and exaggeration of the company's efforts to make deliveries more efficient in some heavily traffic-congested areas by planning routes for their drivers that avoid or eliminate left turns." I don’t think it’s so untrue as to be “urban legend” but the supposed “no left turns” rule is a bit of an exaggeration.

From Business Week, it says:

“So sophisticated is the software that it designs each route to minimize the number of left turns, thus reducing the time and gas that drivers waste idling at stoplights.”

I think the key there is “minimize.” This software is pretty new, so it seems like “minimize/no left turns” isn’t an old company rule.

On snopes.com there was a discussion that included:

“UPS just stopped by our house to make a delivery, so I walked over to the truck and asked the driver, “So, is it true you guys aren’t allowed to make left turns?”

He laughed and replied, “You know, they never told us anything about it. I thought it was a joke, but I keep hearing about it more and more.”

I think “UPS drivers aren’t allowed to make left turns” is a simplification and exaggeration of the company’s efforts to make deliveries more efficient in some heavily traffic-congested areas by planning routes for their drivers that avoid or eliminate left turns.”

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]]> By: Anonymous http://www.leanblog.org/2007/11/making-of-ups-driver/#comment-3324 Anonymous Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:51:00 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2007/11/the-making-of-a-ups-driver/#comment-3324 I also read this article, and found it very interesting. I am a 29 year UPS driver, and I know the difficulties the company is having in finding young people who can handle the very challenging training. The training facility described in the article sounds great, and I wish we had one where I work.<br/><br/>Just one comment about the left turns. I don't know where this left turn thing came from because we all have to make left turns, naturally in traffic all the time. Left turns cannot be avoided. A left turn is no different than a right turn. We are required to clear the intersection before turning, left or right.<br/><br/>I have never had anyone from UPS tell me to avoid left turns. I think this is an urban legend of some kind. I also read this article, and found it very interesting. I am a 29 year UPS driver, and I know the difficulties the company is having in finding young people who can handle the very challenging training. The training facility described in the article sounds great, and I wish we had one where I work.

Just one comment about the left turns. I don’t know where this left turn thing came from because we all have to make left turns, naturally in traffic all the time. Left turns cannot be avoided. A left turn is no different than a right turn. We are required to clear the intersection before turning, left or right.

I have never had anyone from UPS tell me to avoid left turns. I think this is an urban legend of some kind.

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