Effectively and efficiently serving 7.9 million customers a day takes a lot of planning.
Delivery routes need to be designed to avoid time-consuming and unnecessary overlaps. Drivers must know their territory and their communities. And, millions of packages must be tracked. By avoiding unnecessary driving and carefully planning the best way to approach daily deliveries, UPS reduces vehicle emissions and saves fuel.
UPS has implemented several tools to help optimize routes. These include:
Driver Mapping
Delivery vehicles in certain areas are periodically equipped with portable Global Positioning Satellite systems and computers that map every inch they travel over the course of a week. The computer data is then examined for overlapping or inefficient routes. Then, UPS fine-tunes certain routes. Not only does this increase drivers’ productivity, it also improves fuel conservation and reduces emissions.
Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD)
The DIAD is a hand-held computer that electronically records delivery information, including recipient signature, and eliminates the formerly required 59 million sheets of paper a year. Currently, UPS drivers in 38 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, Japan and most of Western Europe, use the DIAD.
Dispatch Planning System
UPS has implemented the Dispatch Planning System (DPS) to maintain addresses and create delivery and pick-up plans. Also, the system helps simplify sorting and loading, ensuring that packages and letters reach their destination in the most efficient way possible.
Operating Procedures
UPS drivers are trained to always turn off their package car when they stop for a delivery, never idling at the curb or in a driveway. Even if the driver is out of the truck for a few seconds, the vehicle is always turned off.
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