Jarrett and Reutimann in a tough bind over new UPS regulations
Thursday, February 21st, 2008 9:39pm UTC
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
Just when you thought things were looking up at Michael Waltrip Racing, one of the biggest blows to their fortune comes via a new regulations at UPS.
As you all are most certainly aware, the prices of fuel have increased dramatically. This trickles down to even the lowest cost denominator. Those tomatoes have to get to your local grocery somehow, right?
While less serious than a case of mesothelioma, or needing a DUI attorney, the car insurance quotes for the #44 UPS Toyota Camry just may be going up.
Think I’m losing it? Been hanging around Marc a bit much? Nope, not a tin foil hat in this post.
In light of the rising gas prices which saw an average of $2.88 for diesel in 2007, crude oil constantly flirting with the $100 a barrel mark, and an estimated $3.29 for the same diesel in 2008, for a huge delivery company such as UPS this can mean a drastic increase in their spendings for fueling all those big brown trucks.
They have a solution, and it’s a pretty neat, high-tech system. It includes high-tech solutions, old-fashioned fuel surcharges, equipment upgrades and simple epiphanies of common sense, such as UPS’ recent decision to eliminate left turns from its routes because they waste fuel.
Flippin’ huh? Eliminate left turns?
Yes, I didn’t mistype anything there. UPS is eliminate left turns.
By using a combination of GPS, real-time data, and recorded imagery of a trucks route (that plays back like a video game, complete with a little brown truck trekking across the screen), it all helps play into UPS hand of avoiding construction, traffic tie-ups, and again, eliminating left turns.
Well, we have a problem here, Houston. At least we do for some 36 times a year, excluding testing. Well, better make that 38 times a year.
The only viable solution is to re-engineer the #44 UPS Camry so that it can drive in reverse. When it comes to road courses, David Reutimann is going to have to do some 180′s when getting ready to set up a right hander, which when driving backwards becomes left, right?
How this will affect MWR’s operations is not known, and they were unavailable for comment. OK, I didn’t call them. Unlike Mikey, I’m not one to call at 3am, tell a joke, and hang up. Well, if you can believe Larry the Cable Guy and his mysterious 3am phone call story.
In light of all of this, if you’re still here, you may actually be interested in the article that gives some more insight into how UPS is trying to curb their costs. Courtesy of WSOC, Charlotte, and the Associated Press.
While it obviously won’t affect Dale Jarrett or David Reutimann’s “route”, as funny as it struck me, I did get a pretty good laugh at the thought of Dale or David mashing the gas in reverse. Followed by all the potential commercials they could do, and the whole nine yards. Maybe it will bring a quick smile to your face as well.
2 comments. Add your 2 cents!.
Filed Under: Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann, Michael Waltrip Racing #44, Nascar, Sprint Cup, Teams
Tagged As: Dale Jarrett, David Reutimann, No Left Turns, Toyota Camry, UPS
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Mikey already did the first race last year in reverse. Shouldn’t be a problem for that team at all.
Well, I found the humor of it all. It struck me as quite funny with the left turn bit.
On a serious note though, I spoke to someone who actually does drive for UPS and they were pretty excited about it, going on to say that UPS is always trying innovative ideas and such.
Overall I found it pretty interesting how they’re using technology to their advantage to get better usage out of their fuel.