The shock comes about once a week, when I pull up to the pumps to fill my vehicle with gas.

It's a big vehicle. And it's a big total when it's full.

It's a different world than the one I grew up in. I remember my mom giving me $2 for gas on a Friday night. I drove the family truckster - a 1977 Mercury Marquis with a front end 200 yards long. And, with that $2 I could put enough gas in the car for a satisfactory number of trips up and down Grand Avenue, and safely home.

I'm not whining about the prices - that doesn't do much good. What I am doing is looking at ways to make each trip count. I'm trying to drive my vehicle in the most efficient way possible. And, we're looking at some massive changes here at the Daily Reporter to help contain those costs.

That's what we're all doing, whether it's at home or in our business.

Over the weekend I read about what one company that really knows a thing or two about transportation is doing to become more efficient. It's UPS, and they're saving gas by just saying "no" to left-hand turns.

The company has, according to its engineers, redesigned its routes so that drivers would make a minimum of left-hand turns. As a result of that move, the company took 30 million miles off its deliveries in 2007 and thus saved the cost of 3 million gallons of gas. It also reduced UPS truck emissions by 32,000 metric tons (equivalent to the emissions of 5,300 passenger cars.)

The plan works because the trucks aren't idling in traffic waiting to make left turns. The plan has the added benefit of being safer, with drivers not having to face oncoming traffic to make their turns.

It's one change. But, multiplied by the thousands and thousands of UPS vans, it's a change that makes a big difference.

Another idea to make the most of every tank of gas? Try taking your foot off the gas.

Research has shown that the faster you go, the more gas you use.

How much more?

Driving 55 miles per hour instead of 65 miles per hour improves your fuel economy by two miles per gallon. That's enough to make me slow it down.

Here's an idea that I'll need to take to heart: avoid long warm-ups.

I'm a person who loathes the cold. I'll freely admit that. So, when I'm getting ready to go to work on those cold winter days, I start my car, turn on the heat, and turn up the "bun warmers," 10 minutes before I'm ready to leave.

Luckily, warmer weather is here, but you can bet I'll forgo the "pre-heat" cycle next winter.

Whenever I can, I combine errands into one trip. Living in the country helps. I don't just run to the store if I'm out of milk or bread. And I try to plan ahead to cut down on any unnecessary trips.

Thinking about ways to save gas is a good thing, and it's good for our environment. I know I should have done these things earlier but, like many things, it's only when it hits the pocketbook that we look at doing things we should have been doing all along.