Have Some Pity for the Poor Boss
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Bird's Eye View — By The Hawk
TTRANSPORT operators—along with other businessmen— must be particularly perplexed persons during recent weeks. First the Chancellor puts the Bank rate up to 7 per cent. only for the Three Wise Men (The Council on Productivity, Prices and Incomes) to complain of the inadequate amount of Britain's post-war investments.
But even if the hurdle of capital outlay is surmounted, the marathon of licensing may loom ahead. After listening last month to their Lordships at the Court of Appeal deliver their judgments for over two hours at around 200 words a minute on the merits of an application originally made in February, 1960, one must at least admire the stamina of all parties concerned. But several, I fear, may still be in the plight of the Transport Tribunal when they admitted somewhat curtly: "We are by no means certain that we understand this passage."
Meanwhile loads have to be moved and daily problems solved—real productivity, in fact.
All Lit Up
THE more I see of Continental heavy-goods and passenger vehicles on Continental roads at night, the more I am convinced that it's about time British operators started using marker lights—on the larger vehicles at any rate. Even when driving behind a heavy with one's headlights on, it is often difficult to assess its size with any degree of accuracy, best with marker lights to indicate height, width and length this assess
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ment becomes easier, and so provides an indication as to what is involved when overtaking the vehicle. Similarly, it's nice to know what's coming at you at night: in Britain it's virtually impossible to tell whether oncoming headlamps belong to a family jalopy, a 100-m.p.h. sports car, a delivery van, a pantechnicon or an eight-wheeler and trailer.
Set Fair for Semis
THERE'S no doubt about it, British semi-trailer design is 1 improving by leaps and bounds these days, and Continental manufacturers will have to look to their laurels if Britain joins the Common Market. The other day I rode on the back of an unladen Boden semi-trailer and I am quite sure the ride is as good as that of a laden vehicle. Positively no deception, ,wever: the tractive unit and semi-trailer were fitted with Lry Laminaire progressive springs, which numerous operators ,d to be increasing the life of their vehicles without the e of air suspension.
The Boden semi-trailer is a good example of modern British sign, with a very tough looking pressed-steel and welded ime and remarkably low weight: a 25-ft. 10/12-ton model :ighs only. 2 tons 2-1 cwt., for example, and Laminaire springs e standard equipment. At this rate tractive-unit design will lagging behind that of the trailer manufacturers.
Splendid Material"
NTHUSIASTIC users of Fibreglass are Marsden (Coachbuilders), Ltd., of Warrington, who have recently taken over premises in their home town to allow for quicker and better anized production schedules. Mr, Ken Marsden, son of the naging director says, " It's a splendid material for bodies, know." Marsden's have produced several all-Fibreglass ies for the North Western Gas Board, this material having n chosen because the vehicles are frequently in contact with rosive fumes from sulphuric acid, which would rot a metal dy. The company have also made numbers of Fibreglassdied meat vans incorpbrating a special loading device, ich enables one man to load a van without lifting.
rong Way Round?
PROSPECTIVE applicant for a B licence asks for conditions: " Collection of milk from farms within 35 les; feeding stuffs within 35 miles?'
utting the cart before the horse?