THE HAULIERS' INQUIRE WITHIN.
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How the Weekly Output of a Factory or the Total Weekly Load Which Offers Affects the Choice of a Lorry.
As I BINTED last week, there is one factor that, as yet, we have not considered, which might have a most important effect on the calculations we have been making about the brickcarting job ; these calculations (and the reasoning which accompanied, them) are, by the way, equally applicable to other classes of haulage of a similar nature, such as the cartage of road materials, or any work involving a regular to and fro run of not more than 10 miles each way, or farther, if the proper corrections are made for the alterations in the conditions which are brought about by the increased trip mileage.
The unconsidered factor is the total weekly tonnage which is required to be moved. In our calculations we have hitherto proceeded as though the output of the brick factory were an unlimited one. as though the quantity of bricks to be transported each week could be extended indefinitely, in accordance with the type of vehicle which we chose to buy for the job, which is, of course, absurd, as I will now show.
With the six-wheeled vehicles and two bodies, for example, it would be possible to deliver 240 tons of bricks per week, whereas it is quite within the bounds of possibility that the total output of the brickworks is but 100 tons per week. If 100 tons does happen to be the limit of output per week, and if there be no prospect of this being increased in the near future, then a 41-tonrier will be ample for the work ; the 3-tonner would do, provided that there is no objection to working a small amount of overtime regularly each week.
At any rate, it should be perfectly obvious, from a, niere glance at the table which was published last week, that any vehicle of a larger capacity than the
4;-tonner would be idling its time away for a great part of the week, whilst anything smaller than the 3-tonner could not possibly cope with the work. In this connection I might point out that the weekly mileage of the 30-cwt. machine, i.e., 504, is excessive, bearing in mind the number of stops and starts and the dusty and unfavourable nature of the work, as well as the fact that in all probability much of the running will be over bad or even partly made roads. Brick cartage in the country is not by any means the same thing as bus running on the London streets, for example, and the fact that on the latter service a vehicle may credit itself with a weekly mileage of 1,000 is no proof that 504 miles will be easy work for one engaged in transporting bricks.
Where Small Vehicles are an Advantage.
There is, however, this point which must not be forgotten. Where it is likely that ultimately (as when the contract which is the subject of our present discussion is completed) the deliveries will be split up and the factory's output sent out in different directions to various customers, it may prove to be the best plan to buy two small machines, such as 30-cwt. lorries, so as to facilitate these independent deliveries when they have to he made.
Alternatively, if there be the possibility of being able to do a little haulage contracting in any spare time which is available, then a larger lorry might be found to be the more economical proposition, and it could he arranged that' it deals with the cartage of the bricks at times most convenient to the factory, and undertakes the contracting work while not so occupied..
Figures for a Wide Range of Vehicles,
Now it is no use, in considering this particular aspect of the matter, referring to the table which was published last week. None of the figures is going to be applicable, except those relating to 30-cwt. machines, the 3-tonner, and, possibly, the 41-tonner as well. In all the other cases the mileage will be reduced, and, as the mileage per week falls, the cost per mile goes up. At the same time, it is not necessary that I should show all the calculations for this new state of affairs in the detail which was giVen during the discussion of the other cases. I propose, therefore, to give the results in tabular form only. Those of my readers who desire to know more of the matter may refer to the two preceding articles, wherein they will find the methods demonstrated, or they may write to me, and I will give them the details of these calculations-but don't all write at once, because I want to get away on holiday at an early
date. THE SKOTCH.