NCTMA CONFERENCE
Page 34
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Economy via wheels and workshops
• With annual taxation on heavy vehicles rising by £13 10s. with every increasing step of.5cwt unladen weight, the road transport user has become more conscious of
weight-saving developments; in this saving the tyre industry had played a constructive part, Mr. A. E. Fairfield, Goodyear commercial tyre sales and services department manager, told the National Co-operative Traffic Managers' Association conference on Sunday.
Apart from the actual tax economy, the weight reduction meant a permissible increase in the payload. Prospects of such savings had accelerated the development of low-profile, wide-Pase single-truck tyres, fitting of which resulted in a weight reduction of 24cwt per axle. Conversion of two axles meant a 5ewt cut in weight. For this reason many thousands of low-profile tyres were now in service in the UK, generally on the heavier multi-axle units.
Although on smaller vehicles of the local delivery type there was less scope for savings in absolute terms, experimental roadtest work was being undertaken and results to date had been successful and encouraging. A van manufacturer was co-operating in this field. For large delivery fleets the potential economies were enormous. There had also been much development work on other kinds of tubeless truck tyres that could be used on the heavier designs to replace conventional tubed 20in. diameter tyres. These tubeless assemblies were 22.5in. rim diameter, resulting in a cut of 281b per assembly or total of lcwt where twin tyres were used.
Tyre safety regulations, testing and plating of commercial vehicles, and budgetary measures could all cause increased operational costs but in some cases the tyre manufacturers could mitigate these circumstances. Examination of the position would show that the plating regulations had brought about an up-rating of tyre loadings, this being permitted on the assumption that axle overloading and gross vehicle overloading would henceforth be virtually eliminated. Under Table 2b in the current Tyre and Wheel Engineering Manual a 9.00-20, 14ply rating tyre in single formation was rated for a maximum load of 5,3201b against 5,180% in the earlier Table 2a. In twin formation the figure was 5,0401b compared with the earlier 4,6801b.
Further up ratings were to be seen in Table 2j, covering municipal and local delivery vehicles. This stated that "the use on roads of_ the motor vehicle or trailer is limited to use on multi-stop collection and delivery services at speeds at no time in excess of 40 mph and only within a radius of 25 miles from the base from which it is normally used". Municipal vehicles were defined as "vehicles used for road cleaning, road watering, or for the collection or disposal of refuse, night soil or the contents of cesspools". Under Table 2b the 8.25-16, 14-ply rating tyres in single formation were rated at an axle loading of 34 tons at 95 p.s.i. but under Table 2j this rose to 4 tons.
Certain older goods vehicles registered before the beginning of 1968 might not be tyred in accordance with Table 2b so Table GP/1 had been drawn up by the Ministry of Transport as distinct from the tyre industry. This schedule was subject to a speed limit of 40 mph and would remain in force until December 31, 1972, the object being to avoid heavy modification costs on older units. Under the 2b regulation with unrestricted speed 9.00-20, 14-ply rating tyres in twin formation were in the 9-ton axle loading class but under GP /1 the same equipment was rated to carry an axle loading of 9.65 tons.
Some tyre makers pointed out that different types, such as standard highway tread depths and heavy tread highway tyres might have differing sustained high-speed capabilities. Where operators used vehicles on sustained high-speed haulage they Were advised in case of doubt to consult their tyre suppliers regarding the correct standards.
Although under the Tyre Regulations it whs permissible, said Mr. Fairfield, he did not agree with regrooving 16in. diameter truci tyres since it was economically better to save the casings for remoulding, especially in local delivery service. Certain grades of 20in. diameter tyres were built with extra tread patterns and additional undertread rubber which made them more suitable for regrooving in safety but even so this work should be performed by skilled and experienced personnel.
At a time when so many costs had escalated, said Mr. Fairfield, it was worth noting that until the April 1969 rise most truck tyre list prices were actually lower than in 1958. In the case of the 10.00-20 16 PR an increase in production had enabled manufacture to be streamlined so that, whereas the cost in 1958 was £50 16s 6d, the present figure was only £41 16s 3d.
He had been amazed at the state in which he found the tyres of some commercial vehicles and it appeared that at present the police only took action after an accident had happened. When there had been time for the regulations to have been digested the Ministry of Transport enforcement section was likely to be more active. The better the service given to the workshops by a stores and stores control system, the better the fleet utilization would be. This was the message in a presentation to the conference by Mr. E. G. Parr, sales manager, Rootes Motors Ltd. parts division, and Mr. C. R. Duff, chief service and parts lecturer, Rootes Marketing Training. Today the stores was recognized as a vital part of any transport organization. Layout must be the first factor in the search for efficiency.
Inwards there would be an unloading and checking area which required access for vehicles, equipment for rapid off-loading of heavy and bulky items, and a checking bench. It needed to be located well away from the issue counter. The workshop issue counter area must be placed so as to minimize mechanics' walking time between the working bays and the issue point and must generally be planned to ensure rapid service for the mechanics. To simplify the handling of the bulky and heavy assemblies, they should be placed as near as possible to the unloading bay and issuing counter and grouped according to type.
Binning and shelving for light parts should be placed at right angles to the issue counter so as to give easy access. Bins should be placed back to back in blocks not exceeding 15ft in length. In order to use up space they could also be backed on to a wall.
In choosing equipment, account should be taken of how many parts required to be stored, accessibility, visibility of contents, and the ease of adjustment to meet changes in the range or volume of stock. Steel binning was usually accepted as superior to wood since it was compact and easy to re-use after being dismantled; also the fire hazard was reduced.
Possible equipment included proprietary steel bins with adjustable dividers, steel shelving without dividers, DIY slotted angle units with DIY shelving and dividers, and DIY tubular frames with DIY shelving and dividers. An efficient parts location system was necessary as delay obviously increased stores operating costs and, by increasing mechanics' waiting time, added to workshop costs. Fast moving parts should be kept near the issue counter, if possible within arms' reach. Different components of similar appearance should not be housed in adjacent compartments.
Accurate records would make it possible to maintain a balanced stock, thus giving the most economic use of the capital employed. Overstocking would mean waste of space and tying up of money that could be better employed. Shortages involved vehicles and mechanics waiting for parts, telephone calls, and vehicles and personnel being sent to collect requirements, all of which spelt extra cost.
Demand might fail for some items and increase for others. Any demand for an item not normally stocked would almost certainly have an element of urgency. An eventual decision as to whether to bring that part into the stocking range was assisted by a pre-stock record that should show number, description, manufacturer, date of demand and frequency, and quantities involved.
(A further stage of the conference will be reported next week.)