Where the Tractor-lorry
Page 63
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TIURING the past few years motor haulage contractors, and especially those working to and from such important traffic centres as Liverpool and Manchester, have been applying themselves with considerable tenacity of purpose to the problem of reducing the costa of transport per ton-mile. In this it would be futile to deny that ratecutting has been a forceful challenge, and having accepted it the haulage contractor in quest for loads has sought to employ his earning unit to the best possible advantage.
At the present time old standards of efficiency are being questioned, and instead of 4-ton loads being regarded as a maximum the tendency is for vehicles of much greater carrying capacity to be brought into use.
When the six-wheeled tractor-lorry first came on the scene we well 'remember a Liverpool motor haulage contractor showing us returns of earnings for the 4-ton lorry and trailer, and for the 6-7-ton tractor-lorry, both being operated under highly competitive conditions. 'So marked was the advantage of the larger unit that there was no doubt as to the avenue along which the fleet would be Oeveloped. That was a long lime ago, however, and the flexible six-wheeler has increased in popularity on account of its value in clearing bulk consignments.
For the clearance of cargoes from the ship's side at Liverpool-60 per cent, of these are to local destinations such as the factories, warehouses, workshops and mills—motor vehicle users are manifesting a preference for the tractor for haulage purposes, but for outward loads such AS cotton, wool, canned goods, fruit, etc., which are carried over
Tong distances, the six-Wbe-eled tractorlorry, either petrol or steam-driven, has firmly established itself and is challenging the lorry, and trailer method of working. Particularly for the transport of raw cotton from the warehouses at Liverpool is the use of six-wheelers most marked.
As is well known, many of the •road transport concerns in South-West Lancashire work to a rates schedule based on the classification of traffic and for the purpose of determiuing a rate 4-ton loads are regarded as the basis.
It is noticeable that Midland motor haulage contractors running to the great ports are showing a definite partiality for the vehicle with a big load capacity, and, by season of being able to acquire return loads for such machines; are obviously able to achieve considerable economies in ton-mile costings, and thus
• widen the gap between revenue and expenditure. It would appear that the tractor-lorry will become even more popular.