Let the Operator Advise the Maker
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Personal Views from Another Member of the Original By Conference on this Subject, Who Believe.; That a Technical C. Courtney-Cramp Institute of Transport Operators Should be Formed (Allen and Hanburys, Ltd.)
R
IGHTLY or wrongly I have for quite a long time ' personally thought that, in their approach to the sub
ject of what the vehicle operator wants, the various units of the commercial-vehicle-manufacturing industry do not choose the best method. As an example I might quote instances when I have been shown around a manufacturing plant and then invited to inspect a new type or variation of vehicle that was either being placed or proposed to be placed on the market. Apart from-pointing oul such items that were not in my opinion good enough, I felt constrained to mention that the procedure seemed all wrong. . Instead of spending.time and money on even, say, one vehicle; for inspection, and•truSting that it would meet with approval, would it not have been better to have -specifications, drawings, possibly a small model of the chassis and/or bodywork available, invite similar crosssections of users' opinions and build up from that something that would either give universal satisfaction, or be of effective use to some particular type of industry? The criticisms, suggestions and value of experience would be combined beforehand to produce an effective job, instead of the sometimes disappointing method of trial and error, which must leave some dissatiVaction around.
The position is that a transport manager and/or engineer knows what he wants and looks around for something to meet all his requirernents—but it does not make him feel happy to find that he may be offered a machine which he is expected to accept because it is . what the manufacturer thinks he wants. Experienced men have expressed their views and ideas by the score and articles galore have appeared in the Press, yet I am personally left with the impression that adequate weight is not given to such opinions.
To co-ordinate the ideas of users, as separate from the ideas of manufacturers, use Might be made of some associations already existing, although at present not for that purpose. On 'the other hand, it might be possible to incorporate machinery within the bounds of a Technical Institute of Road Transport Operators. There could even be liaison between such an institute and the roadusers' associations, with special reference to the problems of vehicle use and design. It might be a practical propositiom to set up a co-ordinating committee with fairly comprehensive terms of reference, the members of which would, individually, have a very ..wide area of contact and sources of information as to trends of requirements.
Advantages of a Technical Institute The setting up of a Technical Institute of Road Transport Operators would have many difficulties, but it could have four advantages :—
(a) Educational—leading towards the examinations of specialist institutes already existing, and possibly with a syllabus of study for its own purposes.
(b) Research and advisory in respect of road-transport operation, particularly in respect of post-war development possibilities.
(c) Contact and co-operation, with the manufacturing% side of the industry.
(d) Developing an authoritative channel -through
which users' ideas could be communicated to manufacturers with the required weight.
There would seem to be no reason, subject to the usual provisos and safeguards, to exclude any reputable person who uses mechanical traction, except that he should be an actual operator or executive representative. Others of lesser status might be considered under the educational aspect, if practicable. Possibly, it could be sectionized to cover the public-utility side, as distinct from industrial transport.
It wirld seem that some scheme of this nature is long overdue, but whilst the 'difficulties are many—finance not being the least of them—I suggest that the broad principles should be explored, and if progress seems to be reasonably possible, that matters of detail and prelinary organization outlines could then be considered. iv would certainly seem that a strongly representative scheme would be needed to carry the necessary weigght, and it would be necessary to cover both the operative (A,. B and P.S.V.) and the industrial (C user) interests. It would also be necessary to decide whether, or to what extent, it-would be advisable to incerporate the borough corporation type of transport user---but that problem would probably solve, itself by the fact that many of. their vehicles are often of such specialist types that they are not within the scope of present discussion.
Where Improvements Are Needed From the technical aspect there is no need for me to reiterate the points mentioned by colleagues on the sub-committee, in their contributions published last
week, but perhaps to them one might add the need for the study of improvements in electrical equipment, rigid adherence to standards of coinfort and fatiguesaving in drivers' cabs, and improvements in forms of ventilation for boxvans (as distinct from insulated vans) to ensure better .equalization of temperature.
Suspensionstill leaves, much to be desired, in that•
the problem of the loaded and unloaded vehicle has not been overcome with regard to the difference in shock
alasorbence, overcoming of bounce or dance, etc. Whilst the tyres absorb Some shock they also provide some of the bounce.
There might well be further investigation of the vices and virtues of the "all wood," composite and so called " all-metal " type bodies. After the war there should be pl,enty of fine steel available and the release of light alloys and plastics will surely give plenty of opportunity of weight reduction without loss of strength or serviceability.
More ,comfortable and lighter steering in the heavier types of vehicle is another point in fatigue consideration. A steering " wheel " designed to avoid chest crushing • in accidents Would be a boon. '
The end of the war should not see the end of experimenting with alternative fuels, but should rather bring an effort to see that never again are we faced with the great problem of this war.
Even with the justifiable plea for standardization of • parts, etc., we should not overlook that there is apparently still room for improvement in the non-motive side of vehicle designing, and some form of " gettogether " will, without doubt, be a desirable step in the right direction.