TRANSPORT• EFFICIENCY
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secured in an unique way
A London Transport User Faces the Cut-rates Problem with Higher Standards of Operation, Instead of Introducing False Economies
IN times of cut transport rates, demanding excessive economy on the part of those operators who quote unjustifiably low figures it is refreshing and quite exceptional to come across a concern which, to meet the severe competition, adopts the bold attitude of allowing no unwise saving of time and expense to stand in the way of a determined policy to secure the highest possible efficiency, throughout its organization.
We have found such a concern in Hibberts, Ltd., a company processing clinker, i.e., coal residues, into the various forms in which it is commercially used today.• The company's
This company, of which Mr. R. S. Hibbert is the governing director, has a fleet of four Sentinel DG6 steam wagons, the oldest of which has seen but 18 months' service and, despite the hard times, pays its men a minimum of 4d. per hour above trade union rates, uses only best Wimber Admiralty coal costing 44s. 1Ckl. per ton, abides strictly to the drivers'-hours regulations, and never accepts a contract without a stipulation that the vehicle will have to traverse only good, firm•
roads when effecting delivery. " By watching the organization during a busy morning our represen B24 tative was able to see that every detail of the business is operated at a corresponding pitch of efficiency. 0 Oa c e staff and works employees, from the governing director to the stores boy, all wear smart uniforms, and all the routine work is done to military discipline. Early each morning a trained night watchman lights the fires of the wagons so as to heat the boilers
• slowly, and mates and drivers arrive respectively at 15 minutes and 5 minutes before drawing out time. The time taken between the arrival and *de p a rtiir e , of 'a vehicle, including loading, taking on coal and water, collecting the delivery ticket, ; brushing down. the , back of the vehicle, and 'allowing time for the driver and mate to'wasI4 iS reduced to the neighbourhood of
• 15 minutes. .
—All' control is effected by coded whistle blasts, and no shouting is allowed in the works. While the vehicle is circling to enter the mate rings the arrival-gate bell and the commissionaire opens the gates. Upon entering, the driver notices, from the office window., cards indicating the class of material to be loaded. This has also been observed by the crew of the loading crane. Almost before the vehicle has come te restthe first Arab load of two cubic yds. has dropped into it, and while loading continues the mate receives from the coalstore attendant' 50 lb. skips of coal (four skips generally suffieing for each leen] journey) and, .inreturn, gives to .hiM the appropri
' ate number of coal tickets, the mate for each wagon receiving every morning tickets of a Separate colour.
A --ivhistle. blast from the mate .indicates that loading is finished, and the driver instantly draws forward to the overhead water main. To , avoid the delay occasioned by using . a turncock, this 2-in, main has a qui&-acting valve, and such high pressure is available that the 270gallon water tanks (double the usual size) are filled in 90' seconds. Meanwhile the storesboy pours into
the tank the necessary amount of algor colloids, which are used as a water conditioner. He has already prepared clean water, soap, towel, mirror and drinking water for the driver and mate, who wash and make themselves smart before leaving. The mate's whistle again sounds, and by this time the departure gates are open ready for the vehicle to take to the road.
Each vehicle takes five to six loads daily, and when -a neW 'cont. a'et is started -the tra veller who 'canvassed it meets the vehicle at a cionvenient rencleZvous in a.carand . conducts it direcVto the site so that there shall be no delay. Another traveller is constantly employed in traversing secondary roads and studying street stops 'to find routes which will avoid congested main roads.
Every possible component in the fleet is interchangeable. Each vehicle is equipped with a special cab having winding windows, coach-type trap ventilators above the men's heads, chromiumplated bumpers, windscreen fittings, lamps, etc, two electric horns, coach-type driving mirror, a fog lamp, special foot-rests, Moseley float-on-air cushions, an instrument panel (with, clock, speedometer, water gauge and pressure gauge), chromium-plated parcels rack, two windscreen wipers, steps, etc. Each wagon is given a name, viz:, "Walrus," "Sea Lion," "Whale," "Polar Bear." instead of a number.
Double-size coal bunkers (23 cubic ft. in capacity) are used and each vehicle has two rear towing hooks, spring-held to prevent vibration, and carries a 10-ton jack, pick and shovel, towing hawser, and two 4-ft. sleepers bolted to the front bulkhead of the body. Every grease nipple has a cap to prevent the ingress a grit. For safety's sake, two rear lamps are fitted, one being of
rubber. In the driver's cab is a water sprayer for damping-down bunker coal to prevent dust.
An Ingenious Warning Device.
To prevent the possibility of a bogie chain breaking without the driver's knowledge an ingenious warning device is fitted. This comprises a weighted roller running on each chain, so that, should the chain break, the roller Will fall, ringing a warning bell in the cab.
The bodywork, which is repainted yearly, is cleaned and polished daily with Karpol, water being used only for the wheels: Boilers are blown down twice daily, at low pressure in the early morning and at working pressure at mid-day: Boiler tubes are cleaned weekly. Rear axle bushes are charged with grease four times daily: Each vehicle is kept in one day weekly for attention by fitters, electricians, etc. It is then cleaned thoroughly, including the whole chassis and engine, by an expert staff of Whole-time cleaners.
Driving and bogie chains are changed every month and, on removal, are cleansed in a paraffin vat, dried in the air for 24 hours and left soaking in an oil bath for 30 days. While chains are being removed, brake facings are examined, i.e., monthly. Every boiler is scaled twice yearly with a scaling machine. Tyres are reckoned to last not more _ than 11,000 miles. There is a pit for dropping boilers, etc., and a fully equipped workshop for big repairs.
Good Rates of Pay.
Drivers receive about £6 65. and _mates 15 5s. per week. All are paid . a bonus according to a ton-mileage formula based on the previous week's Working, and the transport inspector receives a bonus on the working of the men under him. All the mates are trained drivers. The entire office staff, including managers, foremen, draughtsmen, clerks, etc., is paid a bonus, according to the sales of the previous week.
New dark blue uniforms are Issued to drivers twice yearly, the summer uniform being of a thinner material. Men must maintain their uniforms • and buy their own caps, badges and whistles from the company's tool fund, in which each man has his own account." Brown warehouse coats are provided to save uniforms When cleaning work is being done, and blue service waterproofs are provided to keep the nien dry when effecting deliveries. Every man is B26 medically examined twice a year. Each driver is given five shillings for making telephone calls, etc.
Drivers are not allowed to pull up outside coffee stalls. Each driver is provided with a complete street map of London, a special by-pass map, and another map of the Greater London district. Each vehicle has a log book in which, at the end of the day, the driver reports fully, and in which columns are provided for the numbers of hours and miles steamed, quantities of crankcase o i cylinder oil, colloids, engine on, paraffin and grease used.
The log is then circulated through all departments, including the drawing office, extracts made, signed and countersigned.
In calculating operating costs, the wages, etc., are reduced to a weekly figure, so that no excessive outlay can go undiscovered for more than seven days. Depreciation is based
Vehicle name ...
Wages and bonus ... Coal Oil and grease ... Vehicie maintenance Tyre maintenance... Licence
Insurance ... • Interest
Depreciation Total 28 18 10 Mileage 511 Oponating cost per vehicle rile is. 1.65.
on a 20-per-cent, annual deduction on cost price, and interest on first cost at 7iper cent. per annum. Only third-party insurance is covered.
The company's next vehicle is to be a Sentinel DG8 four-wheel-steering eight-wheeler, the big load carrier being preferred to the small, fast vehicle.
The following figures, relating to the week ended July 24th, 1931, give the operating cost of and work done by each Sentinel six-wheeler
It will be seen that the costs per vehicle-mile approximate closely to the figure given in the latest edition of The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs, published on July 14th and now available (free) in booklet form.