Transport for a Thousand Trades T o have 'pioneered the conversion
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of passenger cars to carry goods, to have developed the largest mixed fleet in the Midlands, and to have kept the business in the family to uphold free enterprise as the logical means to meet human needs is an inspiring achievement.
Nearly 40 years ago, Mr. Frank Grounds decided to build a suitable body on a Wolseley open tourer so that he could provide the traders and public in his area with an alternative (and more rapid) form of transport to the horse-drawn vehicles in his stable.
To-day, Frank Grounds, Ltd., Lichtick' Road, Aston, Birmingham, operates 54 vehicles of varying types and offers a service to the city of 1,000 trades, backed by a knowledge covering the haulage requirements of 999 of them. This saves a great deal of time and misunderstanding. Two or three words port for the metal and electrical trades, for catering requirements, for the banks and for special jobs is in regular demand. Last year the total distance covered by the fleet was 886,263 miles.
Since the war it has been impossible to standardize on one make of vehicle, and the fleet includes 16 Morris-Commercial, 22 Austin and 12 Bedford trucks or vans, ranging in capacity from 25 cwt. to 5 tons, and four 8-ton• Bedford tractors with six articulated trailers. There are also two 10-cwt. Bradfords, which have been found economical for carrying wholesale-chemist goods and for emergency runs with parts needed for the repair of factory or operational equipment. The oldest vehicle is a 1939 Morris-Commercial, and the remainder of the fleet has been purchased since 1942. For the most part, the vehicles are hired by the day or week on a timemileage basis. Each fqrtnight, the drivers do a cleaning and greasing job, and minor running repairs are undertaken by the mechanics_ Every eight weeks a vehicle is off the road for a day for oil changing, tighten' jog-up, checking ignition points, and so on. After 10,000 mites, a three-day "P" service is performed which involves cylinder-headremoval and decarbonizing, taking off the sump for inspection of the bearings, and a thorough check o1 the transmission,and chassis components.
The " D " service includes an internal examination of gearbox and back-axle parts after complete or partial stripping. checking the wheel bearings and measuring wheel alignment. Any body or chassis cracks are welded and, if necessary, reinforced. Particular attention is paid to the brake facings and to brake adjustment.
At the same time, the cylinder bore is measured, and if the wear be More _ than a predetermined amount, Wellworthy Simplex piston rings are fitted,