Cost and/or Consumption
Page 48
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THERE is a good deal of confusion in the minds of motorvehicle users concerning the twin matters cost and consumption. Sometimes a little consideration serves to clarify ideas on the point, but there are occasions when reconciliatiOn of data concerning the two items is quite impossible, where the cost of supplies bears no real relation to the actual consumption of the commodity in question: The other day such a case WAS brought to my notice, in conversation with a haulage contractor of wide experience, who, finding his petrol bills to be consistently high, in comparison with the figures given in The Commercial Motor Tables, set out to discover the reason.
For a long time he made no headway in his investigations. Tuning up his lorries in turn, so that each should be at its best, theoretically, brought no improvement. True, a comparison of the figures obtained on test showed a considerable discrepancy as between the results thus obtained and -those experienced in actual service, but that was
B30 accounted for, according to the drivers, by difficulties of loading and unloading, bad roads and other conditions of that kind.
My friend was not altogether taken-in by these too plausible excuses, but was compelled, by pressure of more important business, to let this particular matter slide for a time. It was, however, in a most unexpected fashion, brought forcibly to his notice when a police sergeant called upon him to obtain information concerning one of his employees, who had complained of being assaulted by his fellow drivers.
"Consumption."
It was then disclosed that this man, newly engaged, had immediately been invited by his mates to have a drink in the local public house. In the course of the conversation which accompanied that drink—and others, no doubt—he was advised that his petrol consumption on journeys to various specified destinations should be in accordance with a predetermined . scale, as described there and then. He was, moreover, warned that any diverence from the limits thus outlined would involve him in a ducking, duly and properly adminstered by the company then and there assembled.
Being somewhat stubborn by nature, and honest withal, he refused, and, the drinks having by then circulated one more than the maximum of eight times, was summarily dealt with according to schedule.
The summons for assault was the immediate outcome, but was followed, naturally, by drastic staff changes in my friend's establishment.
There were other consequences, however, not quite unforeseen, but, in their way, just as interesting. A local owner-driver haulier, who had for long been a 'thorn in the side of my friend, quoting prices for one-Lon loads which were far below his own actual costs, suddenly ceased his activities.. It transpired that he had been buying his petrol from my friend's drivers, meeting them regularly at a quiet spot well away from town and getting his tank filled at 6th a gallon! S.T.R.