To Motor Lorry Owners.
Page 32
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A Straight Talk, by a Driver.
The displacement of horse haulage by the motor lorry has converted many horse owners into motor owners. There are three classes of these gentlemen. First there is the owner who knows all about the motor, whether it be steam or petrol, because he was told about it by the agent—who also knew next to nothing— when he went to buy the lorry, He was told the machine was absolutely fool proof, and that anyone could be taught to drive it in a week; in fact, he was informed that a lad could manage it; that it would do the work of from six to sixteen horses, or even more than that if put to it and that the expenses would be" next to nothing." Now, when this class of owner gets a good driver, he tries to teach him how to drive and to look after the lorry, although, perhaps, the driver has been through the shops and has had some six or seven years' road experience. Second, there is the owner who buys a lorry because he is told he must move with the times (a very laudable ambition), but he does not know a steam lorry from a village cart, nor does he want to know. This owner has other things to think about, so he leaves it to somebody else who knows and cares less than himself. This " somebody "—it does not matter if he is a driver or is likely to make a good driver—regards the job as one that will bring in a few shillings more on Saturday night, and then they wonder that the car is a failure. This is how " Number 3 " driver is made.
Owner " Number 3 " is a gentleman that does not buy a lorry before he has had expert advice. He does not rely alone on what the agent tells him, but, as when he is buying a horse he has the veterinary surgeon, so when he is buying a lorry he has a motor expert to-examine it, and, when he has bought a lorry, he goes to the maker for a driver. Now, this driver does his work; the owner appreciates it, is interested with the change, and so watches and finds he gets good value for his money.
I think that all owners and makers will acknowledge that even motor drivers want a change of thought : they do not always want to be thinking of coal, coke, and oil, and they don't want to be on the road until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., so that they have to leave the shed about to p.m. every night. The motor driver is a man that will give and take, but some of the owners want all the taking : we all know the sort of owner like the first.
Then talking about loading, I think all fair readers will admit that it must depend upon what kind of load is to be handled. I myself would not like to start to load, say, from 7 to to yards of sand or ballast, or 6 to 8 tons of coal, or 40 sacks of flour, but I would always be ready to lend a hand. Again, an owner must remember that, with his six horses, he would have six carmen or loaders instead of one driver and, perhaps, his mate. So, you see, I think there is room for a black list of owners, as well as a black list of drivers. Let us have fair play. An owner quotes an Arabian proverb: I quote an English proverb--Man, know thyself.