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TRANSPORT TIPS FOR TRADESMEN.

4th October 1921, Page 23
4th October 1921
Page 23
Page 23, 4th October 1921 — TRANSPORT TIPS FOR TRADESMEN.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Particularly Addressed to Those Who are Replacing Horsed Vehicles by 'Motors, or Contemplating So Doing.

THE FIRST element of success in the operation of trade motor vehicles, is, of •course, the correct selection of thevehicles themselves. If the machines used are not of the right capacity for the work, the hest possible economy cannot conceivably be obtained.

Selection of Vehicles of Correct Capacity.

The question of what is the correot capacity is far more a matter of the class of the work than of its volume. Suppose that there are two firms engaged in the same trade and that one has just sufficient work to keep a single 25 cwt. van busy, while the other has similar work of four times the bulk. Now, if in each ease the work is performed by one vehicle, one or other of the two traders is not operating under favourable conditions. Either the 25 cwt. van owned by the smaller concern is really too small for the job, or else the 5-tonner owned by the larger concern is too big for it and ought to have been replaced by smaller vehicles of equivalent carrying capacity. This is, of course, due to the fact that time is occupied in loading and in making-deliveries. The result of this is that one 5-tonner will not, in practice, do the work of five or even four 1-tonnere, and this would still be triteNin nearly every instance, even if tho speed of the 5-tonner while in motion was equal to that of the smaller machines.

Consequently, if one wishes to take advice of more experienced friends on the question of selection of vehicles, our inquiries ought to be confined to those whose trade, even though essentially different, is similar in respect of the areas of delivery and the average size and weight of the parcels to be delivered. Suppose that we find' that experienced firms coming into this category have almost all come to the conclusion that three ton vehicles are the right thing for the purpose, then if the bulk of one's own business would not serve' to keep a 3-tonner fairly regularly employed, the purchase of a vehicle should be postponed and the services of a haulagecontractor utilized for the time being until the bu.siness has grown. In some businesses, of course, there is room for vehicles of various capacities, each doing the claes of work for which it is best suited. This is a fortunate state of affairs, because it allows the fleet to be gradually increased so as just to meet requirements, almost the whole ef it being oonstantly need to the best advantage. It must be remembered that a vehicle of large capacity is only more economical than. a -smaller vehicle when it is able to spend a decent proportion ef its working time in actual travel, as distinct from the making of deliveries.

Dual Economy of Rapid Loading,

The remarks made above will serve to bring home the extreme importance of so organizing matters that no time is unnecessarily -waged in loading or in unloading. With most kinds of goods, the time taken in leading ie fairly directly 'proportionate to the weight of the load ; that is to y, it will take twice as long to load up two tons as to load up one. This, however, is not true if the heavier load consists of a smaller number of larger consignments, but this does mat affect the argument as applied to. the business of any particular trader. If it is found that the loading and unloading of a ton of stuffocenpies on the average a couple of hours, then the whole working day of eight hours would be occupied simply by the loading and unloading of a 4-tanner and no

time would be left for the conveyance of the goods. The 4-tanner would, in such circumstances, be impossible. It follows that, if we can accelerate the loading and unloading processes, we can use larger units than would otherwise be feasible. Thus, we realize economy in two ways. The larger unit is inherently more economical, and, consequently, if. we can use it, we shall do our work more cheaply. At the same time, if it is not convenient to change the size of the unit, arrangements for rapidly dealing with the load will result in economy, because they leave a bigger proportion of the working time available for travel and, therefore, enable two journeys to be made instead of one, or a larger area to be covered during the one journey.

On Employed People.

Any large trading concern running a number of motor vehicles will, of course, have a properly organized department for their maintenance and repair, under the charge of a properly qualified engineer. There will also be a man, equally well qualified in another way, responsible for the organization of the services. These two jobs may fall to the lot of one individual, but, if so, he must not only be an engineer, but. must be an organizer capable of planning things so that the vehicles.are properly utilized. In a comparatively small business, the head of the concern must be himself responsible for a great variety of branches of the work. If he runs perhaps, only one motor van, ho is only justified in employing a qualified driver, Who is probably not a fully trained engineer. It is unlikely that he himself possesses much engineering knowledge. In that case, what he 'Wants of the driver is to do his own work properly and not to attempt too 'much. For big overhauls or repairs, and preferably also for. some species ef supervision, he should depend on an established local -firm in the motor trade, selecting one the reputation of which is such that it cannot afford to jeopardize it either by charging fancy prices or by doing ins work badly. The driver should be instructed, when anything more than ordinary adjustments or very trifling repairs are necessary, to report to -the van owner rather than to attempt a job which is probably beyond his ability. A driver may do _just as much harm by trying to do too much as by skimping his legitimate work—and the main consideration is not to save a' few shillings by getting repairs done at home, but to make as certain a& possible that the regular operation of the vehicle is not interfered with by serious breakdowns.

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