Who Would Not Be a Van Driver ?
Page 6
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By a Woman Who Is One.
If you are a healthy girl with a good nerve, and are feeling "fed up," lonely and useless, become a commercial-motor driver. You will have no time to feel "fed up " ; you cannot feel lonely with a car to care for ; and you are not useless when you are taking the place of a man.
The Value of a " Lovely " Certificate.
Some schools are quite good. Some, on the other hand, give you—a lovely certificate, after six lessons : one of my friends has a beauty ; she received it after about four driving lessons and some lectures. When I asked her if she had been taught to "double clutch" she was quite surprised and asked, "Has your car two clutches ? "
Without prejudice, I really do think a sound training the most useful, though, if any of you spend as long at it as I did, there may not be any war-workers required by the time you have finished. Anyhow, try it for a few months. If you are not very muscular when you start, you will be quite strong enough for most commercial ears when you have filed, hammered and carried heavy weights for that time.
How I Set About Learning. I just walked into our local garage and announced that I wished to become a chauffeuse. The proprietor, who is one of the very best, got such a shock that he gave me permission to work as an apprentice as long as I liked. I went to the garage under the impression that in three weeks time I should be able to drive and repair anything from a Ford to a Rolls-Royce. Don't you believe itl At the end of three weeks I still choked my engine, also my hammer. A girl is rather at a disadvantage when working with tools. It is all so strange to her. While most boys have had some experience, very few girls have done more than nail up a picture, or use a meat saw.
My "mate," a very clever little girl who joined me after I had put in about a month, surprised everyone when she worked with a chisel, until we discovered that she had been a good wood-carver for years. Neither of us had much difficulty with driving ; we were both used to horses and cycles, which is quite a help, as one steers straight, right off. It seems so easy to drive, during one's first lesson. It is only after a bit that one finds out all the niceties of really good driving. That is a time of disillusionment.
Experiences on Breakdowns.
We took turn about, driving mechanics to breakdowns and towing home cars. The joy, pride and excitement of your first tow. It is another story, if you have 20 miles at the other end of the rope in the dark. Working in a garage makes you a careful driver. You realize how many hours work may be necessary after one moment's carelessness on the driver's part. We worked hard at repairs, overhauling, vulcanizing and the hundred-and-one things one finds to do in a garage.
I taught one girl to drive who is now doing very good work for the Scottish Women's Hospital. The first time she did a repair alone She gained quite a reputation. The owner of the car was sure there was something very far wrong with the differential. She cleaned the sparking plugs and took him for a test run. The ear was going some," and he was delighted—said she was the cleverest girl he had ever met.
How the Men Treated Me.
I spent nearly a year in the garage and was quite spoiled. In summer, when the drivers were out on long runs, they often brought. fruit or 'flowers back. for the "lady mechanic." 1 can recommend this method of training to any girl. The men and boys will treat You as a princess the first week-or two ; then as a big sister when. you mend their gloves, their burns, and their cuts ; finally, as a fellow-workman, you will probably come in for a little chaff, and may find the cushion, 'which of yore was placed on the ground for "your highneas " to sit on, throWn at you, at same inconvenient moment—probably when your father's oldest friend, or your boss; is within sight.
No Swearing Heard.
We heard no swears ! The boss told the boys he would fine them half-a-crown if they swore when there were ladies in the garage. The tiniest boy, our wee mascot, was quite despairing ; he asked for a rise, as his pay would only permit two swears per week:
Why 1 Left—and Started.
I was awfully sorry to leave, and when I applied for a situation was not a, bit keen until my prospective employer told me that I would hate driving a lorry, as it was slow and heavy, and the work hard. That settled it. A little opposition is a wonderful thing. I got the van, and have driven it for a year. It is a beauty. The funny thing is, nobody else thinks so. True, the body is only a few boards knocked together, and the paint scanty, but the engine is simply great. Black lead and a wee piece of velvet ; that's the tip. It is not every lorry that has had poetry written about it. Mine has. How's this ?
"The tub, the tub, the beautiful tub, It runs on paraffin, naphtha, or sub., . It does not matter what you put in it It toddles along at a mile to the minute."
Talk about poetical licence ! This poet ought to have his endorsed. We can pass most lorries which go at 12 m.p.h. ,There must be something wrong with the governor. I have never tied it up, as the " 'rub " goes quite quickly enough for its size.
One Day a Month to Overhaul.
My employer is very considerate; he allows me at least one day in the month to overhaul. That keeps it running well, and in consequence we do not have much trouble on the road. Some owners make their drivers run until the car sticks.
A Few Incidents.
I put on a wheel recently for one driver who had been sent out with the hub threads stripped. It is criminal to insist on anyone's taking a car out with the wheel held on by a split pin. The driver was awfully grateful, and said he hoped to be able to help me on a similar occasion. I have required assistance once or twice at munition canteens. Those new roads are not firm enough for a heavy lorry, and you have great difficulty in getting out if you once sink. The
last time, jacking up and laying down planks were useless, so we had a game of Frertch cricket to keep warm until the civil engineers and navvies came to the rescue. They were very kind and did not grumble a bit; in fact, apologized for the delay. This shows you how you will be spoiled whenever you are in trouble.
Some factory roads have only a small strip firm enough for a heavy. car. No room to turn., and you may have to reverse for about half-a-mile. Very cheery on a dark night, , Some of the Worries.
It is not all pleasure, commercial driving. A lorry in snow gives you enough worry to make you long to slay the cheerful Soul who remarks, " HoWpicturesque the snow is."
"Dark country roads are a. nightly worry. Our lamps or "police protectors," as we call them, are very little use, so it is a bit of a strain, specially-when sonic other "commercial" keeps four paCes to the.rear, and relies on your tail light to show him the way home. This doubles the responsibility.
A Woman as "Mate.
Try to get another girl on your van instead of a boy ; it is far more sociable. There used to be two men and a boy on my lorry. I am sure they did not have half such a happy time as my delivery girl and I have. It takes men longer to do the work, because they have to wait in shops. Our customers always hurry and attend to us. That is one of the things which make commercial driving so delightful for girls—the kindness and courtesy which they receive from their customers. We hate a new run, because it means dropping one of our old ones and losing all the nice friends we have made.
Amenities of the Road.
If you are unlucky enough to be held up on the road, it will not be long before some other commercial driver stops to help you. Do not pass any of them if they are stuck ; even if you know nothing about cars, you can always offer to 'phone their employer from the nearest town, or to tow them to a garage ; you will be amply repaid by their gratitude.
What Women Can Do.
Some people say that women are unable to handle heavy lorries. There are nine of lie in our garage who prove that women are fit for the work. We are
just ordinary girls, not big, strong women. Allhealthy and happy, and not a bit overworked in comparison with some women war-workers. "A month or two will be all you can stand," you will be warned by some cheerful person when you become a commercial driver. Just tell him, when he says you cannot keep it up for years, that you expect the war will be over long before you are played out.
Affection for the Engine.
Youths of 17 are often brilliant drivers, but far too irresponsible to be trusted with the care of a good lorry, or the delivery of a valuable load. Their one ambition seems to be to ruin the car in a month. They tie up the governor, blind along the road, and try to go up everything on top. A woman becomes attached to her car : an engine knock hurts her like a child's cry. A healthy woman is as good and better than a man for whom the Army has no use. We may not do so• well as the boys who are now in the Motor Transport. They had petrol. What have we ? 1 often wonder what " cocktail" my tank contains. In spite of that, we will be able to hand over our cars in good condition when they return. So, if any of you women readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR wish to go in for war work which will be useful, pleasant, and healthy, never mind the few worries I have told you about, but become a commercial-motor driver.