Remarkable
Page 59
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Parcels T
Progress in ransport
Ripponden and District Motors, Ltd., has in Four Years Increased its Goods-vehicle Fleet from Eight to Forty Units
THE fact that Ripponden and Dis Lrict Motors, Ltd., Ripponden, is having new offices built for the sole use of the goods-transport side of its undertaking serves to draw attention to the development of a business which has features of interest to operators generally.
Situated among the hills, several miles to the west of Halifax, and not far from the Yorkshire-Lancashire border, the company's large depot might be termed a frontier station for goods-transport purposes. It is the centre for the collection and delivery of parcels and other packages, ranging in weight .from 1 lb. to .2 tons, over an area extending from' Hull in the east to Liverpool in the West, and from Preston, Colne. and York in the mirth to Stockport, Sheffield and Doncaster in the south.
3,560 Packages Dealt with Daily.
Practically every consignment collected in this large area is• taken to Ripponden before it is distributed, so that the depot there may be regarded as a clearing house for Yorkshire and Lancashire traffic. On the average, about 3,500 packages are handled there daily, yet the system is such that consignments collected up to the evening of one day are delivered next morning anywhere in the large area of operation.
In an interview with one of our representatives, Mr. John Hirst, managing director of the company, stated that, when developing the parcelscarrying business, the concern first thought of establishing several depots for distribution purposes, but eventually came to the conclusion that " a system of centralization at one depot would best meet its needs.
"We have found this system very uccessful," said Mr. Hirst. " By
eason of the fact that responsibility is i.entred in one place. it facilitates the eeping of a check on all parcels :iandled, and if any question arises re1;arding any particular consignment, our records are readily accessible.
" The fact that all our trans-ship.)ing is carried out in one large depot, .:quipped with a stage where more than W vehicles can be loaded or unloaded it the same time, also makes for efficiency in handling. An illustration of his is afforded by the fact that, during :he past 12 -months, on a turnover of note than £24,000, claims concerning lamaged goods have amounted only to £108: without making allowance for my' return obtained from salvage."
Formerly, Ripponden and District Nlotors, Ltd., was primarily a pasienger-carrying concern, but since 1931, ivhen it began to develop goods transport, that side of the business has far 3utgrown the passenger department. In the past four years, the number of vehicles on goods work has increased
from eight to 38 lorries and vans and four trailers, A remarkable growth is also reflected in the goods-carrying turnover, which increased from £7,147 in the year ended October 31, 1932, to £24,153 during the year ended October 31, 1934. The company has branch offices in Manchester and Leeds, and Collecting stations at Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Hull, Sheffield, Barnsley, Keighley, Preston, Accrington, Bolton, Burnley and Stockport.
There are daily express deliveries both to the places mentioned, and to Ashton-under-Lyne, Blackburn, Brighouse, Bury, Castkford, Dewsbury, Doncaster, Elland, Hebden Bridge, Liverpool, Luddendenfoot, Mythohnroyd, Oldham, Prescot, Rochdale, Rotherham, Selby, Sowerby Bridge, St. Helens, Todmorden, Wakefield, Wigan and York.
The Passenger-transport Side.
Starting in 1921 as a passenger-carrying concern, with only one bus, the company has also built up a prosperous coach and bus business. Not long ago. the undertaking sold its Halifax-Rishworth and Halifax-Millbank services, but retained the Halifax-Manchester and Ripponden-Barkisland-Elland services, the last named being linked up with the Manchester route.
The garage, which is also being extended, includes engineering shops, an electrical shop and a paint shop.
The 38 goods vehicles owned by Ripponden and District Motors, Ltd., comprise 24 Beelfords, six Fords, four Leylands and four Reos. For passenger work the company has 11 Leylands. three 13edfords, and an A.E.C. Q-type coach—a 35-seater.