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Examiners Shadowing Drivers

8th May 1936, Page 27
8th May 1936
Page 27
Page 28
Page 27, 8th May 1936 — Examiners Shadowing Drivers
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

OODS-TRANSPORT operators and em ployees are complaining against the methods adopted by traffic examiners and the police in shadowing drivers in the expectation of detecting offences in connection with hours of working. Men state that they have been followed for long periods by examiners, who have kept the closest watch on their activities at points of call, on their times of rest during the day and on their driving times. The drivers are placed in a condition of nervous apprehension throughout the day, which is not conducive to safety in driving or efficiency in working.

In a recent court case it wa's stated that a driver was kept under observation by two examiners from 10.30 a.m., when he left the depot, until after 11 p.m., when he returned. On three occasions during the day his records were examined by the police. Even at one of the depots of the man's employer he was watched. The subsequent charge brought against the company of permitting the driver to work for excessive hours was dismissed, but that was small compensation for the distress caused to the driver and the inconvenience and expense suffered, entirely unnecessarily, by the employer. • Whilst we appreciate that the authorities are endeavouring to safeguard the public against the menace of the exhausted driver., and the worker against exploitation by unscrupulous employers, it seems that they are carrying their zeal to excess. The average operator has no desire to work his men unreasonably, although slight irregularities must inevitably occur from time to time, and to class him with " wanted" characters, to be continually badgered and watched, is an intolerable indignity.

The Oil Engine and Gear Ratios

THE oil engine has established something of a reputation for maintaining its " pulling " characteristics at comparatively low revolutions, but it is questionable whether it be economical, from the point of view of engine maintenance and reliability, to permit much running at speeds below the normal, because the stresses imposed are then often considerably greater, and there is more liability to bearing trouble.

German engineers have found that the most economical speed of the average oil engine is about 1,300 r.p.m. As a consequence, they are in favour of gearboxes giving a greater number of steps and often employ five, six, or even more, gear ratios, of which one may, with benefit, be an over-speed, so that a vehicle which goes out loaded and returns empty is not, on its return journey, forced to employ a direct drive which is really below the capabilities of the power unit_ In such circumstances, it would really be beneficial to step up the whole range of ratios, which means the provision of an over-drive which operates throughout the steps.

Growing Value of Recorders

OWING to the fact that the owner of a commercial vehicle is, in so many cases, held responsible for the acts of his employees, and often fined severely for " permitting " irregularities in hours of working, it is imperative that he should maintain a careful and constant check on the operations of each vehicle.

The ordinary speedometer, essential though it may be from the point of view of keeping to legal speeds, does not constitute a check upon the time; here is the opportunity of utilizing the analysis of daily running afforded by the time and mileage recorder.

These all operate on the principle of producing a permanent record in the form of a chart, from which it is a comparatively simple matter to deduce the history of any run or of all the journeys made in a particular period. Such records are of special value in cases where a vehicle is not normally employed on a fixed route and may be out of the purview of the transport manager for, possibly, several days. In such a case each of the short and long breaks for rest can be timed and their duration estimated to close limits, and with a sealed instrument the charts form valuable evidence if at any time such particulars should be disputed.

These instruments are no longer regarded as spies, but as necessary adjuncts to operating efficiency.

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