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Who is to Blame?

13th January 1956
Page 41
Page 41, 13th January 1956 — Who is to Blame?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

QPERATORS or authorities in the market for new

vehicles would do well to be most specific in their requirements, if they hope to receive comparative, competitive tenders from manufacturers. Usually, minor alterations to chassis must be considered to meet local requirements and personal idiosyncrasies, but nowadays something like put and take can be played with, vehicle fitments, so varied is the choice available.

Consider vehicle bodies,lor exam6le. These may be U-shaped, rectangular, scow-ended, or dump, a term which is loosely used here f there and everywhere, and which is open to wide interpretation. The question of dimensions and cubic capacity must be settled, in conjunction with such considerations as renewable floors, sandwich, floors, fixed or drop sides, cab protectors and tipping gear. Materials, and their constructional, strength, depend on whether the body is required to carry anything from feathers to iron ore or rock, and on whether this will be handled with kid gloves or by grab or mechanical shovel. Finally, all factors must be balanced against gross vehicle weight, axle loading and tyre capacity, in order to retain a reasonable payload, with overloading (whisper it) as the skeleton among a feast of figures.

Vehicle manufacturers are not thought-readers, and they have to offer something. Too often it is a case of one guess being as good as another when studying a client's requirements, and of tenders being prepared in the doubtful realm of conjecture, and by recourse to the crystal ball.

Is it surprising, therefore, that vague inquiries result in a series of widely differing offers, which a client may have difficulty in reducing to a common denominator. If a client is overseas, time and distance are added complications, with the result that orders often go to the only man On the spot, despite the fact that what one manufacturer can do, another could often do better, and cheaper, given an equal opportunity.

The moral is obvious. In your own best interests, be specific,

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