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Success for the Cautious
Page 59
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Bulk Haulage has Great Auraetions but Requires Careful Study Before being Adopted ALTHOUGH liquids have been carried in bulk by road for about 35 years, the haulage of powdered loads in this way is, with isolated exceptions, a recent innovation. During the past-lew years, much has been written and said on the subject, and the time has now come to make a broad survey of progress and to pool the knowledge and experience of manufacturers and operators engaged in this highly specialized branch of transport. consequently, The Commercial Motor has produced a special number devoted largely to it.
The movement towards haulage in 'bulk has been encouraged by post-war economic stringency. It enables costly packingto be dispensed with and, where the terminal facilities are matched tO the method of transport, turn-round time is greatly reduced. There is, however, the danger that the economic advantages will accrue largely to the trader and that the professional haulier who sets out to supply a bulk transport service will not gain a reward commensurate with his new responsibilities.
Before embarking -upon heavy capital expenditure on specialized vehicles that may have a relatively low re-sale value,, the haulier must study carefully the facilities that the customer can offer. He must be • assured -that the terminal services will enable full advantage to be taken of the possibilities of rapid loading and unloading that the bulk delivery 'vehicle possesses. He must be guaranteed a substantial and steady tonnage. and a rate that will cover the likelihood of empty return journeys.
Interchangeable Bodies Given these assurances, the operator may enter with confidence into a business offering bright hopes. Interchangeable bodies, which enable a vehicle to be used as a bulk carrier, a platform lorry or a drop-sider, have strong attractions. The articulated vehicle also has great advantages in bulk haulage. Interchangeable semi-trailers may be employed according to whether traffic is in bulk or otherwise, and may be used• as temporary stores.
Experience is necessary to make a success of any branch of bulk transport, but in dealing with liquids it is vital. Great damage can be caused by carrying loads that are unsuitable for the body and discharge gear. ' is important to remember that although the tank lining may ' be suitable for a given liquid, the materials from which the pipes and valves are made may not be. it is not generally known that there are more than 30 different grades of stainless steel, and that one which may safely carry milk may become severely pitted by certain fruit juices.
To help operators, The Commercial Motor has tabulated 77 liquids and their transport characteristics. Information on the materials required for the tank,. its treatment, materials for pipes and other auxiliary gear, the construction of the tank, the need for insulation or heating and the method of discharging the load has been collated. This is the first time that such a ready guide has been published.
,Place for Plastics Plastics that can be sprayed are growing in popularity as protective .linings for tank bodies. They are tough and have the additional advantage that they can be used as a paste to fill in the re-entrants formed between_haffles and the. inner face of the tank, and • thus facilitate cleaning. The development of plastics as structural materials for tank bodies is, however, still in its infancy. It is a: departure from traditionalmethods that calls for caution. .
Special considerations apply to construction with plastics, and the characteristics of the material must be thoroughly understood. Epoxide resins appear to be the most suitable for this work, but it may well be that the brightest prospects are offered by a combination of high-strength structural materials with plastics that have already demonstrated their useful chemical resistance.
New techniques in fabricating light-alloy bodies give promise of improved construction and lower cost in vehicles designed 'for 'bulk haulage. Weight saving is particularly important with such vehicles, with their large bodies and ancillary loading and discharge gear.
It may well be that the bulk delivery vehicle is opening up a new era in road transport. Success will come to those who enter it with caution. Failures caused by over-enthusiasm and lack of experience would tend to prejudice what promises to be one of the biggest development S in road transport since the invention of the internal-combustion engine.