20 Vehicles But No Workshop Staff
Page 55
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WHEN the first moves were made to nationalize long distance transport, Stratford on Avon Produce Canners, Ltd., Stratford-onAvon. decided to carry all their produce in C-licensed vehicles and purchased the complete fleet operated by Mr. N. C. Wilkins, who was one of the concern's main haulage contractors and became their transport manager.
A process of replacement was immediately started with the purchase of a Leyland Octopus 15-ton eightwheeled van for bulk deliveries of canned goods to depots in Manchester, Trega non in South Wales, and Coventry. also to wholesalers throughout the country. In the intervening years, the fleet of eight-wheelers has been increased to five. Formerly the goods were carried in 5-6-tonners.
Fleet Make-up
The total number of vehicles in the delivery fleet is now 20, and all deliveries are made by road. In addition to the Leylands there are three Cornmer QX 7-ton platform lorries, four Bedford 6-7-tonners fitted with Perkins P6 engines, five Thames 3-4-ton vans, and a Thames 10-cwt. and two 5-cwt. vans.
Canned produce of all types is carried and the large vans may be loaded with as many as 700 packages of 50 to 60 different types and sizes. This is performed in route-delivery order under the direction of the driver.
Apart from weekly servicing on Saturday mornings by the driver's, including oiling and greasing, all maintenance is performed by the local distributors of the various makes. The heavier vehicles are based on rented premises in Sheldon, Birmingham.
The rule of one-driver to one-vehicle is rigidly observed, and only experienced drivers are employed, a policy which, combined with making the optimum use of the distributors' facilities and renewing the smaller vehicles at intervals of three years, enables the fleet to be run without a staff of mechanics. In the unusual event of a breakdown or accident, the driver contacts the nearest agent for assistance.
The eight-wheelers cover about 800 miles in a week and the first one to be purchased has a trouble-free mileage of 150,000 miles to its credit, the only. mechanical attention required in over five months being routine top overhauls at set mileage intervals. Major overhauls to the fleet have been limited to the replacement of a differential.
The average load carried by the 15tonners is about 13 tons and the fuelconsumption rate is around I0-m.p.g. The mileage life of new tyres is approximately 35,000, but one set con tinned in service for 50,000 miles, which is credited to the care and skill of the driver. Worn tyres are sent to the makers for retreading and then cover about 75 per cent. of the original mileage before being discarded. As the cost of a new tyre is about £27 10s. and retreading is performed for £9, this represents a large saving. Goodyear S-type and Firestone tyres are mainly used.
Mr. Wilkins praises the Commer QX 7-ionners, particularly the engines, which normally operate for 110,000 miles without replacement. Because they are petrol-driven, however, the fuel consumption is relatively high and they will be progressively replaced by Bedford oilers. which yield 18 m.p.g. in place oL the Commcrs' 10 m.p.g.
The Bedfords have run up to 90,000 miles without mechanical trouble or apparent signs of wear. One of the Commers is fitted with a light-alloy body giving a 2-3-cwt. payload increase, but because all the vehicles arc usually underloaded this advantage is not of practical importance.
Use of Pallets
Multiple drops up to 20 are normal to most of the runs, but some platform vehicles deliver full loads on Army and other contracts. Use is then made of a Stacatruc 3-ton electric fork truck for loading, which reduces the time from 40 min. (by conveyor belt loading) to about 15 min. The payload is reduced by the weight of the pallets, but this makes little difference to running costs.
More extensive use of pallet loading by wholesalers would be welcomed, and full advantage would be taten of it. The return and care of pallets might then present a difficulty, however.
A recent addition to the fleet is a Thames 3-4-lonner fitted with the Ford oil engine, and this is returning well over 20 m.ji.g. The Thames 10-cwt. vans average about 10-12 m.p.g. on local deliveries and the 5-cwt. vans achieve about 18 m.p.g.