Hard-worked A.E.C.s
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on Cement Transport
V7EHICLES of A.E.C. make have always been prominent V in the cement industry. In the case of the Tunnel Portland Cement Co., Ltd., 3S units of this make are now
operated. Prior to 1936 nearly all road deliveries were contracted out, but in that year the company decided to extend its small fleet and 12 A.E.C. Monarch four-wheelers as well as six Mammoth Major six-wheelers were acquired, all of them being petrol-engined. The billowing year they were supplemented by 10 more Monarchs and nine Mammoth Majors, of which the latter were, in this case, oilers. A further Mammoth Major was added to the fleet last year.
War-time fuel restrictions have limited the active radius of those A.E.C.s making deliveries from the Tunnel Cement Co.'s Thames-side works, and for many of them 25 miles is now the outward 'extent of their journeys. In several cases, however, they succeed in making two round trips to London within each 24 hours. Generally, the vehicles are loaded at night and leave, on their early runs, in two groups between 5.30 and 'I a m.
By using modern conveyor systems a Mammoth Major six-wheeler is loaded usually within 35 minutes and quite often as many as 300 vehicle loads are despatched each 24 hours.
The total mileage of the first vehicles has now reached 85,000.
Particular attention is given to systematic maintenance, and the whole fleet has a well-deserved reputation for smart appearance. Although " docks " are based upon predetermined mileages, they are carried, out, in actual practice, according to a vehicle rota, so that the distance run between " docks" is not necessarily constant. Usually, the lorries are brought in for a general inspection, including the removal of the cylinder head and the testing of injectors on oil-engined units at 5,000 miles. This is followed by a major " dock " at 30,000 miles, when the engine, crankcase and rear axles are inspected, wear recorded, and a general examination and overhaul undertaken. At this time, also, the body is taken off for renovation. Four to five days are normally expended on this work, a certain amount of time being saved by the use of replace ment cylinder heads. These are also available should
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defects arise between docking periods, and, up till now, they represent the only measure adopted towards a unitchange system. So far as the A.E.C.s are concerned, it is estimated that mileages well in excess of 100,000 will be possible before resleeving or reboring becomes necessary.