35 Years of
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Versatility
By Ashley Taylor, A.M. I. R.T.E.
ALTHOUGH Express Motor Carriers, of .Oswestry, Salop, have changed little in character during their 35 years of operation, their history typifies the development of road transport.
The business is run by 80-yearold Mr. Robert Davies and began in 1916 with a parcels service between Oswestry and the large military camp at Park Hall, a mile away. Mr. Davies provided all his customers with cards to hang in their windows if they wanted him to call.
The first vehicle was a Ford Model
T Its exterior, was divided into sections for local traders' and cinemas' advertisements. To start the engine, it was necessary to jack up a rear wheel and to put the vehicle into gear.
On one such occasion, in New Street, the vibration caused the lorry to jump off the jack. Mr. Davies narrowly missed being run over, and the lorry careered 30 yards. down the road into a grocer's window, ending up in a pile of broken ,glass, pro
visions and tinned goods.. •
An additional vehicle was, purchased, a Ford 1-tonn'er with a Baico extension and chain drive.. When going downhill F.r. speed; a chain often used to come off. The man
u26 who drove this vehicle retired this year, aged 70, after over 30 years' service.
High, detachable sides were made for fitting to the lorry for the carriage of livestock, and Express Motor Carriers claim to have been the first to bring cattle to Oswestry market by road. Built-in loading ramps were not thought of in those days, and the driver had to find a suitable high bank or pile of chippings near the farm to enable the animals to step into the lorry. Unloading ramps were, however, provided at the markets.
At one time, a load of furniture was taken to Burnley on the 1-tonner with the cattle sides fitted and the top removed. The load was piled so high that the vehicle could not pass under a bridge and a detour had to be made. The maximum speed limit was then 12 m.p.h. and the job took three days.
Around 1924 a contract was secured from the Post Office for the transport of telegraph poles and equipment. A Ford 30-cwt. lorry with an 8-ft. body was used. It had a narrow cab, so that 40-ft. poles could bd carried on each side, protruding to the front and rear. The vehicle was also employed to deliver long iron bars to local blacksmiths.
Mr. Davies tells a story about carrying a large consignment of poles. A host of P.O. officials gathered to supervize the job and obviously expected to see a number of 3-tonners arrive. When the little Ford appeared, with four strapping men, they were clearly disgusted, but were surprised when they saw how quickly the poles were unloaded and Tiled off on to the grass verge. In this way, the job was completed in four days.
The next acquisition was a Vulcan 2-tonner with solid tyres. Pneumatics were fitted soon afterwards at what was considered to be great expense, although they brought a great improvement in comfort, and performance was improved.
E.M.C. then ventured into passenger transport and bought a passenger carrying body, which was stored on a platform and was slid on to a platform lorry by means of wooden rollers. It was used chiefly to carry parties to football matches and on church outings—a much-appreciated facility in those days.
A regular market-day service was started from the Frankton district and although iewas,popular, the use of one vehicle for goods and passengers was inconvenient and the firm decided to specialize solely in goods transport.
A Bedford 2-ton net with removable sides for livestock transport and another set for furniture removals was acquired. As business improved, a Bedford 3-tanner followed and thereafter came an Albion 5-tanner. It could also carry a livestock container.
To-day, the firm have four livestock containers and a furniture container. The vehicles are easily converted into "flats" or drop-sided lorries.
Among the incidents which Mr. Davies recalls from his early days is a delivery of a piano to a farm in the Welsh hills, The track to the house proved to be over a small stream bridged by a narrow plank. Even to-day, difficulties are experienced on journeys to farms in the hills, where the roads are narrow. Reversing vehicles over long distances is often a problem for even the most exPerienced driver, but one that is cheerfully accepted.
A contract was once obtained for the delivery of "The Wrexhain Leader" every week. The papers were picked up at about 11 p.m. as they came off the press and the lorry was back home at about 8 a.m. next day after making well over 100 drops. About £3 17s. 6d. was received for this job and Mr. Davies considered it one of the best he ever had.
In the early 1930s, 6 tons of bagstuffs from Liverpool were delivered in small lots around farms at £2 15s. a load, whilst double-deck loads of over 100 sheep were collected from farms and delivered to two or three Places in Manchester, 70 miles away, for £3 10s. This work was often done on a Sunday, as well as weekdays, at no extra charge.
The firm ran regular services to London and Liverpool until the Road Haulage Executive stopped them Apart from some work under permits, however, -the.. fleet is mainly
concentrated on short •-• distance haulage.
The district is agricultural, and most ,lbusiness is with local .farmers, business people and quarries: Work is also performed 'for lime-spreading companies and local 'military camps. Customers have increased their demands of late, and the firm have had to hire many vehicles from outside. Jobs are never refused, if possible, and E.M.C. believe in employing other hauliers. The importance of satisfying customers and maintaining goodwill is considered paramount
Fleet of Nine
At present, the fleet consists of two Austins, two Albions, three Bedfords, a Thornycroft and a Leyland, whilst as many as nine vehicles have been on hire at one time. The average weekly mileage of each v7ehicle is between 600 and 700.
Because of the widely varied nature of the operations, there is no special bodywork. Vehicles chosen are usually platform lorries, which can carry livestock cOntainers, or tippers.
Just how versatile a well-planned fleet can be is demonstrated by the fact that one E.M.C. vehicle had four jobs to do at a farm in one day and was converted in turn to carry furniture, livestock, machinery and coal and wood.
Own Maintenance The firm used to put their vehicles out to local garages for maintenance, but now, with a larger fleet, a stall mechanic is employed and some alterations have been made to the
premises. In addition to regular checks, each vehicle is taken (Al the road once a year for overhaul.
Express Motor Carriers are members of the Road Haulage Association and display the Association's badge prominently on their vehicles. In this, as welt as in other respects, they set a good example to hauliers.
The story of the firm's development is one which could be reproduced many times in the road haulage industry. It is a record of initiative, enterprise and, above all, hard work. The changes wrought in the industry by the nationalization of long-distance haulage have been accepted—at least temporarily—and the firm's efforts in the fieldleft open to thern have been redoubled.