B.R.S. Introduce Radio Control in Isle of Wight
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ADIO control of collection and delivery vehicles in the Isle of Wight was inaugurated last week by British Road Services. Combined with the B.R.S. national teleprinter network, twoway radio provides .almost a direct link between the consignor and the delivery driver.
The value of these joint facilities was soon shown last week when a consignor of gas cylinders discovered that he had sent the wrong kind --with possibly embarrassing consequences—to a customer in the island. The load was already on the delivery van, but the driver was intercepted by two-way radio and the cylinders were returned to the depot.
A transmitter with a range of 25 miles has been set tip at St. Catherine's Point.
behalf of national customers. Stock records are kept and orders are delivered to customers' requirements. Special-type vehicles are also operated for the haulage of machinery, boats, timber and so on.
But it is on collection and delivery work that two-way radio finds its strongest application. Mr. Irons hopes that a good deal of dead mileage will be saved.
Apart from this direct economy, the ability to contact drivers with instructions to collect late orders is important. It is _also possible to pass to drivers messages from customers who require goods to be delivered urgently. Salvage of disabled vehicles in remote parts of the island is also facilitated, as was demonstrated within a few hours of the radio service being inaugurated.
The true value of the facility will not, however, be apparent until next year's peak holiday season. It will then be par-• ticularly useful in enabling drivers who require assistance with exceptionally heavy deliveries, to call for aid.
Another aim in introducing the service was to enable queries raised by customers to be settled on the spot after reference by radio to the traffic office. Disputes over the condition of goods and C.O.D. consignments are cases in point. Apart from these direct day-to-day benefits, Mr. Irons sets great store by the prestige value of. radio control.
He hopes that some cattle trucks will later be equipped. This will be useful in dealing with the two-way traffic in livestock between the island and the markets in the hinterland of Southampton,