January's Registration Returns Analysed
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IN our issue for last week we published a bare announcement concerning the registrations of new commercial vehicles in January last, but analysing the latest monthly return issued by the Ministry of Transport, which is our customary practice, brings to light some
• interesting facts. The figures for both goods and passenger vehicles for January last showed an improvement, onthe comparable .returns a year ago; the total of 7,080 for the former contrasts with 6,889, and that of 377 for the latter with 243.
An analysis of the returns for petrol goods _vehicles shows that there were well over 1,000 registrations in each of four categories in the motorcar class (under 24 tons). The latest figures confirm a tendency that has been noticeable for many months past. In the section for vehicles with an unladen weight not exceeding 12 cwt. there were 1;371 registrations, as against 1,192 a year earlier and in the l2-cwt.1-ton class, 1,044, as against 079.
Petrol-vehicle Ups and Downs.
• For the whole of 1984, 14-2-tanners showed an APPreciable increase, as Was indicated in tintanalysis of tendenciei in the industry, published in our issue dated March 1; but this progress :was brought. to a halt in January last, the 1,480 vehicles registered in this category. being 176 fewer than in January, me 2-2-1-tonner continues to be a favoured, type, 1,664 vehicles'being registered in January last, as compared with 1,381 a year eat-her. • In the .divi-• sion for 1-14 tonners there was an increase from 606 to 688 registrations, which is a reversal of the experience of last year, when there • were 18 fewer registrations per month in this particular section as contrasted with 1933.
In the various categories above 2k. tons, the registrations were as follow; last year's returns being given in parentheses :-24-3 tons, 253 (368) ; 3-4 tons, 142 (221) ; 4-5 tons, 66 (128) ; 5-6 tons, 27 (28) ; 6-7 tons, 1 (14) ; 7-8 tons, 4 (0). Only four petrol vehicles with an unladen weight exceeding eight tons were registered in January last, but last year no vehicles above this
weight were licensed. These figures show that the downward tendency continues in the heavier classes, although it is to be noted that, in the 5-6-ton group, the total is virtually unchanged.
Once again the chief registrations of oilers were recorded in the same sections as previously, these being for vehicles not exceeding 24 tons, 3-4 tons and 4-5, tons, the returns being 40, 50 and 54 respectively ; only the lastnamed is down on the previous year's total, when 72 such vehicles were re._ gisterecl. In the groups above 5-tonners, 39 oilers were registered, as contrasted with 45 a year earlier. In the month under review 191 oil-engined vehicles were licens'ed, compared with 160 in the corresponding month of 1934. Included in this year's total for oilers
are 26 vehicles for drawing trailers.
In January, 1935, only two steam goods vehicles were registered, Contrasted with 33 a year earlier, whilst 26 electric goods vehicles were licensed, as against 10 in January, 1934.
The total for goods vehicles includes 95 six-wheelers of the rigid type and 79 of the articulated pattern, whilst 12 eight-wheelers were also registered, these returns " comparing with 232, 115 and two respectively for January, 1934.
In the division for agricultural vans and, lorries there were 105 vehicles licensed, as against 45 a year earlier, all the former, with one exception (an oiler) being petrohengined. The total for goods vehicles is completed by foal
• local authorities' vehicles.
Passenger Oiler Progress.
An analysis of the hackney-vehicle figures shows clearly the progress that is being made by the oiler: No fewer than 188 such vehicles were licensed in January last—a marked increase over the previous year's total of 33; most of this year's registrations were double. deckers.
Well over half the registrations of petrol passenger vehiclas were in respect of taxicabs; the figure being 152, out of a gross total of 237. In the previous year, 198 petrol hackneys were licensed, of which 89 were taxicabs. The chief registrations took place in the classes for 14-20 seaters, 26-82 seaters and 3240 seaters, there being very few double-. deckers licensed during the month. Only two trolleybuses were registered, compared with 12 a year earlier.
Under the heading of tractors, 29 of the agricultural type and 21 for general' haulage work were registered, the corresponding returns for 1934 being 30 and 27 respectively.