The Battle for the Heavy Haul. • rpmRE are important indications
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that trai)s. port by read is developing :particularly in • two main -directions.... At one .end coatiparatively light. load, as -.represented by goods • transported. by .local tradesmen. in their. own oWn . vehicles and express parcel vans' 'run. 4 hauliers. At the other end is the maximum lead permitted by law, this being in the neighbourhood of 12 tons. _ We do. net wish to. imply that . there will be no market. for intermediate s4es of vehicle. There are many classes of transport work ' in which the use of such vehicles is imperative, but there certainly. appears to be . great scope for vehicles with a capacity in the . vicinity of. two tons and the maximum weight carrier.
Those who have reason to travel frequently on . our great trunk highways cannot but have observed the tendency towards the long-distance transit of goods in increasing bulk per unit load carrier.
The capacious rigid-frame six-wheeler and the tractor-trailer have done much to contribute to this state of affairs. The haulier who has yen ' tured into the realms of heavy transport has found that he can carry big loads at a price per ton considerably lower than would have been possible if smaller machines had been employed, and he is "therefore in the happy position of • being able to quote reduced rates without unduly cutting his financial return. Large vehicles can, however, only be employed profitably when they are loaded to capacity . that is their raison (Pare, for they must necessarily cost more in capital, maintenance and running costs than the smaller models.
The rigid-frame six-wheeler has provided a golden opportunity for the utilization of pneumatic tyres and such tyres have automatically permitted an increase in the average speed, together with a decrease in damage to the roads. Large vehicles do not necessarily mean greater congestion—rather do they lessen it, other things being equal. .
We shall be surprised if the near futnre does not disclose interesting surprises in eoniAetion with the 'heavy haulage unit.