12 FOOD MANUFACTURERS DOL DELIVERIES
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
pROOF of the savings thit can be made when manufacturers co-ordinate . their" transport , arrangements is afforde# -by the operations of Associated Deliveries, Ltd.; Reading. With a fleet of 245 vans based on 36 depots throughout the country, the coMpany distributes 2m. individual consignments of 12 different biscuit and confectionery makers' products each year to practically every town, village and hamlet in Great Britain.
In 1939, when war seemed imminent, the Government intimated to the biscuit manufacturers that it would like to see pooled distribution in the industry to avoid the wastage of transport. Early the next year the Biscuit Delivery Pool, Ltd., was .formed by the manufacturers and its inauguration coincided with the introduction of the biscuit zoning scheme.
Substantial economies resulted from the co-ordination of services that B.D.P. provided. In fact, 500,000 gallons of petrol were saved each year. When peace came, the question that naturally-faced the industry wA whether pooled delivery should continue. Twelve
old-established makers of biscuits, preserves and confectionery decided that for them at least it should, and Associated Deliveries, Ltd., was formed by them in May, 1946, as a non-profit-making company, limited by guarantee and financed by interest-free loans.
• These 12 companies are all family businesses with cordial relationships and produce goods of the highest quality. Their factories are distributed throughout the country. A.D.L. has its headquarters at the factory of Huntley and Palmers, Ltd., Reading. Other biscuit makers in the group are Carr and Co. Ltd., Carlisle, and Peek Frean and Co., Ltd., Bermondsey. Confectionery manufacturers comprise A J. Coley, Ltd., Norwich, Clarnico, Ltd., Hackney, John Mackintosh and Sons, Ltd., Halifax, Mehis, Ltd., Bedford, Joseph Terry and Sons, Ltd.', 'York, and Suchard ..-.Chocolate, Ltd., also at .Bermondsey, being like Meltis, an affiliate of 'Peek Frean.
Chivers and Sons, Ltd., with factories at Histan,
machines and 12 Bedford 3-4-tonners. Many have been fitted with Tecalemit Syndromic chassis lubrication equipment.
The company itself builds all the bodies for the vehicles, having a bodybuilding works at its Reading headquarters. Bodywork is of orthodox type with hardwood framing and Plymax panelling. A compartment at the front of the body behind the bulkhead accommodates empty .tins and containers. Access to this compartment can be gained from the cab, half of the bulkhead partition being arranpd to slide. A sliding door is fitted to each side of the cab and another at the rear. There is a retractable step for entrance into thebody at the rear.
Guard rails are now being fitted to the sides of the bodies to minimize the effect of collisions in loading bays and so on, and the rear number plate is recessed. Great importance is attached to the publicity value of the van's appearance. According to the value of the ,work handled for each member company, the fleet is split into proportions, a certain number of vehicles carrying the colours of each manufacturer. A variety of vehicles bearing different makers' liveries is based at each depot. The company's signwriters are adept at painting anything from a succulent strawberry to an appetiling -jelly.
The vehicles are given a book life of five rears, although, of course, many hate lasted. longer. 'Every 20,0{.)0 miles the) are NorPht, 't.o..*ea'''t for dee:krb-O* aing and the checking of brakes, steering, clutch and other components. The body is then touched up and varnished. At 40,000. miles, a thorough overhaul is performed and engines are rebored if necessary
Probably because the loads carried are comparatively light for the power of the Commer 85 b.h.p engines, cylinder wear is not heavy The company reports 0.008 in. wear at 45,000 miles in some instances Aero D35 is the lubricant employed for the vehicles. This is supplied to A.D.L.'s specification by Morris and Co. (Shrewsbury), Ltd.
Fuel consumption does not vary much from one part of the country to another. The average for the Q.2 is 10.8 m.p.g. and the Q.4, 10.4 mpg. The Vulcan oilers return an average of 16 m.p.g. Each vehicle covers about 16,000 miles a year—a low figure which does not reflect under-employment of resources, but care in planning delivery zones so that mileage may be kept to a minimum The company's rating of the vehicle capacity is taken at 5 cwt. lower than the manufacturer's rating. This !eaves a safety margin against overloading. The body capacity of the Commer Q.2 is 432 cubic ft. and the Q.4, 587 cubic ft. With biscuits, a light traffic, there are 225 tins to a ton. Other traffics are heavier and in charging member companies for .the transport and handling of the different commodities, relative ratios of j00 for biscuits, • 70 for confectionery and 50 for preserves are used.
Each night the vehicles are loaded with consignments made up on the loading banks the previous afternoon, and are away on their delivery rounds in the early morning. The usual number of calls a van makes is about 40 and the average consignment weighs lf cwt. Drivers receive payment on the scale of R.H.(36) plus a 4s. bonus, paid to attract a good class of man. In addition, there is a bonus awarded, which averages 30s., to drivers who save time on a period calculated on the mileage covered on their runs. and the number and weights of deliveries handled. Time for mileage to be run is reckoned on an average of 25 m.p.h. so that there is no incentive to break the speed limit.
The chairman of A.D.L. is Mr. J. R. Gales, M.B.E., and the managing director is Mr. W. G Crowhurst. Both Mr. Gales and Mr. Crowhurst were concerned with the operation of the Biscuit Delivery Pool throughout the war and their experience with that organization proved of great advantage in founding and operating the new concern.