In Your Opinion
Page 53
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ITA Scheme
AS THE recently appointed chairman of the education committee of the Institute of Traffic Administration, I would like to comment on The Common Room feature in the March 4 issue.
The Institute caters for users and operators of all forms of transport, as will be seen by the meetings held at various centres. That "membership shows a strong leaning towards road transport" is to my mind a clear indication that men connected with road transport are more keen to learn about other forms of transport than---for example— the railway man. Or is it because there is (at the present time) "more in it" for people in other forms of transport to belong to other institutes?
The scheme to be introduced by 1968 is better described as an "education scheme" and not "examination scheme", and when this is operating it will provide both the student and his employer with the assurance that an educational course has been followed and absorbed to the degree when it can be used to advantage; this as distinct from the student having taken a three-hour written examination paper to the examiner's satisfaction.
1 hope that this information assures both George Wilmot and his readers that the ITA is vitally aware of the challenge which it faces, the temptations to be resisted and the need for an educational scheme to match up to modern requirements, giving satisfaction to both employer and employee.
F. C. SIMPKINS. National vice-chairman, ITA. Pinner. Middlesex.
THE recent item on the roll-on boat for indivisible loads raises a few interesting points, since the destination of the first load is Aberthaw. not Aberporth as stated.
As the first roll-on boat has been named after Aberthaw, it will be the first ship to carry this name for over a century. Aberthaw was once a busy South Wales port engaged in shipbuilding and exporting local limestone, silted up many years ago, to become a sandy beach. Now all that remains of the port is the fourteenth century public house, called "The Blue Anchor", a few cottages of the same age, and "Marsh House". The comments about running the tractor solo to Barry seem a little out of place, since the Wynn Pacific tractor shown in the artist's impression was designed and built at the headquarters of Robert Wynn and Sons (Newport). The ship will probably be unloaded by a Pacific and a Diamond T from Newport, a mere 20 miles from the unloading port of Barry.
D. F. IRELAND, Plymouth.
Trailer Braking
REFERRING TO Mr. D. J. Broom's letter in the March 11 issue, I would like to say that we also have a great respect for MIRA and their backroom boys, and my company has spent a lot of money proving their points in a practical manner.
I feel the position is not being looked at from the right viewpoint. Up to fairly recent times one advocated an extra control for the trailer braking, feeling that this would "keep the outfit straight". We have had trouble with this as nearly all the braking or checking was being done on the trailer axles, and you cannot stop 30 tons by this means alone.
To meet the new regulations and with present-day thinking, where a preponderance of braking is now on the front axle a new look at driving methods becomes apparent. It must be remembered that the pedal-operated brake is the service brake and should be used as such as it has the minimum time lag. The results, with better braking distribution, will be much more consistent and safer braking. The brake control operating on the front and trailer axles only is for the secondary means of braking, which is only asked to give 25 per cent efficiency overall braking. It is not intended to be used in place of the service brake, other than in cases of failure, and for this reason time lag has not been considered a hazard, although it should be kept to a minimum.
We shall be able to further improve braking distribution when such devices as light/laden and similar valves are available later this year. and I can say that my company will be fitting these immediately they are available.
Finally, I believe that Mr. Broom's last paragraph is incorrect, as most trailer manufacturers are interested in their plumbing.
H. 0. DOUGHTY, Technical Director, Taskers of Andover (1932) Ltd.