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The Light Van Problem and How It Must

26th February 1914
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Page 4, 26th February 1914 — The Light Van Problem and How It Must
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Be Tackled.

The Tradesmen Who Can Still Use Cycle Delivery and Those Who Cannot.

(Continued from page 559) In the first portion of the present article, which we published last week, we devoted considerable space to consideration of the problems which now confront manufacturers in respect of their decisions as to the load-carrying capacities of the standard models in which they specialize. We indicated in that connection what might be considered to be the specific requirements of the ordinary tradesmen re loads.

Our desire is to narrow down the problem of supplying the hundreds of thousands of small tradesmen in this country and elsewhere with motor substitutes for their present methods to limits in respect of weight, speed, mileage and cost.

The Capacity of the Average Errand Boy.

Now, last week we gave certain figures which we considered would enable a ready comparison to be made between the work capacity of a box cycle, a light horse cart, and a parcelcar. We quoted 300 pound-miles as being about what can be expected in the matter of the work to be expected from an ordinary tricycle, and this was based on an average load of 40 lb., and an average mileage per day of about 15, the figures being obtained from a number of actual cases, the conditions of which are known to no quite well. We do not, of course, desire to place these figures on record as the linlit of capacity for the box cycle, in order to make our comparisons unduly favourable to the alternative methods. We must, therefore, add a few particulars of copditions which pertain in certain well-organized systems of delivery by box cycle.

Why Some are Always "Small" Tradesmen.

The different results of operation which have come to our notice arc remarkable, but they are almost entirely accounted for by the fact that the average owner or hirer of a box cycle-uses it in an extremely haphazard way, without any attempt to systematize his deliveries, to reduce the cost of them to the lowest possible figure, or to increase the delivery capacity of the elementary form of plant which he is employing.

Some Remarkable Cycle-delivery Results.

Method and organization always tell their tale, and this is as true of the box carrier as it is of the five-ton van. Consequently, we find, for instance—and we will quote from three organizations of which we have inside knowledge—that, provided sufficient parcels have to be delivered, and the area of ,operations be a busy enough one, a fleet of these little cycles can

be employed, under proper supervision, and with well-paid youths of good physique to propel them, to carry loads regularly of as much as 200 lb. With weights up to this total they can be made to cover at least 30 miles a day. Now, organized operation of this kind puts a very different complexion on the box carrier and its use, as compared with its employment by many a small tradesman, who, as we have said, makes no attempt to deliver his goods with anything like method, or to introduce into his business any definite scheme of delivery. He is content with his 300 pound-miles per week—and he probably knows of no such figure, and with the endless pettifogging hindrances which are due to his incapacity to regulate the dispatch of his parcels in proper bulk and at proper times. But it will be seen that skilful handling of the box cycle can increase with ease the work capacity of such a machine up to 3000 to 4000 pound-miles per day.

Two Phases of the Problem.

The problem of the light van and parcelcar and of their ability to displace the box cycle, therefore, becomes a two-fold one. We have first of all to satisfy the small tradesman who employs haphazard cycle delivery, and, secondly, the larger undertaking, in which a definite attempt is made to turn these small delivery units to the best possible advantage.

Endless Spasmodic Calls from Morn to Eve.

The first mentioned, as a rule, is the type of user who is content with a very small area of business operations, and who is generally satisfied to make endless spasmodic calls on his customers in a hand-tomouth manner, and to keep his boy delivering from early morn till late atnight. He has no desire to increase his area of operations,. and limitations of capital, and often we fear of capacity, render this undesirable and impracticable. Perhaps the added publicity, and the reputation for smartness, which newer methods would secure for him convey little to him. He is content with the invariably slack, unbusinesslike and tardy appearance of the boy-pushed box cycle. Not one pedal-propelled box cycle in a hundred gives the impression to customers or wouldbe clients of smartspeed delivery, a state of affairs which is detrimental to any concern's business'interests. It will be a difficult matter, for some time to conic, to persuade the small trader, with limited capital and with equally limited enterprise, to reform. his spasmodic methods with overloaded errand boys.

When Cycle Carriers are Organized.

The second problem.; that of the user who is getting the very utmost out of the cycle carrier, is purely a question of cost. Taking inte account all the admitted advantages, of higher speed, of greater area, of great publicity, and of capacity for overtime, we find the definite conclusions reached, in a few certain examples, with very definite particulars of working, that parcels can be delivered by boy carriers, well organized, for L18 low a figure as a mile, compared with something well over id. a mile, if they be conveyed by motor-driven parcelear. That is the host result that is attained, and it must beadmitted fairly and squarely that it is a very creditable achievement, but it can only be secured where the conditions are exceptionally favourable, that is to say, in the central districts—of comparatively small but thicklypopulated area—in the largest towns, where very large numbers of parcels have to be handled. At the moment, after very careful consideration, we are inclined to concede that in such special cases, where there are no considerable mileage requirements, a by canker has it all his own way in the Matter of cost. Whether the motor's ability to secure

greater publicity, to enable deliveries to be moee, quickly turned over, and keep delivery Oeparte merits free from congestion andi,,secure for their owners a reputation for promptitude, are additional advantages which are worth taking into account must be left to the individual user.

The Cycle Carrier Which Can Be Displaced.

There remains the larger and prosperous trader doing business in the suburbs or in country towns where the runs are perforce of a length which promises satisfactory employment for motor-driven plant.

We are, therefore, concerned at the present time almost solely, in respect of the elimination of the box cycle for tradesman's delivery methods, with those who conduct. businesses of some magnitude in suburban, districts and provincial cities, and who are not content with business which is on their own doorsteps, and with, those in central districts whose clientele live in the outer zones ; the latter, however, are mere storekeepers on a larger scale than tradesmen proper, and there are, of course, very many thousands of them. Here, the motor is superior. (To 1 o),tinued.)

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