Other People' s Costs.
Page 4
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An Example from Gloucestershire Owners of Four-tonners.
We are, frequently engaged, at the request of owners, in comparing other people's costs with those which we ourselves have published in sheet form as normal averages. We are seldom allowed, unfortunately from the standpoint of the general reader, to publish the costs which are submitted for our opinion to be passed upon them. A few exceptions do happily occur, and one of these concerns the working records in respect of three of the four Hallford lorries which are owned by the Stroud Brewery Co., Ltd., of Stroud, Gloucestershire. We were consulted, towards the end of December last, by the proprietors of this well-known brewery, and they subsequently accorded the desired permission to us to make use of them in our columns. We regret that excessive pressure on our space, which has repeatedly caused interesting matter to be crowded out of a series of issues since the beginning of the present year, accounts for the relativelylate use of the comparisons.
The above-mentioned owners had, until recently, when an addition was made, three Hallford lorries, each capable of taking a net load of four tons. The ascertained costs of these vehicles, which it will be observed include a liberal depreciation allowance, concern the company's year ended the 17th November last. During that 12 months, a total of 55,615 miles was put on. „record by these three vehicles, with an :average performance of .6.2 miles of running per gallon of petrol consumed, and this in a hilly district. The total loads carried, in and out, came to 7366 tons 11 cwt. 1 qr., but, as we have not. been advised of the details of each trip, the total net ton-miles are not available.
It will be observed that this example: ef " Other People's Costs " furnishes a total outgo which is well below the normal figure behind which the authority of the Editorial staff of THE COMiERCuat, MOTOR is ranged. Taking into consideration the fact that 1.5d. per mile is the approximate excess of wages in the figures which are here communicated to us, compared with our wages figure for the driver only, we have felt justified in assuring these owners that their Hallford fourtonners are yielding highly-satisfactory inclusive costs,
There are, of course, bound to be variations between any isolated set of figures an our own set of averages. We, generally expect to see the differenee slightly in favour of the owner, although that is not invariably the case under every head, but we feel bound to state that the low fuel and tire costs, which are exhibited in the example under notice, also furnish testimony to the care with which the drivers in the employ of the Stroud Brewery Co., Ltd., handle their machines, as well as the supervision which they receive at the hands of the company.
These owners have taken depreciation at '20 per cent, per annum on the original cost. That is too high. The wages are above normal, as we have indicated, but this is due to the fact that three men are sent out on each lorry—two besides the driver. This is found to pay, because the vehicles are loaded and unloaded with greater dispatch, and more journeys can thus be undertaken in the course of each week. The. periodic overhaul of the vehicles is not overlooked, because each is kept in for one whole day per fortnight., whilst the men also finish regularly at noon on Saturdays.
The insurance•charge is low, but. in this case the load is not covered against fire or other damage in the policy that is in force. Our figuee makes such provision.
The accompanying photograph of the company's existing fleet---a. new 2.-ton Hanford was put into service about three months ago—will convey to our readers the "spick and span" condition in which the vehicles are kept. The secretary of the company informs us that Shrewsbury and Challiner tires are mostly fitted, and that they give an average of over 20,000 miles of running on the front wheels, and of about 12,000 miles of running on the back wheels.. In certain cases in the company's experience, but not exclusively with Shrewsbury and Challiner tires (Metzelers are also named), the life of the backwheel tires has been as high as 16,000 miles. As-the owners state " This is very good, consideting the hilly country in which the lorries work." All the mechanical work is done by the company's men in its own garage, whilst a complete stock of spare parts is kept there under contract with the makers. Two washing stands are provided, so that cleaning work may be done thoroughly, and half-yearly bonuses are given to the men for good behaviour and freedom from breakdowns and accidents ; in addition, they all participate in the company's profit-sharing scheme.
We have permission to statethat in the company's experience its deliveries have been very much facilitated by the lorries, which acceleration of delivery has been much appreciated by its customers, who would certainly object to a return to the old methods of delivery. A further valuable feature of the new system of transport is found in the fact that the empty casks and cases are got back with greater dispatch and in much better condition. The three four-tonners are subsidized under the Government's temporary scheme, and each unit in the fleet is provide with glass windscreens and curtains ; the latter can be drawn across both sides of the cab, in order that the interior may be kept quite dry.