Answers to Queries.
Page 18
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Driver's Bonus System Wanted.
[2029] " NAIREY " writes :-" The company for whom I act are running several four-ton petrol vans for the delivery of goods. Two loaders are sent with the van besides the driver. These loaders are paid part wages and part piece work, and the driver is paid a weekly wage. The chief loader keeps a book showing the time taken to go from point to point and how long spent at each place.
"As there appears to be a good deal of time wasted (the men apparently not wishing to get back in time to be sent out a second journey), I am trying to devise a plan to pay the driver also by results.
"The proposition is not a simple one, as the journeys vary very much in length. Could you inform me whether any firm have a system of -this kind, or could you suggest any method of carrying it out "
Awswnit.The most-suitable basis for cases of your kind is generally found to be the placing of the driver upon a standing wage in relation to a certain minimum mileage per week. That mileage should be placed well below a figure which he could always reach, as the man will otherwise think you are trying to do him out of a return for his labours. Over and above that minimum wage, there should be a graduated bonus per mile run, the exact details of which must be worked out by every owner for himself. If you can so arrange it that the man is pretty sure to earn an extra 4s. or 5s. per week, without overdriving the vehicle, you will probably attain the end in view. Additionally, if the man at any time has to take into particular rounds very awkward or hilly country, it is not a bad plan to regard certain trips as ranking for mileage bonus in excess of a direct ratio to the actual geographical miles.
Wants to Displace Horses.
[2030] " MOTOR VAN " writes :-" We contemplate going in for a Motor lorry to replace our horse and van. We are not sure as to the kind of vehicle to get, but we observe from the C.11.' you are ready to give advice that may be helpful to us in the choosing of a suitable machine. Kindly say what your terms are to furnish us with the following information :
"1. The. best type of light lorry to carry one-and-ahalf to two tons.
"2. Its running cost-petrol, repairs, oil, etc. "3. Usual wages for man.
"4. Life of such a machine.
"5. Speed (10 miles per hour would do). "The daily run will be about 40 miles, road somewhat hilly." XSWER.-In answer to your inquiry of recent date, we have pleasure in giving the following information : 1. The question of delivery is one which may affect you, but, subject to that, we recommend you to apply. to one of the following firms, of which we send a list separately with addresses. 2. If you can arrange your loading and service to provide a mileage not below 350 weekly, the inclusive cost of working, to cover maintenance and depreciation in addition, should not exceed 5.6d, per mile run. On the lower mileage which you mention, the total cost should not, in any circumstances, exceed 7d. per mile run.
3. Thirty shillings weekly is a standard wage, with a bonus on any basis you like.
4. Ten years.
5. Twelve m.p.h. is the legal speed, but any vehicle is capable of averaging 15 m.p.h. on level roads. You
should get 10 m.p.h. easily, even with a two-cylinder engine. We recommend a four-cylinder motor, however, in your case.
Tramcars and Motor Omnibuses:
a Suggested New Basis of Comparison.
[2031] " STATISTICIAN" writes :-" Will the following method of calculation throw any new light on the interesting question of relative efficiencies1 "Occupation of road space.-A tramcar occupies 242.5 sq. ft. of road surface, average load per carmile throughout year 10.5 passengers, average road space occupied per passenger 23.1 sq. ft. ; a motor omnibus occupies 165.6 sq. ft. of road surface, average load per bus-mile throughout year 8 passengers, average road space occupied per passenger 20.7 sq. ft. To this must be added the fact that a motor omnibus secures its road space wherever it can most conveniently be found, and consequently disturbs other traffic to a less degree than the tramcar, which must have its road, space in the centre of the roadway. " Empty ,seats run for each occupied seat.-A tramcar with seating capacity of 78 and average load of 10.5 per car-mile runs 6.4 empty seats for each full seat ; a motor omnibus with seating capacity of 34 and average load of 8.0 per bus-mile runs 3.2 empty seats for each occupied seat.
" Summary :
Road space reqd. per No. of empty seats passenger nf average run for eacli Occu load. pied seat.
Tramcar ... ... 23.1 sq. ft. 6.4 Motor omnibus... 20.7 sq. ft. 3.2 ANSWER.-Have you considered the point that the number of passengers per car-mile is not the same thing as the number of passengers in the car at any timel This point is rather a subtle one. The statement that.the average of passengers per car-mile has been 10.5 for the year may be the equivalent of 20 or more passengers in the car on the average. One has to multiply the passengers per car-mile by the average length of the trip per passenger, in order to get the' average number of passengers in the car over its working period. Hence, we cannot concur that the average road space occupied per passenger in a tramcar is 23.1 34. ft.
Of course, if one takes motorbuses on the same basis, it is possible that the error in one case may cancel the error in the other, but that is an assumption, as we do not happen to know whether the average length of trip is greater by motorbus than by tramcar.
Simple calculation will sho* the soundness of our point. If 78 people get into a tramcar and travel from terminus to terminus, say, six miles, the passengers per car-mile work out at 13. but there have still been 78 passengers in the tram all the time.