ECONOMY AFFORDED BY ROAD TRANSPORT.
Page 20
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I am asking the Editor kindly to allow me a little space in which to refer to the letter from Mr. H. N. b'troud, of Messrs. John Richardson and Co. (Leicester), Ltd., appearing in the issue of The Commercial Motor for November 18th.
He states that I have made out a very good case, but the one fly in the ointment is that I reckoned the cost of the hired lorry at is. per mile whereas his experience is that the cost is 2s. per mile. But, even so' I fail to detect the fly, because, if my case proved anything, I submit it proved that even at 2s. per mile the motor lorry had the advantage of the goods train method for certain long distance traffic, which was the point at issue. However, I do not agree that the cost of the motor lorry should be at 2s. per mile, and fear Mr. IL N. Stroud overlooked the fact that the rate of is. per mile which I quoted referred to a one-ton vehicle. If he has been charged 28. per mile for a ton lorry, then he certainly has cause for complaint, although, as stated, a case such as mine would stand it.
Of course I appreciate that, in comparing the cost 032
of railcarriage charges with that of motor transport, one must make the hired rate the criterion for the latter when one does not own transport vehicles, but where one has not to hire, as in my case, thee rate is reckoned on the actual cost plus overhead charges and profitp which in the case cited by me is is. per mile, and, as a matter of fact, when I can I find it quite profitable to hire out one of these lorries at is. per mile. I notice The Commercial Motor computes the total working cost of a ton lorry at 9.44d. per mile at 300 miles per week, which figures are, of course, reduced as the mileage is exceeded. It also advises vehicle owners to charge hirers is. 6d. per mile on 220 miles per week, or £16 10s. for the full week therefore I contend that I am -quite justified in reckoning £10 as a fair cost for a single journey of 200 miles only occupying two days.
I trust this further explanation will satisfy Mr., H. N. Stroud that I did not overstate the case for the motor lorry.
WALTER GAMMONS.