What Transport Managers Want to Know
Page 78
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SHORT-TERM evening classes to meet a demand for concentrated instruction on a specific aspect Of vehicle operation could be arranged, said D. J. Gold, head of the Department of Business, Management and Liberal Studies. Luton College of Technology, following a comment that a study of international operation would have been a valuable feature of the transport managers course then terminating. (See last week's issue.)
An interesting winding-up discussion reflected the sustained enthusiasm of the participants, who were ever-thirsty for knowledge and, in the main, in favour of a course longer than the seven=hour day once a week, spread over eight weeks. There was even a suggestion that a twoday refresher course be held next year.
There were 50 enrolments, the attendance averaging 44, for this first course of its kind, and more trials will no doubt be necessary to hit upon the ideal programme. There was no shortage of ideas among the managers when they were asked for their impressions and suggestions.
Among the 30 who completed a questionnaire without pulling any punches there was unanimity that the course had been of benefit. One specified that 16 hours had been filled with constructive information, Another, that there had been benefit, but too much had been attempted in the time. A relative newcomer into the industry found it a useful introduction.
Others said: '' Invaluable , beneficial to learn about the problems of others... can only do good . . something learned at every session valuable to one who _ was thrown in . at the deep end '. . advantageous to a newcomer to haulage from private business . . of considerable benefit to me, new to C-licence opera tion . has enabled some of us to take a good look at our jobs . a good
picture of management, but too short ... too much work by lecturers, too much listening by students; as much could be learned from la practising transport manager—but still a definite benefit,
although it is hard to be specific meets a need."
Would there have been greater benefit from an eight-day block release period? Two-thirds of the 30 thought not and half of the others were not sure. Several doubted if such method of release would be acceptable to the companies concerned. One said the block-release would leave transport managers with a tray full of inefficiency. There were some strong feelings that the space of a week between a day's teaching allows time to examine and absorb the lessons.
A demand for expansion of most subjects is consistent with the call for a longer course overall.
:Vlore would have been appreciated on organization, the general structure and n24 such specific subjects as the haulage traffic office. It was suggested that speakers be brought in from companies to talk about their own transport organization; and to discuss whether the enormous amount of paper work in a traffic office is necessary.
Group discussion was not practised, but a substantial majority agreed that it would have improved the course. Against this was a feeling that it would have broken the class up into small units.
TBY GEORGE PEARSON P. E. Randall, resident lecturer in charge of work study at Luton, said: "At the risk of over--simplification, we can define the road transport industry as having three main aspects: the operation and control of vehicles,, the maintenance of vehicles, and related clerical procedures. Work study (embracing method study and work measurement) in some form, can be applied to all these aspects. The detailed definition of work study would take many pages but again, at the risk of over-simplification, it can be said to be the presentation of an analysis of the facts of a situation to someone who is required to take action on that situation."
A full afternoon session of four hours was given to the subject . hut there was a majority in favour of reducing this. Nevertheless, work study, rated as a "difficult " subject because drivers Spend so much time away, one manager felt, was covered well; and _further support came with the viewpoint that it leads to a constructive method of doing a job. •A manager from a company that has affulltime work-study expert indicated that more detailed knowledge of transport by the lecturer would have been .advantageous. The same manager enjoyed the only practical exercise on the course, when the class was asked to plan the distribution of 724 packages to 65 addresses in 29 towns in hr., and was then presented with the routeings produced on a computer and claimed to be superior to anything likely to be produced by manual calculation.
It was claimed that savings in fleet mileage are normally between five and 20 per cent compared with manual working, and that similar savings are achieved in the numbers of vehicles used.
A method of mechanical calculation has been devised to apply to any normal distribution service. It requires a network based on point-to-point mileages in the distribution area. Some networks are already complete and IBM, who operate centres offering computer service, are now trying to complete a national network to reduce the cost to the operator.
Give us more about operation of vehicles; more law; more on Maintenance"; they were insatiable.
The day on maintenance was shared by Mt. N. E. H. Peters, principal engineer to the Greater London Council, who was able to include a topical picture of the Greater London reorganization as it affects transport, and Mr. A. J. Bryant, fleet engineer of Reed Transport Ltd., whose theme that you need an engineer, bought or borrowed, was loved.. Some points made by these experts: the introduction of automatic gearboxes to GLC ambulances was a great success after only a few months as it had reduced the headaches of frequent clutch changing; fifthwheel and twin air-line brakes (three-line where plated 22 tons and above) is Reed articulated policy;. true maintenance should cost S per cent of income.
More detail wanted on engineers' inspection and servicing . • . and on maintenance costings . . bring in the MoT inspeetor who decides whether to issue a GV9"interestirtg detpandS.
Law may be as dry as dust to many people, but not to those who attended at Luton, although there was a suggestion Made that it would come better in the morning rather than after a heavy lunch. They enjoyed ktnock traffic court, eontract and tort, carriage and' licensing, but demanded more on obligations in respect of vehicles, log sheets and drivers' responsibilities, some in preference to learning the general structure of the law.
"We are not conscious enough of the importance of these regulations and acts" was an appreciative comment after a session devoted to the Factories Act.
Trade unions in transport, discussed by the Transport and General Workers Northampton district organizer, was appreciated and again more was apparently desirable; the importance of understanding the machinery of Union practice was underlined..
Despite the fact that there was not enough time to deal with everything as fully .as would have been liked, there are -demands for additions in future to cover insurance claims and premiums, income tax, as applicable to capital expenditure, construction and use regulations, and handling staff (such as drivers) who are too long on a journey. The importance of human relations is fully appreciated.
There was a strong feeling that some degree of separation should be made between A and B, C and p.s.v. operators. on future courses; also favoured by some was the separation of parcels specialists. Similarly, separate courses for top and middle management, foremen, and maintenance administration were held to be of value in 10 of 15 replies; the majority did not favour a course for drivers.
It will be interesting to see the formula that the Luton authorities and the course tutor, A. J. Briscoe who is moving on to Weymouth, evolve from the more detailed constructive replies that they now have for analysis.