EXPORT HINTS FROM A READER IN VENEZUELA
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A LTHOUGH a constant reader of your journal while 1—k in Britain, I am now in Venezuela, and shall be glad if you will send the journal to me here. I am an overseas member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers, and would like, through you, to wish the Council and all its members success and prosperity during 1948.
In this country we are beginning to see a percentage of British vehicles on the roads, but the large American trucks and cars are still predominant. I must admit that it is disheartening when one contacts Venezuelans to find that they have a very limited knowledge regarding the makes and types of motor vehicle in both branches that Britain can, and is, producing for export.
In the past, South America has been a steady market for vehicles manufactured in the U.S.A., and that country has apparently catered very well for its requirements.
Left-hand steering is essential if any motor vehicle is to -be popular, also instruction manuals must be printed in Spanish. As regards design, high ground clearance is important for, although the main roads are good, most vehicles have to make journeys over stretches of sand and unmade roads. Another point worth noting is that trucks with forward control are definitely out of favour, for the reason that the cabs become unbearably hot after only a short time at the wheel. Power-operated steering is another good feature of many of the heavy vehicles of American make. It is certainly remarkable how easy it is to handle a six-wheeled vehicle with a 30-ton load, with properly designed steering of this type; it is readily controllable by one hand—in fact, I might say, almost by a finger, despite the fact that the tyre equipment of such a vehicle is 13.00 ins by 24 ins.
I have given a few of my impressions gained during six months of servicing vehicles out here, not with the idea of favouring American products, but in the hope that one day I shall see British vehicles equipped with
similar refinements. D. J. REES, A.M.I.R.T.E. Maracaibo, Venezuela.