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Bonuses for Petrol Saving.

30th March 1916, Page 5
30th March 1916
Page 5
Page 5, 30th March 1916 — Bonuses for Petrol Saving.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By a User Who Pays Them.

THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR has for some years, and more especially recently, advocated the payment of a bonus to all drivers of commercial vehicles for economy in the use of petrol. Readers who contemplate the adoption of this advice, and who wish to make it as simple as possible, may pethaps be interested in a scheme which has been in force in a large works in the Midlands for the last 12 months, and which has been very satisfactory. The vans to which the scheme was applied were 30-cwt. Thornyerofts and a T-type Ford. The principle can be extended to all sizes and makes. The notice issued to the drivers and posted up in the garage was as under : 'Fuel Bonus for Motorvan Drivers."

"It has been decided to inaugurate afuel bonus on the motorvans with the object of encouraging economy in the use of motor spirit. For the past few months, records have been kept of the miles run per gallon of fuel oil used on all the vans. These show that the average obtained is approximately 10 m.p.g., but that, while some vans consistently exceed this, others are very variable. It is proposed to work the bonus scheme as follows

Thornycroft Vans.-A bonus of is. per week will be given for each mile per gallon run in excess of ten, taking the average for that week. Thus, a driver averaging 11.5 miles per gallon for the week would receive is. 6d. for that week. There will he no debit balance for vans which run less than 10 m.p.g., but the weekly readings will be averaged over the month, and bonus paid on this at the end of the month. If the readings for the four weeks averaged 9, 12, 11, and 12 m.p.g., respectively, then the average for the month would be 11 m.p.g., and the bonus is. i< 4 -= 4s. for the month. " Ford Van.-The standard for this van will be taken at 25 m.p.g., and 3d. per mile paid for all in excess of this. Repairers.-In order to secure the co-operation of the repairers, they will be paid an amount equal to 331 per cent. of the monthly amount paid to the drivers. It will, therefore, be in the interests of the repairers to make such carburetter adjustments as will enable the drivers to secure the best results.

" Fuel.-For the present, all brands and mixtures of fuel will be ieekonecl as the same. Alterations may be made later. 'Mileages.-The mileage figures as worked out by the engineer's office will be taken as final; these figures are taken from the speedometer readings given on the repair sheets. All remarks re mileages, speedometer readings, carburetter adjustments, etc., should be made on the repair sheet. ' A sheet showing the m.p.g. obtained on each van will be posted up weekly in the garage. " As this bonus is in excess of, and forms no part of, ordinary wages, it maybe altered or discontinued without notice."

Show the Savings-Now Increased.

The exact amount which should be paid per m,p.g. increase was worked out as per Tables I, II, and III [At end of article.-ED.]. It will be noticed that the amounts were calculated when motor "spirit was considerably cheaper than it is now. The saving per weak is greater now, pro rata with the increase.

The tables were not posted up. It is important that they should be worked out in order that the exact saving can be known. The mileage was at first taken from the speedometers, but they were found to be not all uniform. Hub-cap mileometers were ultimately fitted to the front wheels of all the heavy vans, and they have been found satisfactory.

It Pays to Include the Repairers.

The advantage of including the repairers in the scheme has been marked. Their share should be correctly apportioned according to the number of them, and the number of vans. The bonus earned by the men (both drivers and repairers) varies somewhat, but averages about Os. to 8s. per month. When one considers the awful state of many of our main roads, and the conditions which at the present time mitigate against economy, the result is a very good one, and, when a fair number of vans is concerned, is considerable. I believe that, for any concern where it is desired to promote economy in the use of petrol, this scheme should prove one that is simple to work ; it can be understood by the drivers, and is successful in practice.

TABLE I.

Cost of r.inning mutorvans at different consumptions per gallon, based on a mixture of 50 per cent, benzole and 50 per Cent. petrnl: benzoic at is. 2d,. ; petrol at 1s. 1d. net.

Cost per week of running motorvans at different consumptions per gallon, based on Table 1, and an average mileage of 250 per week: A New Motor Fuel.

We reproduce below a letter from a company which has paid a great deal of attention, for a number of years past, to the possibility of substitutes for petrol. We have not at the time of writing had the opportunity to examine the claims made, but we shall be glad to do so at an early date. Any genuine attempt to relieve the present situation is worthy of careful consideration.

The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR_ [1604] Sir,-I notice, in your issue of 2nd March, letters on this serious matter from Messrs. Greenwood Bros., The Barnsley Motor Co. and Cheetham Bros. Ti these and other firms interested in reducing their fuel bill will write to me, I will be glad to send them particulars of a new motor fuel at is. ad. per gallon of which there is practically an unlimited supply. It works perfectly and will not harm the engine in any

way.-Yours faithfully, C. Birms,

Managing Director, 0. BINKS, LTD.

Eccles, Manchester. .

Tags

People: C. Birms
Locations: Manchester

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