Tanker Traffic Swir
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North West AN increasing demand for bulk liquid transport in the North West has resulted over the past year in the activities of the Manchester division of Smith and Robinson (Leeds) Ltd. assuming greater importance. Arrangements have been made so that the area will be selfsufficient from every operating angle. New steaming equipment has been installed at the Trafford Park depot to provide for the cleansing of six tankers at one time, there being in addition coil heating for four standing vehicles.
The new policy was initiated about 18 months ago and Mr. H. H. Clarke, after 32 years with Pickfords and associated companies, joined the Smith and Robinson organization, becoming general manager at Manchester. In recent months the company's usage of tankers in the North West division has increased by an average of 20-25. Many specialist products are handled, the fleet dealing largely with suppliers of chemicals, refined oils and fats. Powder detergents. pulverized fuels and cement also form a substantial factor in the loads. Apart from traffic originating from manufacturers in the industrial areas, large quantities of imported materials are worked from the Merseyside and Manchester docks.
Smith and Robinson's Manchester headquarters have now become the reporting centre for other organizations in the Hargreaves Group of companies, operation, refuelling and maintenance facilities being provided. With the exception of two specials, in the past the Smith and Robinson fleet of approximately 240 has been composed entirely of rigid units, the bulk of them being 3,600-4.000-gal. tankers, many with Butterfield equipment. Stainless steel tanks are employed in all cases. As a progressive policy the company is now going over to articulated outfits, the first of which is due for delivery early this year. Currently the chassis employed are chiefly A.E.C. and ERR, but so far as engine changes and engine overhauls are concerned the Manchester workshops undertake work on any of the units employed.