Ensuring Dependability in Bulk Transport of Milk
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A.E.C. Chassis Used for a Big Fleet of Tankers Which Carries Millions of Gallons of Milk in a Year
ACONCERN which transports over 10,000.000 gallons of milk a year, mostly over long distances, and to strict schedules, must exercise considerable care in the choice of its vehicles. Mechanical reliability must be paramount, because there is no class of load so liable to deterioration through involuntary delay.
The Wincanton Transport and Engineering Co., Ltd., which specializes entirely in the bulk transport of milk, uses, we are told, only A.E.C. chassis for its big tankers. Nearly all are named after nursery-rhyme characters. " Boy Blue," for instance, is a "Mammoth Major" six-wheeler, whilst "Baby Bunting " is a " Matador" four-wheeler. "Jack Homer" and "Tom Thumb," two "Mammoth Major " eight-wheelers, have individual capacities of 3,185 and 3,110 gallons. "Bo-Peep." another eight-wheeler, carries 3,200 gallons. "Peter Piper," a four-wheeler, is built to hold 1,500 gallons. Other A.E.C.s. are "Miss Mullet." "Silver King" and "Silver Queen " ; and it is likely that, in the near future, these will be joined by another eight-wheeler.
Although established only 12 years ago, the company now has 100 vehicles working from headquarters and its distribution depots at Sherborne, Somerton, Beaminster, Carmarthen, Bristol, Saltash, London, Brock and Nortballerton.
Lightweight machines only are used for collection from the farms, because the individual loads are small, mileages limited and stops frequent. The big A.E.C.s, however, cover anything up to 150 miles on a single night journey. In the case of those working from the west country to London, a changeover point for drivers is established at Basingstoke. The average yearly mileage Of each of the hulk tankers is in the region of 50,000.
Although most of the milk carried is for early consumption in liquid form, tinned milk and milk powder make up an appreciable proportion of the daily loads. A certain quantity of liquid milk is, however, delivered for special purposes, such as the manufacture of chocolate.
With transport of this nature, strict attention has to be given to maintenance, and, in this connection, the Wincanton Transport and Engineering Co., Ltd., shows exemplary methods. Every vehicle is brought in for an initial dock at 3,000 miles, either at headquarters or the depot from which it is working, and this is followed by an intermediate dock at 15,000 miles for petrol-engined units and at 21,000 miles for oilers. A major overhaul, undertaken only at headquarters, follows at 30,000 miles in the case of petrol-engined units and at 42,000 miles in the case of oilers. For the smaller vehicles, a unit-change system is in operation and this is shortly to be applied to the A.E.C. vehicles.
An excellent system of records, centralized at Wincanton, enables check to be kept upon the performance and movement of all vehicles, as well as upon forthcoming dock periods. Additionally, a travelling inspector visits all depots at regular intervals for the purpose of checking fuel consumptions, etc.