Answers to Queries.
Page 20
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Motorcab Point F.
[1,377) " L.H.C." writes :—" 1 have an idea of putting a few taxicabs on the London streets, and I would be much obliged if you could give me the following information :—
" 1. The average weekly earnings per cab. " 2. Are drivers paid on a commission basis, or are the cabs generally rented direct to drivers? " 3. If rented direct to drivers, what is the usual charge?
" 4. What do you consider the most suitable tires for a cab?
" 5. Where can I obtain K.T.' tires from?
"6. Are the same cabs run day and night? " Any information liable to be useful to me on the subject will be much appreciated, and the courtesy of a reply is requested."
ANSWER.—The replies you want are :—(1) Earnings
vary from a week in the winter to fully double that in the season; (2) London drivers get 25 per cent, of the takings, out of which they have to pay for their petrol and uniforms; (3) no direct renting to drivers has occurred yet, but it has been proposed at a daily rental of about 35s., but this would obviously have to be varied with the time of the year; (4) some form of pneumatic tire is essential; (5) the " K.T." Tire Syndicate, Ltd., 52, Queen Victoria Street, E.C. ; (6) London cabs on the average are out from 12 YO 17 hours, and they are not driven day in day out by the same driver, though it is sought to do this; the men need rest days after long shifts.
You cannot do better than send is. to our Business Department for a copy of our Motorcab Issue of the 3oth April. Very few copies are left.
About Motor Contracting.
11,378) "Intending Contractors " write further : " We are much obliged by your second reply, and thank you for the information contained therein. Re the hiring of a four-mm.1er, at a charge of L:18 per week on a yearly contract, we are rather surprised that you do not think this an ample earning for the work indicated (350 to 400 miles a week). If it is not so, we are afraid the saving over present methods of transport will be problematical. May we explain to you that, when computing our running costs in this instance, we based them upon estimates from several well-known manufacturers, and two of these estimates (A and B) are enclosed for your criticism : one gives running charges at about 7d. per vehicle-mile, inclusive of the allowances indicated for depreciation and repairs. We have taken these figures as our basis, and have yety nearly doubled them.
ESTIMATES FROM MANUFACTURERS.
Weekly expenditure. A (250 miles). B.poo miles). 4 s. d. s. d.
Driver . 1 to o 1 15 o Petrol (A 7 miles at 9d.;
B 8 miles at tod.) ... 1 6 3 2 12 I Oil and grease ... ... 3 6 4 6 Tires (A at 11;d. ; B at 2d.) 1 16 5 4 3 6
Repairs and renewals ... 1 o o 1 to o
Depreciation 2 10 0 1 14 I
Insurance 5 o - --—
Totals ...j:„8 ii 2 ...II 19 2
--- " We shall greatly esteem your informing us where we have gone wrong in calculating the running charges. For our own part, we consider the estimate from manufacturer ' A ' to be the more reliable, and from what we could see of the wagon when it was in this district, on a demonstration for a client of ours, it appeared to be a first-class machine : the petrol consumption given (seven miles to the gallon) was maintained here for a full week, when carrying four tons, and over heavy roads." ANSWER.—As you prefer the estimate which " A " gives, we shall confine ourselves to that. In the first place, we pass over the fact that it is practically a very difficult matter to avoid ineffective mileage, and you must make allowance for that likely contingency against the margin which is left between your revenue of per week, and the working cost which we consider properly applicable. This margin, as you will see from what we
have set out below, is only los. 6d. per vehicle per week—say, ,{',130 per vehicle per annum. Now, as you will agree, if one combines the time which is occupied in overhauls, repairs and holidays, the working year must be placed at 49 weeks. This means that you lose 4'54 in revenue, whilst you only save about ,'18 in outgo. Your -;6130 margin is therefore reduced to /,94, and this amounts to a return of but little more than to per cent. per annum on your capital, with whatever risk of roaddamage claims applies to your districts. The two estimates may be quite in order for particular jobs, but they are incomplete, without your own additions on the lines of those we have made, for contractors' work.
Revision of estimate, to make it suitable for carriers where the owner is expecting to make profits on that branch of business alone.
.100 MILES PER WEEK. Z s. d.
Estimate of maker " A " (for a 250-mile week) 8 ii 2 Addition for tires, petrol, lubricants, repairs and renewals, on the same basis ... ... ... 2 II 7 Extra pay to driver for greater mileage ... 5 Extra pay to driver for out money and overtime 7 6 One-sixth to cost of petrol ... ... ... 7 4 Lubricating oil, grease and cleaning rags (in crease) ... ... ... ... ... ... s ii Increase tires to 2d. per mile ... ... ... 8 6 Repairs and renewals (as many of these have to be done on night shift) ... ... ... ... 12 0 To cover insurance and claims (extra) ... ... 5 o Depot staff, other than that which can be charged to mechanical repairs ... ... ... 8 6
Administration ... ... ... ... ... 1 3 o Accidental damage to vehicle (not covered by in
surance, and over and above normal repairs) 5 o Rent, rates, lighting, heating and licenses ... 3 o --- Total weekly outgo ... ... ...L:15 9 6