NEWS
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of the
WEEK
SILENT CHECKS ARE ON INCREASE.
There are indications of the widespread employment of silent checks of commercial-vehicle traffic, with the immediate object of detecting breaches of drivers' hours regulations and failure to keep records accurately, and with the ultimate object ' of tightening up observance of the regulation.,.
In the carrying out of a silent check, the procedure adopted is for one or two Ministry of Transport officials to keep observation at a certain point for a certaM period, during which they record the registration numbers of all commercial vehicles passing that point. Afterwards, intimation is sent to the Licensing Authorities as to the day and time when vehicles from their Traffic Area passed the point in question.
Examiners in the various Traffic Areas concerned then call on the operators of the vehicles, and compare the drivers' record sheets with the information resulting from the silent check.
What is Trade-plate " Test Load "?
At Dewsbury County Police Court, last Friday. Hubert Hoyland, haulier, Peacock Hotel, Varna Street, Manchester, was fined £2 for unlawfully using trade plates, and F. Taylor and Sons, Ltd., motor dealer, Bolton Road, Salford, was fined .£5 with 12s. costs, for permitting the offence. Both defendants pleaded not guilty and were represented by Mr. G. Warhurst.
It was stated by the prosecution that the police stopped a lorry which was carrying a load of cotton material and olive oil from Manchester to Hull. Upon asking why general trade plates were being exhibited, the police were D28 • informed that the lorry was actually on test and that no charge was being made for carrying the load. Later that day, the same lorry was stopped on the homeward journey from Hull to Manchester and the police then found it to be laden with drums of oil. It was still
displaying trade plates. Again the police were informed that the lorry was on test and that the load was being carried without charge.
Mr. Warhurst 'submitted that, provided that a dealer sent a driver along with the prospective purchaser, and so long as a load was carried without reward, no offence was being committed by exhibiting trade plates. Neither of the defendants had gained anything by carrying the respective loads.
National Association for Parcels Carriers?
On Monday, at 5 p.m.,a national conference of parcels carriers, will be held at the Philbeach Hall, Earls Court. This meeting is the outcome of a representative discussion held in Birmingham at the end of September, at the instigation of Red Arrow Deliveries, Ltd.
Mr. C. S. Dunbar, of that company, will, at Monday's meeting, move a plan for the formation of a permanent national association of parcels carriers, working in conjunction with the existing organizations.
Oiler Needed by Durban.
Durban Corporation General Stores Department is calling for tenders for the supply of a 6-7-ton oil-enginecl forward-control chassis. The vehicle will be mainly used for pipe carrying and will usually be employed with a 2-3-ton trailer. Tenders have to be received by the town clerk of Durban by December 10. BILL TO AMEND DRIVERS SIGNALLING REGULATIONS.
Among the Bills of which notice was given by private Members of Parliament, last Friday, under the ballot, is the Motor Drivers Signals Bill. It is described as " to amend the law relating to the signals to be given by the drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles in certain circumstances and for purposes connected therewith." The Bill is presented by Sir A. Gridley and supported by Sir E. Brocklebank, Sir P. Hannon, Mr. Perkins, Major Lloyd George, Mr. Quibell, and WingCommander Wright.
The Bill was read a first time and the second reading put down as second order for Friday, March 4.
Mr. Riches Speaks to Aberdeen Hauliers.
" If excellent results can be obtained in a few years in the road-passenger industry, why cannot like results be obtained in regulating the carriage of goods on the roads? I think they can be accomplished by co-operation and co-ordination."
This view was expressed by Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, when he addressed a large meeting, on Monday night, of the Aberdeenshire branch of the Scottish Carriers' and Haulage Contractors' Association.
W.D. Orders More Marshals.
An eve-of-the-Show order, received by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., was from the War Department for a further 102 Marshal chassis, making 342 units of this type supplied to this Government Department in just over a year. Developed for army duties, the Marshal has a four-cylindered petrol engine of SO b-h.p., a four-speed. auxiliary gearbox 'and it can negotiate, with a normal load, a-gradient in the order of 1 in 4,5.
H.G.V. DRIVER'S LICENCE REVOKED.
His intention to stop speeding by drivers Of heavy goods vehicles was emphasized by Mr. Henry Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority, at Dundee, last week.
Dealing with drivers who had appeared before the Sheriff Court on charges of careless driving, speeding and other offences, he revoked the licence of a driver who had six endorsements for speeding or careless driving. Whilst he appreciated the fact that, in certain instances, it might be a hardship to drivers with families, said Mr. Riches, other road users had to be safeguarded.
The driver whose licence was revoked said that, if he had not speeded, his employers would probably have discharged him, Mr. Riches replied that, if facts of that description were . brought to his notice, he would not hesitate to deal with the operators.
Whisky Transferred from Rail to Road.
A newt venture in road transport was begun this week, when loads of whisky were carried from Aberdeen to Glasgow. This is the first time that whisky for export has been taken from Aberdeen by road. All the traffic had previously gone by rail. On Monday, the first road-borne load was taken to Glasgow by Messrs. Elrick and Hutchcon, 604, King Street, Aberdeen.
Encouragement for Coal Fuels?
Capt. A. Evans suggested in Parliament that the Chancellor of the Exchequer should, in his next Budget, give special consideration to the desirability of encouraging the use of more vehicles using compressed gas or steam, with a view to assisting the coal industry. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said he had " noted the suggestion."
Fordsons on Show in London.
From November 4-13—the periOd of the Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court—a large-scale display of commercial vehicles will be made in the showrooms of the Ford Motor Co., Ltd., in Regent Street, London, W.I. In addition to featuring recent developments in the range of Fordson commercial vehicles, the display• will focus attention on the various facilities which the Ford organization offers to fleet owners as a contribution to economical operation and upkeep.
Scots Grocers Call for More Economical
A suggestion that commercial-motor manufacturers should develop a More economical van was made at a special meeting of Glasgow Grocers and Provision Merchants Association last week. The meeting was held to discuss the question of delivery costs, the upward trend of which is causing grocers some concern.
Mr. John McConnell, secretary, who dealt with the subject at. length, said that grocers worked on a towere.margin than most traders, and the subject of costing was, therefore, at urgent importance.
Most existing light vans were simply adaptations of private cars, which were built for a speed of 50-60 m.p.h. Traders' vans were, however, limited. to 30 m.p.h. Was it not possible for manufacturers to provide a vehicle With a cruising speed of, -say. 25-30 m.p.h., which would be an economic running speed?
Official Orders in September.
During October • the Admiralty placed orders for Bedford lorries and a coach. The War Department gave orders for chassis to the Projectile and Engineering Co., Ltd., for various motor vehicles and bodywork to 'Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., Eccles Motor Caravans, Ltd., and the Sentinel Waggon Works (1936), Ltd., as voell as purchasing Tasker trailers and Morris-Commercial lorries.
The Crown Agents for the Colonies ordered a Leyland mobile laboratory and Morris-Commercial prison vans Fire Contest Won in I min. Mt secs.
New Cross (B watch) station won the final contest in the London County Council Fire Brigade's annual motorpump competition, last week. The team's time was Tmin. 164 secs. Old Kent Road (B watch) followed, at 1 min. 171 secs., Redcross Street (B watch) taking third place at 1 mm. 22* secs.
Removing Horses from Birmingham.
An experimental and purely voluntary scheme to lteep horse-drawn vehicles off certain streets during the peak hours of traffic is being tried in Birmingham. Most of the horse-drawn vehicles are owned by the railway companies.
The scheme, which started on November 1, will continue in force until further notice, but the situation will be reviewed at the end of the first three months. THREAT TO WIPE OUT WHOLE FLEET.
If I get a report laid before me again like this, I shall take the wholt of your fleet off the road. Such condi. tions are not to be '6.110wed to be continued."
The Yorkshire Licensing Authority (Mr. J. Famdale), sitting at York, last week, uttered this warning when referring to an examiner's report as to the condition of an applicant's vehicles. The renewal of the A licence in question was granted with this caution.
Attempt to Stop Cost Reduction.
A proposal by Messrs, Grice Bros. carriers, of Altrincharn, to use an Albion oiler in place of a petrol vehicle on their Manchester-Bristol service was opposed by the railway companies, at Manchester last week.
Mr. P. Kershaw, for the L.M.S. Railway Co., pointed out that no need was shown for the .extra tonnage of the new vehicle, which, apparently, was to be provided especially for the purpose of securing lower operating costs.
.Sir William Hart, North-Western Deputy Licensing Authority:." I do not see why a man cannot reduce the costs of his machine if he can. I think it desirable that he should."
Mr. Kershaw replied that the -change would increase the applicant's competitive power.
Mr. H. Backhouse, for Messrs. Grice. replied that the present vehicle could be loaded to the capacity of the new One without eXceeding the legal limit,
Decision was reserved.
Minister Awaiting Getman Delegation
Report.
The Minister of TranspOit, in his reply to the debate on the King's Speech. said he was hoping to learn from the awaited report in connection with the recent German Roads Delegation what advantages the deputation thought would accrue from adopting anything that was current abroad,