TRANSPORT TIPS FOR TRADESMEN.
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Particularly Addressed to Those Who are Replacing Horsed Vehicles by Motors, or Contemplating So Doing.
WE READ SOMETIMES of wonderful records of performance established by commercial motor vehicles. Some firm may, perhaps, be able to chronicle the Constant use of a van or lorry
• for a couple of years Or so, without any unforeseen delays on the road and with a non-existent or negligible repair bill.
The MOral of Exceptional Performance.
It is good that we should know of these exceptional performances, providing that the lesson we draw from them iithe right one. In the first place, we -must recognize that they are 'exceptional and that that is the reason why We hear of them. We must not, therefore, be disappointed if our own vehicles do net do quite so well. In nearly every record performance there is some element of faveurable luck.No manufacturer can produce Machinery so perfect asnever to be susceptible to breakdown. One owner of a vehicle may have more than his share of. good fortune and another more than his share of trouble, without either being specially worthy of praise Or blame. At the same time, we may take it for granted . that no exceptionally lengthy perfect performance is ever put to the credit of a vehicle that is not well driven and well cared for. If a repair bill does not materialize in the course of a couple of years, we may be certain that we have-been saved from it not only by the excellence of the vehicle, but also by the 'conscientious work of the driver and, equally, by the thorough supervision exercised in the garage. Very many breakdowns are due to causes trifling in themselves and capable of being detected at an early stage before the breakdown occurs. Their detection is, however; dependent on the efficiency of the system of maintenance. If the vehicles are not regularly and frequently examined and periodically 'overhauled, little faults will develop into big ones. Some slight slackness or looseness in the part, capable of being rectified by a couple of minutes' work, if not dis, Covered, may develop so as to cause serious wear or vibration, which will render the part brittle and lead to immediate or eventual breakage.
The moral of exceptional records is, then, not that a good vehicle will run indefinitely without attention and Without 'trouble, but rather that, given .a good vehicle, a good driver, and good maintenance, we may, with a fair Share of luck in our favour, achieve a, record approximating very closely to perfection. Just as the athlete must keep in perfect condition if he is to do himself justice, so the vehicle must be kept fis perfect condition if it is to stand out above its fellows. When it comes to long distances and tests of endurance, the average man in perfect training will do better than the exceptional man-who is out of condition, and the same holds good with motor
vehicles. • . . .
Rewards to Drivers:
At one time or another a fair number of motor vehicle owners have introduced schemes for -giving rewards or premiums to drivers with the hest records. Tha idea is excellent in theory, but is very difficult to work in practice. Obviously, if anything. of the sort is done, there must never be the slightest suspicion of favouritism. There must be no -grounds whatever for complaint that the premium has gone to the wrong man. Now, in practice, vehicles, even if identical in make and type, are not always equally efficient. Comparatively . poor fuel consumption may not be due to any fault of the driver, but may be the consequence of some omission in the repair shop. An engine that has recently been thoroughly overhauled ought to give somewhat better results than &lie that has • been running without special attention for a long period. The driver whose engine comes last in the overhaul may feel that he is being intentionally handicapped.
Again, it is 'very difficult to compare results accurately as regards tyre maintenance. A really good and careful driver will, on the whole, make his tyres last longer, but tyres are not all of equal quality, and even if they were, one man's job might take him over roads of such material that tyres wear out rapidly, while the work of another min's vehicle might be done under much More favourable conditions from this paint of view. Altogether, if any special rewards are to be offered, probably the best thing to do is to establish some standard, undoubtedly capable of attainment by a good, careful driver, and to give the premium .to all Who attain that standard, without making any attempt to differ entiate between them, or to place them in order of • . merit.
Use of Clearing Houses.
'It would be a mistake for the trader to stippose that, if a systemof clearing houses is thoroughly organized along the lines that now seem probable, he can depend upon this system to do all his work and can dispense with the responsibilities of vehicle ownership. Those who shirk such responsibilities must turn, not to the clearing houses, but to the Motor garage or haulage contractor. It would be the exception rather. than the rule for the clearing houses to be able to provide vehicles for .the regular carriage ot goods. Occasionally, a trader who wants to convey goods daily from A to B ma be fortunate in getting into touch through the clearing houses with the owner of vehicles carrying goods daily from B -to A -and_ wanting a regular ' return load. Generally, however. vehicle owners will go to the clearing houses only when they have exceptional haulage jobs on hand and have to find return loads at short notice.
The clearing house will probably be useful to the motor-owning trader from time to time in two ways. When he has an unusual rush of work, he may, through it, .be able to get the partial temporary ser-, vices of other people's vehicles; when he hasto deliver a consignment a long way from home, with the ifrospect of returning empty, he may be able to-get somebody else's vehicle to do the Job for him, so saving dislocation in his own system. Failing this, he may be able to get into touch with someone else who would provide a load for the return journey, and thus, in effect, reduce the cost of carrying out the job
to the vehicle owner.
Thus, the clearing house may prove very useful, hut, for his -regular daily work, the trader must either depend On his own vehicles, or else must enter into a firm contract with a haulage. contractor and thus ensure continuity of service, or, in the event of its. termination, adecmate notice to enable other arrangements to be made.