Handling £100,000 Consignments
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Organization of Internal and External Transport of Bristol Aero-Engines By A. E. Sherlock-Mesher
11 HERE are naturally strong similarities, . but also certain significant differences, between the transport operations of Bristol Aircraft, Ltd. (reviewed in The Commercial Motor last week) and their associated company. Bristol Acre-Engines, Ltd. Individird consignments carried by Bristol Acro-Engines vary enorm9usly in size and weight—from I in. to 28 ft. and from I (1-/. to 8 tons, as Mr. R. Cattell, the transport manager, put it...
Loads consist of acre engines, which may be valued at £100,000 each, components and raw materials. The fleet of 32 external and 120 internal vehicles is dispersed over seven bases at PatchWay (Bristol), Rodney Works (Bristol). Whitchurch (near Bristol). Banwell (Somerset). Pill (Portisheaci), Keevil (near Bristol) and Sunderland.
As in the case of the Bristol Aircraft fleet, the predominant make
is Bedford, of which there are 22, comprising four drop-sided 5-tanners, two drop-sided 2-3-tanners, two 30-cwt. vans. 10 10-12-cwt. vans, two Dormobile 12-seaters, a short-wheelbase 5-ton tipper and an ambulance.
Six Commers consist of two longwheelbase drop-sided 7-tonners, two drop-sided 2-3-tonners and two 14-seat brakes. In addition, there are two Standard Vanguard estate cars, a Thames 10-l2-cwt. van and a Land-Rover.
The internal transport fleet comprises Lister Autotrucks, a variety of fork-lift trucks, electric trucks, tractors, cranes, aircraft refuellers, engine starters, vans for testing secret signal equipment. trailers and gully-emptiers.
Long-distance Work
Unlike Bristol Aircraft, Bristol Acre.
Engines do more long-distance than short-distance road transport work. Two thirds of their loads are delivered outside a radius of 25 miles, which is regarded as the distinguishing 'limit. Regular delivery runs are made to London, the Midlands, Sunderland, Leeds and the • south coast.
The fleet averages 605,000 miles a year, of which the two Comrner 7-tormers are
responsible for 58,000 miles. The 5--ton
lorries between them cover 128,000 miles, the four 2-3-tormers, 97,000 miles; the two 30-cwt. vans, 45,000 miles: the 10-12 cwt. vans, 145,000 miles: the Cornmer brakes, 48,000 miles; the two Bedford Dormobiles, 36,000 miles; the Standard estate cars, 27,000 miles; the Land-Rover, 10.000 miles, and the Bedford,ambulance, 11.0.00 miles..
Fleet movements are directed by a lorry controller on the basis of the trans port requisitions put in by using depart
ments. Apart from giving the names and addresses of the consignors and the con
signees and full details of the goods to be carried, the requisition form states who is to pay for transport — Bristol Aero-Engines, the Ministry of Supply or a private customer: Using departments are charged with transport in the utmost detail over four-week periods.
Reports by Telephone
Drivers always telephone the controller after delivering a load in case there is another consignment to be picked up in the locality, and to enable journey times to be checked.
Mr. Cattell takes pride in the reliability of his transport system, for in three years there has been no case of a breakdown, or puncture on the road. Drivers' responsibilities arc clearly defined.
Before they start a day's work they must ensure that the vehicle (including the engine) is clean, that fuel, oil and water supplies are adequate and fire extinguishers are in order, that lights arc working and headlamps are properly focused, and torch batteries are sound.
Tyre pressures -must be checked at least twice a week and always before beginning a long journey. Tool kits are checked weekly. All defects in vehicles or tools have to be reported at once and each driver makes a weekly return to the
1728 transport manager dealing specifically with brakes, steering, lights, engine, tools, tire extinguishers, tyres, and oil and water levels, and setting out any other defect.
Repairs are ordered on a two-part form, In the upper section are written details of the work to be done and in the lower part the action taken by the garage is noted and certified by the mechanic and tester.
Every vehicle is serviced at 1,000-mile intervals and is inspected once a month. It is the garage superintendent's responsibility to decide when major overhauls are necessary. The workshop is equipped
to undertake complete overhauls, apart from machining, and to repair bodywoik. Meticulous records of maintenance, as well as of costs, are 'kept. The repair. record included in the history file of each vehicle is entered on a foolscap sheet which shows the number of the detect report, the mileometer reading at which the fault developed, dates to and Iron garage, hours spent on the work Intl
details of .the job. Provision is also made on the sheet for recording the fitting of new tyres,
A daily return of transport operations is completed on a sheet measuring 16 in. by 13 in. This shows the number of the requisition form or of the order to a haulier, the name of the dispatcher, he name of the driver, details of the consignment and the points of origin and destination. The number of the department ordering transport is also noted.
Another daily return* is compiled tor statistical purposes. This shows the number of the vehicle, the date, starting and finishing mileage readings, journey mileage, quantities of fuel and oil taken on at home and on the road, the name of the driver and a description of the journey.
Details of daily work by each vehicle are abstracted on sheets, each covering a period of a fortnight.
The transport department works to a budget and the using departments are charged on mileage. Cost data are classified separately for commercial vehicles, Lister Autotrucks and cars. •