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LIGHT VAN FLEET STANDARDIZATION.

7th June 1921, Page 8
7th June 1921
Page 8
Page 8, 7th June 1921 — LIGHT VAN FLEET STANDARDIZATION.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

How Messrs. Fry and Sons, the Prominent Chocolate and Cocoa Manufacturers, have Benefited by the Use of One Make of Vehicle of One Capacity.

IT IS SELDOM that a manufacturing -11concern with a wide distributing area emptoys one type and. capacity of . motor vehicle only, for the simple reason that thefarther the delivery area is situated ;ixina the main centre of supply, the greater is the need for the employment of vehicles with. large carrying capacities. It is because of this factor that many trading conceens find . it advisable to employ machines of varying capacities, in -order to be in a position to interchange the work of the vehicles should business fluctuations demand it,.

With those companies who cover, a delivery area extending upwards of 50 miles or so, it 'will usually be found that both the light van a,nd the heavy lorry are employed with the object of meeting a definite sphere of utility. The light van, in such circumstances, is used for express deliveries in local districts, whereas its larger prototype is despatched to districts farther afield. The lighter class of machine is; more adaptable, from an economical point of view, to varying demands: Although it is often impossible for a user to standardize the load-car-lying capacities of his motor vehicles, there is every reason why he should attempt to do so in so far as makes of vehicles of each capacity are concerned. One of the

most important factors in support of such a policy is the simplification of the problem of . spares and replacements, wl?ich is always a troublesome and expensive matter when a miscellany of

makes and types is employed. Standardization of makes and capacities of vehicles undeniably makes for efficient and economical working.

Take the case of J. S. Fry and Sons, Ltd., the chocolate and cocoa manufacturers, of Bristol, who have made use of many forms of transport since their establishment in 1728, and have derived many benefits from the standardization of their motor vehicle fleet. The company have been users of 30 cwt. Albion vans since /911, and during the past year they have considerably augmented their fleet, until at the present time they possess 16 vehicles of this particular make, which are in operation in various parts of the country.

As a result of searching experiments with various types of machines, the company have found it advisable to standardize on the Albion vehicle, by reason of the reliability which it affords. This factor is of extreme importance, and it is as a result of eight years' complete satisfaction with the Albion products that this make of van has been favoured for the transport of the company's manu

factures. It says much for the Albion vehicle when we state that Messrs. Fry's oldest van of this make covered approximately 86,000 miles without having received a thorough overhaul.

The company consider that the 30 cwt, machine is better suited Co their needs than is a smaller capacity vehicle, because it obviates the necessity for extra journeys. With a smaller van it would invariably be necessary to retorts to the warehouse for a second load, whereas the 30 cwt. vgn can carry the same amount of goods in a single Journey, and thus render a more remunerative account of itself, apart from avoiding congestion in the loading bays.

Each of the machines is fitted with a box body, which is considered to be the most suitable type for Messrf. Fry's trade. The interiors are entirely plain, and are not painted or treated in any way. The rear of each van is fitted with two full length doors, in which small oval mirrorsarc inserted, as also is a window in the partition behind the driver's seat.

The conspany are staunch believers in the advertising value of the motorvan, as is evidenced by the attractive appearance of their vehicles, which are painted in ultramarine with the lettering picked out in gold. The tops of the vans are also used for advertising the company's goods, and as the vehicles operate in populous districts this position is particularly noticeable from the tops of tramcars and buses.

The vans are all engaged on the delivery in counter boxes of manufactured cocoa and chocolate direct to customers, which eliminates the need fot packing cases and destroys any possi

bility of pilferage. Customers appreciate the delivery of goods by motorvan for, apart from the fact that they arrive in better condition, a considerable saving of time is effected as against the usual lesigth of time which would elapse between the reception of an order ate Bristol and the actual delivery to a cus . tamer by any other method.

MesSrs. Fry do not find that there is an actual economy in the cost of mechanical transport as against railway charges, although there is an undoubted saving, when the former means is credited with the cost of packing cases which would have to be used Were other' forms of transport adopted,

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Locations: Bristol

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