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Equipment for
Page 116
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• Checking Running• Costs
A Discourse on VariousMeans Whereby Accurate Knowledge of Expenditure May be Obtained ECONOMY of vehicle operation may be attained only by constant vigilance. That it depends on the efficiency of the chassis, on proper organization of the garage, and on the diligence of the drivers and their mates, is well and widely known.
What is not generally appreciated is the fact that these conditions are present to the most favourable extent only when careful check is kept upon all of them. That is to say, efficient chassis can be maintained in a state of efficiency only if daily note be kept of their condition, especial* of their consumptions of essential supplies.
Proper garage organization, involvins,
perpetual check on stores of all kinds is impossible without provision for recording all incomings and outgoings, In regard to material, the quantities thereof, and the sources and destinations.
Drivers and mates are helpful towards the maximum of diligence if they are constantly being impressed with the importance of the matter, as is possible only if they are aware that someone in authority is taking the trouble to oversee their work.
It is, therefore, worth while to spend a little money on the equipment whereby efficient surveillance may he kept. This article indicates the type of equipment needed, whilst the index by which it is terminated provides information as to the source of supply.
The first essential is a standard of attainment in operating cost—something unbiased and reliable ; some figures known to be representative of fair and reasonable attainment.
They are available in The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs, which can be obtained for the asking from the Editor of this journal. They contain figures relating to the operating cost of every existing type of commercial motor, 'working under average conditions. They may be taken as a basis for comparison. If the operator finds that his own costs compare unfavourably with those given, he knows at once that his efficiency is below the average. He should at once try to discover why, and the attainment -of this object is aided by the use of suitable equipment.
Before he can reach even that elementary stage of knowledge, however, be must have provided himself with the means for ascertaining his own costs.
To that end, there are certain roadtransport account books on the market, one of which should be acquired for each vehicle.
In some cases, where the general works organization favours the use of a card system, rather than books, recourse may be had to someone or other of the vendors of card-index systems instead of buying the record books.
It is quite probable that the acquisition of books or cards will at once B34 reveal another gap in the vehicleowner's transport organization, namely, the lack of proper provision for recording the work done by the vehicle and the issue of supplies.
He will discover, for example, that two essential items of information, for the recording of which provision is made on his forms, are mileage and tonnage.
For the first of these a mechanical recorder is requisite ; guessing or estimating the mileage will not do. If the operator's vehicles are already equipped with speedometers, well and
good. If not, he can, at little cost, fit each with a hub odometer, which will serve his purpose and record the mileage run.
The tonnage figures, or their equivalent, can be obtained from the records which are no doubt, already available.
So far as supplies are concerned, it may well be that some alteration in the method of acquisition will be found desirable.
Petrol and oil, for example, which may hitherto have been bought as and when required, will be purchased in bulk and stored in underground tanks, to be drawn off through pumps which, themselves, embody recording mechanism.
With the foregoing, and a wellthought-out card-index system for the stores, covering the issue of tyres, as well as materials for all maintenance and repair work, the vehicle owner is in a position to ascertain his actual costs with a degree of accuracy otherwise unattainable.
No class of employee is less subject to supervision than that of drivers of commercial vehicles. From the time of
their departure from the garage until their, return—it may be days later— their actions are largely uncontrolled. It is true that the times of leaving and returning can be checked against mileage and past experience of the period necessary for the work, but as that standard is set, in the first place, by a driver, We are back where we were, in our argument that the driver is only "self-controlled."
The driver is, quite nalturally, unable to realize the cumulative effect, on the economy of vehicle operation, of a number of otherwise insignificant delays. It is, in fact, the experience of users that, so soon as a proper check • is established, and these avoidable wastages eliminated, it often becomes possible to work an extra journey per day or per week.
The equipment for effecting this purpose is simple in the extreme. It comprises a pendulum, a clockwork raechanism and a paper dial. The clock rotates the dial, once per day or half-day, according to requirements: the pendulum carries a pencil which bears upon the dial.
When the vehicle is moving the pendulum is swinging, in which circumstance it causes the pencil to trace a thick line over the moving dial. The presence of a thick line, therefore, indicates movement, for the period represented by the length of that line upon the dial. A faint line shows when the vehicle is stationary, and one of medium thickness when it is standing, but with engine running.
The dial, when removed, presents to the transport manager a perfect picture of the work done by the vehicle. He can discuss with its driver the reasons for all stops, and for unauthorized movement.
Further, it even prevents overspeeding, for that, nine times out of ten, is due to the fact that the driver has delayed so much during the early part of his work that a spurt is necessary to make up for lost time British Jaeger Instruments, Ltd., North Circala, Road, London, N.W.2.
Charnwood Publishing Co., Atlas House, Coal. villa, Leicester. Cooper-Stewart Engineering (J., Ltd., 136, Long Acre. London, W.C.2, F, R Dickinson, St. Andrew's House, lFlolhorn Circus, London, E.C.1. Dougherty and Janitch, 10, Cullum Street, Fenchurch Street, London, E.C.3.
Gledhill-Brook Time Recorders, Ltd., 26, Victoria Street, London, &W.I.
Lamson Paragon Supply Co.. Ltd., Panagon Works, London, E.16.
James McQueen, Ltd. Moat Road, Leicester. Mechanical and General Inventions Co., Ltd., 10, Charles Street, Londo.., S.W.1. Metro Bureau Equipment, Ltd., 16-18, St. Bride Street, London, E.C.4.
National Cash Register Co., Ltd., 225, Tottenham Court Road, London, W.1. North and SOILS, 'Ltd , Whippendell Road, Watford.
Ray Recoyders, Ltd., Waterloo House, 81-83. Knightrider Street, London,E.C.4. Roneo. Ltd., 5-11, 'Holborn London, E.C.1. Rotherham and Sons, Ltd., 27, Spon Street, Coventry..
Servis Recorders, Ltd., 73a, Red Lion Streeb, London, W.C.1, 5, smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd.. Cricklewood Works, Edgware Road, London N.W.2.