Motor Road Transport For Commercial Purposes
(Liquid Fuel, Steam, Electricity)

CHAPTER XVI CONSIDERATIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF A MOTOR SERVICE, AND THE NEED OF KEEPING RECORDS Considerations which affect the economy of the running of a motor service are touched upon in other chapters, but it is intended here to lay stress on one or two points which, if not entirely overlooked, are often given insufficient attention in the matter of successful organization of Motor Delivery Services. Ro ad Surface. The first point to be mentioned is that of road surface. The bearing which this has upon the econ- omical results of mechanical road transport is great, and it is essential for success that it should receive due regard from time to time as conditions change. Wherever it is possible, the routes of a despatch system should be made out over roads which are in a good or fair State of repair, and this should be arranged for especially on return journeys, when the van will probably be running liglit or with a small portion only of its maximum load. This is not, of course, an easy matter, but it should be remembered that a few additional miles on a comparatively good road are not only run in the same amount of time as will be taken on a shorter but bad route, but will make ampie return by reduction in the cost of maintenance. The very great stress and consequent strain, and the alternating stresses producing fatigue of the metal and subsequent fracture caused to all parts of the mechanism when the van is run at speed over a pot- holed or corrugated road, are accountable for much undue wear and tear. If van owners saw their