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

WHAT RECORDS TO KEEP 127 With such. records as those of cost per ton-mile, miles per hour when running, and miles per hour including all stops, the owner can by comparison tell at a glance how each van—of whatever type and size— and each driver, is working. No doubt everyone has his own ideas about an arrangement or a system of record-keeping, but if the above is taken as a basis and carefully and accur- ately observed, it will be found to be well worth the trouble involved, and the owner will gain the maximum of usefulness with the minimum of cost from his mechanical transport. As a concrete example of a full costing schemc inaugurated by a County Council, specimen sheets (partly filled in, with the exception of the yearly one) are reproduced hereafter. (See inset.) Interest'on Capital is not taken into account, because the purchase money comes out of revenue. The County Surveyor was not satisfied, at the time that these statistics were got out, with the Standard Ton-Mileage system. Therefore, this heading has been disregarded. It was hoped that a more reliable method for this item, based on the actual work each lorry has carried out in the past, would be arrived. at shortly. With reference to the bonus system, each driver is allowed—in addition to his wage—“ running money ” amounting to 20s. per month; provided he has no mechanical breakdown during the month. A mechanical breakdown is defined as “ any form of breakdown which prevents the steam wagon or petrol lorry being used.” Upon the completion of the month, the Divisional Surveyor’s certificate form is filled in and forwarded to the County Surveyor, stating whether or not a driver is entitled to his “ running money.”