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

 CHAPTER XXI FUEL—SPARE PARTS—TYRES—LUBRICANTS— GARAGE ORGANIZATION The cost of running a motor is a subject which, in view of the increased charges for all materials and labour to-day, is of even. wider interest and worthy of greater consideration than it was a few years ago. In a previous chapter a skeleton table has been given, showing the various items the expenditure on which should be recorded, so that the motor owner may be able to arrive at an accurate figure of the total cost of running his vehicle. Such knowledge is becom- ing more and more necessary every day if economy in transportation is to be attained, and many big fleet owners now calculate their vehicle costs per mile to a thousandth part of a penny. As an illustration of the importance of such accuracy it may be stated that the reduction of a penny per mile in the operating costs of the omnibuses in London means the saving of about half a million pounds annually. The different particulars under the heading of Standing Charges, such as Depreciation, have also been considered, and the next details for comment are those which come under the title of Running Costs. Fuel Costs. The first of these is Fuel. Separate accounts of the quantity and the current price per unit should be kept, as also of grease and lubricating oil. By adopting this system, the van- owner will be able to compare the various records of both drivers and vans, which he could not do so 146