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

176 MOTOR ROAD TRANSPORT owing to the high, cost of transportation which has forced increased economical efficiency on all who employ mechanical haulage. It is probable that co-operation resulting in a system of clearing-houses throughout the country will before very long solve this problem to a great extent. Mechanical transport—because it can easily show a marked improvement in return over horse haulage in many instances—is far too often run with inadequate organization, and those responsible for the system rest content with comparatively poor results, whereas, with a little consideration, forethought and enter- prise, a marked increase in efficiency could be obtained. Wind Resistance. A point, the importance of which is seldom realized and which. applies to most types of bodies, is wind resistance. Both builders and buyers of bodies are apt to assume that because the average van is not driven at 40 miles an hour, the matter of windage area is immaterial. But this is far from being the case. A van with a high broad fronted body driven against a head or a partially head wind runs as though a brake was kept permanently applied. Wind-resisting sur- face means increased running costs, and mach of this could be avoided. Bodies both in. front and at the rear should be shaped as much as is practical with reference to reducing resistance from air currents. Many vehicles, such as large furniture vans, must of necessity present a good deal of “ dead ” surface, but by the use of the smallest and lightest shaped body compatible with the average load required to be carried, much extra weight and wind-resisting surface may be saved, with consequent return in the eaming capacity of the van.