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

 182 MOTOR ROAD TRANSPORT A Necessary Gonsideration. A word of warning in connection with the adoption of tipping mechanism is, however, necessary, and this is illustrated by the table on next page which relates to vehicles employed on County Council work. It must not be assumed from the statement that the system as a whole is at fault : it is the writer’s opinion that more could be done than is at the present time in this country towards increasing haulage efficiency in several trades by the rightful application of the tipping body and trailer ; but the example shows that care should always be taken to weigh the pros and cons of any new method before adoption. It will be seen that in the following instances the maximum load allowed by law on these two particular types of steam tipping wagon falis short of the maker’s nominal loads, and this naturally affects appreciably the ton-mile costs. The moot point—which the motor user must decide for himself according to his own conditions of service— is whether or not the saving of time effected during loading or unloading operations will repay him for the reduced load capacity due to the extra weight of the tipping gear. In the accompanying Schedule the back axles of all the lorries were put over weighbridges when the vehicles were ready for the road, that is, carrying watei\ fuel, oil, tools, and accessories. In the first column is given the maker’s nominal capacity of the vehicle, in the second the actual rear axle weight unloaded but ready for the road, and in the third the legal load which could be properly put upon the lorry. The last two sets of figures show a better load proportion, which is accounted for by the faet that these vehicles are not supplied with an overtype engine.