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

THE MOTOR IN COUNTRY DISTRICTS 23 of the service, should be determining factors in the selection of a suitable vehicle. It is well to bear in mind that charges should be based on a scale which will allow a reasonable profit to be made, and not on the short-sighted policy of excessive rates. The man who prospects and canvasses liis intended district thoroughly, buys sound and reliable vehicles, bases his charges on a reasonable scale of profits, adopts good organization, and who is reliable and accommodating, will run little risk from future com- petition of any sort once he has made a fair start. As he succeeds so he can extend his radius, until he finds that he is able to link up additional outlying areas. Naturally, it will depend on the class of work under- taken whether the main quarters should be taken up at the centre or in some part of the outskirts of the district, and the question of return loads—always a difficult but most important one—should count much in arriving at a decision. For instance, in the case of the carrying of agricultural produce it would probably prove the wisest course to work from the country to the town, for the goods can then be collected more easily and taken to the market direct; while out-going loads can be arranged for, such as the delivery of supplies in comparatively large quantities to the country shops. Where the work allows the organization to be on these lines, there is another advantage to the van- owner, namely, the lower cost in the country for rent of house and garage.