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

CHAPTER IV SELECTION OF A VEHICLE (1) NATURE OF SERVICE AND CHOICE OF POWER, AND THEIR RELATION TÖ GEARING As surely as motor transport can, in most cases, be made not only to equal horse haulage in' the matter of expense, but actually to effect a considerable financial saving and an increase of the business, so surely will the balance be on the wrong side if the vehicles chosen be unsuitable for the work which they have to do, or if the despatch organization be inefficient. The writer has seen several cases in which a business firm has fallen into errors in connection with a motor delivery service which with ordinary foresight could easily have been avoided. For this reason it is desirable to put the case in such a way that others may avoid these pitfalls. It is also only fair to the manufacturer to do this, for obviously the trader who employs his vans on unsuitable work or in an unreasonable way will not obtain the maximum advantage from this form of transport, and will not in consequence prove to be an enthusiastic owner. Mistakes in Motor Management. It is sometimes found that the manager of a business house is at loggerheads with the manufacturer who has supplied the vehicle. And why ? For the sole reason that the firm, refusing to alter their system to conform with the more modern type of transport, is not running its service successfully. Those in charge of the despatch department insist on conducting it on horse haulage lines, and among 24