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

30 MOTOR ROAD TRANSPORT whether there are any ways by which. it can be made an even greater success. Yet by careful thought and thorough investigation, a small change in the policy either of the purchasing or of the maintenance depart- ment, may effect a very considerable saving in expen- diture, besides augmenting the general efficiency of the service. To return to the question of power and gearing, generally speaking, a van which. is intended to run chiefiy on short point-to-point deliveries will not require similar horse-power to that which will undertake long-distance runs. The nature of the goods to be handled will be the determining factor in the rate of speed, needed for delivery, and this will in its turn be affected by the bulk and the weight of the load to be carried. Variety of Types for Different Services. As an illustration, the firm which trades in perishable goods or in a light-weight, non-bulky article, obviously will not want the same class of vehicle as a dealer in furniture. The one will demand a light type of chassis, constructed for specdy and smooth running, with features such as power unit, suspension, and tyring, body floor level, etc., of very different design from the machine for transporting the heavier sort of merchandise. The type of country in which the car is usually to be worked must be borne in mind. If the roads are on an average good and level, compara- tively low power and high gearing will prove suitable and economical; while for hilly districts, or those in which the road surfaces are habitually poor, the case is naturally the reverse. A point which it is impera- tive to remember is that the power unit must in every case be well up to its work, that is, not only should it be capable of cpnveying the maximum load at all