The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-12
PROBLEMS IN
MOTOR TRUCKING
Economy of Change III Delivery
Equipment Puzzles Merchant
aud Shipper.
GREATER EFFORT Is MADE
TO DETERMINE COST
Actual Expense Incurred in Use
of Horses Warrants Adoption
of Commercial Gers.

Merchants and Shippers VINO cohtem-
plate changing their delivery equipment
from horse TO motor vehicle have been
confronted with perpieNinC problem IN
deciding which of the Two forms. OF
TRANSFORMATION is the more eeonomical
ard which is better adapted to fhelr
requirements. Invariably it happens
that the merchant IS handicapped at the
outset by q lack of any dehnite OASIS
of comparison, due 10 has accustomed
passiveness in accepting the morse
method without ever inqniring into OPP
Grating cost further than 10 learn pc
riodica1ly the ;ota. SUN,
Because OF this fact he is usually
amazed when be stops 20 estimate the
true extent of his shipping expense ana
this discovery as much as any orner
element is apt 20 stir nm from MS
money.losing lethargy
The truth ia that until the posslblii-
ties of the modern commercial motor We
hicle were realized by few enterpris,
ing firms no considerable effort mad
been made TO determine costs. NOW,
however, the users of horse drawn equip
mcnt are showing great ingenuity IN
their effort TO discover what tins equip
ment costs They now want to know
facts. even TO the fraction of q cent
Heretofore it has been q case of fig
uriug ONLY the monthly cost of moving
whatever merchandise the shipper had
to transport, but those calculations are
of little or 40 value compared to the
compilations which the motor vehicle
has forced the business man to make.
Unit of Cost.
Thc unit of cost is being rapidly es-
tablished as the tou-mile. meaning the
cost Of moving one ton distance OF one
mile In any such figures the original
cost of the vehicle and its depreciation
must be taken into account, and, ex-
cepting the experience of those con-
Germs w1ch have already used motor
vehicles for period of q year or two,
The data for computing depreciation IS
limited This further coDfuses a man
who is about to change his equipment
and be is apt to be led astray by The
enthusiasm Of a salesman instead of be-
ing kept on the right track by the ac-
tuai conditions governing his own case
Right here it must be stated that the
installation of motor equipment, even
though it may be perfect for one firm
might be rendered entirely wrong for
another because of details in the ship
ping service that at first seemed insig
ni6cant. This phase of the situation
dictates that the manufactures who
wishes to build up lasting business
in motor trucks must place his vehicles
in service only where they exactly meet
the requirements instead Of selling
without thought of the adaptability of
tho vehicle for the work which 1t must
perform. This reiterates the fact that a
vehicle not properly suited to its task
is false economy, even though ex.
penses may be reduced Time therefore
teaches an important lesson.
Motor Truck Differs.
With the correct type of vehicle as
certained the question of comparative
cost ls not difficult one, vet merchants
sometimes make the mistake of putting
the motor car to test under the condi-
tions identical to the horse. whereas
the use Of the motor vehicle frequently
compels realignment of shipping ia
cihties, readiustment of loads or a
yerouting of itineraries. For example
the use OF a two-ton horse truck doesn I
mean that the merchant must use q
two-ton motor truck. Therefore, aside
from the actual cost of operating horse
drawn vehicles. that equipment should
be ignored, The motor vehicle should
not be expected to work in manner
identical with horses.
Being satisfied, once and for all. that
he has arrived at the proper basis OF
Incorporating cost the merchant
should turn TO competent engineering
advice and be guided accordingly ii
tation of costs, to be thorough, should
be based ON the following items for mo
tor and horse respectively:
Motor Trucking Costs.
A-Cost of truck and equipment.
B-Driver's IS wages.
C-Helper IS wages.
D---Additional help.
E--Gsrage.
ashington and polishing.
G-Tires.
H-Gasolinc.
I-Oil and grease.
J-Miscellaneous supplies.
k-Parts required.
LrParts replaced (not through acci
dent).
M-Parts replaced Through acci
dent).
N-Ferriage and tolls
O-Insurance Gre and liability.
P-Depreciation.
Q-Interest on investment.
R-Liceuse.
Horse Trucking Costs.
First-Wagon expense.
A-Cost of truck.
B-Cost of maintenance-g-eese re
pairs, etc.
C-Deterioration
D-Cost of insurance
Cost of license.
Second Horse Expense
A-Cost per horse
B-Deterioration per snnun,, that i!
In value, if living Percentage that dit
Cost of feed.
D-Cost of care--hos,ler.
Cost of veterinary.
Cost Of medicine
Cost of insurance
HEkental value Of space neccssar
10 stable horse
Cost of shoeing
J-cost OF water for drink and wasI
K-Cost Of blankets.