New-York tribune., 1912-01-14
AD|EU TO TRUCK HORSE.
statistics Clearly Prove Utility
of the Automobile.
DIG BUSINESS AT BOUND
prresu Has Established Fact
That Horse Drawn Loads
Are Costly.
By Harry $. HOupt (Alco),

7, is estimated that there is need for
almost four hundred thousand motor trucks
=. America to-day. Compare with this the
tact that there are now approximately
twepty thousand in use and the future o.
the motor truck is set out clearly.
The possibilities Of the truck as a saving
q, time and money have been brought be-
,ors business men within the last few
wears. and the leaders, as result, are SELL
ing their horses as fast as possible.
AS an industry the motor truck business
is comparatively new. but as vehicle the
truck dates back earlier than even the loco
r,otiye. This is what is known as the loco
r,oiive influence In motor trucks. II eX-
mains why many companies prefer TO buy
q truck from a manufacturer with the ben
eft Of Ions transportation experience.
before locomotives were run on steel
rails they travelled on roads. so that the
truck and the steam engine Of to-day have
their origin in the same vehicle.
Modern business, with its requirements
Of speed in labor saving machinery, for
promptness in getting goods from one place
10 another. has brought about this great
demand for the motor truck. The horse
has been found wanting, just as the human
hand has given way to machines in manu-
featuring goods.
II is only within recent times that COM
petition has become so keen that the trans
portation of merchandise safely and on
time has become an important factor in
concerns success.
The first users Of motor trucks have
blazed the way. They have spent many
thousands OF dollars, and have used the
time Of many experts to investigate the
possibilities of the motor truck. The YER
dict has been general in favor OF the truck.
The way TO determine whether in a par
ticular case the truck can be used TO sd-
vantage, how many are needed, and Of
what capacity, is 10 put an expert TO work
on the proposition. The basis Of compari-
son is on the cost Of horses.
Realizing this. the American Locomotive
Company has established a transportation
cost bureau as an important part Of its
motor truck department. The work Of this
bureau is first 20 determine by scientific
ANALYSIS what a concerns horses are cost
ing In this connection, it has been said
that there is little knowledge on this point,
though such items as manufacturing costs.
selling costs and Office expenses are known
accurately.
After horse costs are determined. this bu-
reau re-routes the horse haul, showing how
much greater q zone OF activity the truck
can cover. BY actual chart il determines
for the company what it costs TO carry
goods by motor truck Every item in the
economy consideration is designated.
II the business concern can operate trucks
prohtablv It is so informed. If its trans
portaton requirements are not great
enough 20 warrant this, it is given notif-
cation or this point.
The information given is without charge
and as a result many companies are IN
structed how to eliminate waste in hand
ling goods
This method Of approaching the subject
of motor truck economy has met with ap-
proval Many requests have been made
upon the transportation cost bureau. and
many business men have found much 10
surprise them in the matter Of the waste
fulness Of the hauling systems.
The question of service--the attention
an owner should get after buying
truck-has been worked out. and a plan
has been formulated that takes care OF the
owner from the time he buys the truck
throughout the years of usage obtained
from IL.
In the first place. the owner has the
privilege Of sending his driver TO the fac
tory. where an expert gives the teamster
instruction in the theory, the construction
and care and operation of the truck
After a week at the factory. or until the
driver is ready to operate the truck
which may be in less than a week-an ex-
perienced driver accompanies him through
traffic and gives further instruction.
Many teamsters start in with the truck at
this point The factory is offered for the
disposal Of those who desire 10 begin
there.
From this time on the sales service or
maintenance department looks after the
truck. Visits are made by inspectors at
specified intervals. and further advice is
given TO the end Of securing long life for
the wearing parts Of the truck and econ
on4izing in getting the mos, miles pos
sble out of a gallon Of gasolene.
This plan has been formulated because
OF the conviction that a man buys more
than four wheels and body when he pur-
chases a motor truck-he buys also SER
vice.
-A--f