The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-22
TRUCK DRIVERS ARE
SENT TO SCHOOL

5, V. Norton, manager OF the truck tire
| sales of the b. +. Goodrich company.
has Just returned from the east, after
| having read a paper on the subject of
truck tires before the January meeting
| of the Motor Truck Club of America, II
New York city.
| After leaving Mex York Mfr. Norton
went to Boston. where he held confer
ence with the Goodrich New England
representatives.
II am much pleased with the situation
in Boston" said Mr.. Norton, $50 far a.
prospects for the sale of truck tires are
concerned. We have placed a number OF
additional statesmen In the field to take
care of the increased number of trucks
| running there. The New England terri
tory seems to be different from any other
section of the country, inasmuch as apart
from the city of Bosten, there are no
large concentrated districts i'm which mo-
center, however, the trucks are spread
out in a sort of suburban community
within a radius of 150 miles, where they
are used not only for short nauis. but for
interurban hauis, ranging from so to loo
miles.
1T has been most interesting to me-"
said Mr.. Norton. "to learn the various
ways in which truck manufacturers and
their representatives are improving the
service given to owners of their trucks.
For instance, realizing the Importance of
we'll trained, experienced drivers. one
company in Boston has established a
drivers school, In which young men
are given a thorough training in the care
and operation of their trucks. These
men are guaranteed positions after they
satisfactorily complete The course of in
struction required in this school, which
consists of learning the details of con-
structlon, as we'll as everything in con-
nec,ion with the operation of this partic-
ular make of truck
| "As this school is conducted In a very
prao tcal manner, the drivers have un-
usual opportunities for learning how to
care for trucks The agent who con-
ducts this school makes a strong point
of his ability to keep In continuous serv-
ice the trucks operated In his territory
SUPPOSE, for instance, that a truck be-
longing to one of his customers has met
with some accident, such as may happen
to any machine on the road, The driver
of tine II uck sends call for help to this
agency. A similar truck Is immediately
dispatched to the scene Of the accident
In charge of an experienced driver, ac-
companed by several of the young men
IN the drivers school. This affords the
students an opportunity to learn what
has caused the accident and how 10 rem
edy the trouble. The disabled truck is
either repaired Or its merchandise is
transferred to the service truck with
minimum Of deiey, and the goods are
immediately sent on their way Tho
student drivers have learned how to
cope with new situation, while the
owner Of the truck In distress mas re-
celved valuable assistance, which has
enabled him to continue the service for
which his truck WAS purchased.
"This drivers school Is OF much BEN
eft to the truck sales agent because
when he sells truck he is at once In
position to furnish q competent driver,
thus overcoming one of the most serious
obstacles to the introduction of motor
driven delivery service.
| " The shop facilities In our Boston
branch and the neighboring stock depots
have been wonderfully improved, Wood
! wheel work can be done promptly. eff
ciently, and at nominal cost, as well as
the application Of the bands and other
steel parts necessary for attaching tires.
"Our New England representatives
have been constantly reducing the num-
Der of complaints among users Of truck
tires because they have shown truck
owners the economy of using tires of
the work to which trucks are subjected.
It sometimes happens that truck which
has been sold with nominal rated car
rying capacity is used to carry more
than was originally intended. This re-
suits in overlooking the tires and they
naturally do not yield the mileage which
the user has perhaps expected. The re-
n,wal. however Is made with larger sized
tires. after which no trouble Is expert
enced.
II saw many trucks In Boston and vi
cinity whose tires have been increa sed
A~~~~~~-~-~--
(COntfnuel - Pare EOrtv.t-MN