Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-09
PLAN "RETURNLOADS"
FOR MOTORTRUCKS
Bureau Formed by Chamber
of Commerce to Increase
Efficiency
PREVENTS TIME WASTE
Shippers and Drivers to Exchange
Information on Routes
and Capacities

A "return-loads bureau TO assist in
intracity motortruck transportation, the
idea of the Philadelphia Chamber Of
Commerce, is to be established here soon
according to an announcement by the
chamber.
The highways transportation commit
tee Of the Council of National Defense
has asked the chamber to Cooperate
with 1t through its transportation bureau
in providing more adequate transporta-
ton facilities. The chamber is urged to
assume jurisdiction of the district.
The object of the return-loads bureau
is to increase the efficiency of the motor
truck transportation between designated
points and to aid in securing of loaded
movements in both directions, thereby
reducing haulage charges.
At the present time by existing trans
portation conditions large quantities Of
merchandise and materials of all kinds
are being transported by motortruck.
The Chamber of Commerce was respon-
! sible for the installation of daily motor
truck service between PHILADELPHIA and
! New York and has at the present time
plans under way for the extension of
this service to other points. In addition
TO the operation of motortruck express
lines over fixed routes and between
specified points there are Il number of
individuals who operate their own
trucks. These also operate for the most
! part over fixed routes Not being oper-
ated as public utilities, thev return
empty fter delivering their load at the
| point of destination.
! 1t is to take advantage of these
empties that the return loads bureau
| idea was evolved. The operation of the
| bureau is simple. Its function is to act
as a clearinghouse for the purpose of
advising the shipper where and when
a truck can be obtained to haul his
goods and also to advise the truck owner
or teamster where load can be OBJ
| tanned 1t is then left entirely to the
| shipper and the truck operator to come
/ to an agreement as to the rate to be
| paid for haulage, thee liability of the
/ truck owner or driver for the safety OF
the goods in transit and for insurance
protection and other matters. No legal
liability to the shipper or other RESPONSE
bility is assumed by the return loads
bureau.
In assuming the jurisdiction of the
return loads bureau in Philadelphia, the
! transportation bureau of the Chamber
of Commerce will compile information
as to established motortruck companies
/ operating over fixed routes and will as
certain the extent to which such COM
panies engage in local pickup and de-
livery service in the handling of small
consignments. The bureau will also
compile as to individual concerns oper-
ating trucks for the delivery of their
own goods tho routes and communities
served. the kind and character of trucks
employed and whether these will be
available for return loads by shippers
who would be glad to avail themselves
of the opportunity to send a load back
on such trucks to the home town or
to a point on the way.
Another service to be performed by
the bureau will be the making of ar
rangements with truck operators and
the return loads bureau in other COM
munities for the recording of trucks en-
route to Philadelphia under load, de-
string a return load and to what point
Truck operators will record with the
bureau when their trucks leave Phila'
delphia under load, giving the destina'
tion of the truck for which return
load is desired, so that outside return
load bureaus may be advised in ad'
vance and will have information for the
driver Immediately on his reporting tc
that bureau in the city of his des'
tination.