New-York tribune., 1918-05-14
Automobihng
inquiry On Now to Find Out
Who Is Buying the
Motor Trucks
By c. E. T. scharps

Inc highways Transport Committee
OF the Council of National Defence ia
investigating the distribution of motor
.fucks by means of a QUESTIONABLE
tnat has been sent to all makers of
commercial vehicles. The idea is to
una out what classes of persons are
se't'ng the trucks, perhaps to deter
ln'ne how much the truck is going into
non1war % lines and what part it is ac-
tuaIly taking in the war work.
IL IS TO be hoped that there is no idea
~ snuttlng down on production of
r~.ucks ~ gong into nonwar lines. The
m1Ior truck at least can hardly be
called pleasure car"
deputy Police Commissioner Harriss
exspialned the other day the meaning
or me insignia worn on the arm OF
.ialnc squad men. 1t is horses head
aupetlmposed on wheel. "That
mI1eans, m said the Traffic Deputy, "keep
the wheels of traffic moving and use
horse sense" N'N
=, William c. Durant, head of General
MOTORS and Chevrolet, is on his wav
vest, to be gone from this city until
way 70; AS he is the chairman of the
automobile lndustry's committee that
Is treating with Washington about pas
senger car production, it seems fair
to assume there will be no action taken
until he gets back.
Mr.. Durant's trip is mostly con-
cerned te with war work being done by
the General Motors group for the GOV
ernment. In fact, he is devotinr most
or his time to that department and has
TOR some months.
After two years of receiving volun-
.ary suggestions from owners, we are
tolo' the makers have decided on a
called "The Gem of the Highwav."
The Highway Traffic Association has
adopted resolution urging the city to
spend some money on the marginal
streets-W West and South streets-to
get them in shape to stand the ex-
ceeealngiy heavy trucking. AS the bulk
oi o., IN ehe roads carried are goods for war
work, it seems as if special effort
should be made to have this done.
beginning June l a three months
efficiency test for motor trucks will
be run by the Packard Motor Car Com
pany. A total of $4,000 in awards is
offered to owners of trucks of this
'"onS' uIviueu as IOlIOWS:
Glass A-One and half and two ton
trucks; own owners award, $1,000; driver YER
awards, $500. $1oo and sis.
Class B-Three and four ton trucks:
owners award, $1,000; driver awards.
$500, 500 and SIS. 0
Class Give and six ton trucks:
owners award, $1,000; driver awards.
$500, 500 and SIS. ~
Neither the age of the truck nor the
line of business in which it is en-
gagged is handicap in the test. These
two factors and many others are taken
into consideration, so that all the We
hicles will compete on an absolutely
fair and impartial basis" says R. +.
Chamberlain, truck sales manager of
the Packard company "Any truck. no
matter whether it hauls gravel, ice
cream or coal, has an equal opportunity
with every other truck in it's class, and
so has its driver.
every truck entered will be work.
ing for Uncle Sam as we'll as for the
owner. Every driver will be helping
our country by operating his truck
more efficiently. Besides the freight
cars that will be saved for urgent gov
ernmept purposes, congestion at hun
dreds Of shipping platforms will be
cleared up and more tonnage of food
and other neceSsares moved"