New-York tribune., 1919-08-17
Overload and
Overspeed Twin
Truck Enemies
To These Two Evils Most
of the Troubles of Com
mercial Vehicle Owners
Are Easily Traceable
A motor truck is as efficient as it

A/motor truck is as efficient as its
driver
No matter how expensive the ma
chine employed by the fleet operator,
or how skilfully plans have been laid
for its use, if the driver is neglectful,
or actually works contrary to instruc-
tions investment and plans are un-
done and the operator faces loss.
Winning the cooperation of the driver
is one of the first essentials of sue
cessfuI motor truck operation.
big majority of his time the driver
is beyond the supervision of his en-
ployer and conse quently his judgment
decides the results of an investment,
in many cases, of from four to six
thousand dollars. The human element
in motor trucking is an enormous fac
tor-no fixed rule nor advance infor-
nation of conditions is available.
Ever changing road surfaces present
a variance that demands constant
alertness and vigilance on the part of
the driver. A stretch of rough road
may increase the strains on a truck
to three or four times normal. Let
the driver OVERLOAD his truck and the
strain increases to seven or eight
times normal, and overspeeding adds
still more to the strain.
The driver must, in addition, be
skilful in the management of the
clutch, the selection of gears and in
the overhauling and general upkeep
of the truck.
Probably the first quality the op-
orator will expect from the driver is
caution. Some concerns in employ
to Al Il
trusted employees, educated in their
special line of work, rather than hire
professional drivers. Many companies
prefer settled men Cd middle age rather
than youthful pilots. Some concerns
insist on their men being married.
Recently a motor truck publication
wrote to motor truck manufacturers
asking them for the most pressing
problem facing the motor truck indus
try. An overwhelming number of re-
plies stated that the biggest need was
a remedy for overlooking and over
speeding. This remedy is squarely up
to the driver, but he must be guided
by his employer. He knows that over
loading and overspceding are bad for
his truck, but he would obey orders
more quickly il he knew "why" He
probably knows that overspccding is
destructive, but not that doubling the
speed increases the violence of road
shock fourfold.
Many operators use simple illustra-
tions with decided and lasting effect.
For instance, the Importance of proper
fabrication can be explained so that
1T will stick in the drivers mind BY
showing him piece of polished steel
under miscroscope and pointing out
that the jagged outline, visible to the
naked eye, must be filled up with oil
III order to prevent the edges from
causing damage, he is impressed more
than being merely told to "oil up
Educating the driver is largely up to
the operator, for the average driver is
eager and willing to learn.
There are many ways of getting and
holding the drivers interest They
may be summed up in two funda-
mentals. First, the driver should be
treated squarely. This can probably
best be accomplished by equipping his
truck with a mechanical recorder
which will give him credit for the
work he does. The second method is
the installation of bonus system
The unique position of motor truck
pilot as free agent almost requires
bonus system, and the investment at
stake justifies it.--B f. Goodrich
Company.