The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-09
WHY YOU SHOULD
SHIP BY TRUCK
II. s. Firestone Explains ADJ
vantagcs Of This Method
for short Hauls.
ny HARVEY =. FtuEsTONE.


President Firestouc Tire 6 Rubbcr Co.
When the motor truck came into being
few years ago few people apprehended
that truck traffic was going to be n very
considerable factor IN the transport OF
railroads could be superseded for freight
hauling; least OF all did the railroads
and express companies.
Some tln,- later the idea entered the
minds OF both of them: IL also entered
the minds of numerous truck owners.
Still none OF them realized the possibili-
ties. The truck owner did not think for
moment that he. with his trucks. could
compete with the express companies and
the railroad companies. II was gem
orally considered that they had the
monopoly on freight and express handling.
War Changed Outlook.
The war changed all that. When
Nerdun was saved. when the defence Of
the great Somme valley was accom-
plished. when the Chateau Thierry VIC
tory was achieved. each one made pos
sble by victory otsallied motors over
German railroads the motor truck was
put on the map to stay.
In this country the railroads were
simply flooded with traffic they couldn't
begin TO handle the volume. They were
submerged. Moreover. they discovered
that their short hauls were unprofita bic !;
that the only traffic they could handle
at profit was the long distance haul.
On the other hand. the truck owner.
driven to 1t by circumstances beyond
his control. began to convey both freight
and express conslgnmcnts by truck. He
was surprised to find that he could do It
at a profit. and that he could run his
trucks on schedule time time.
Al first of course. the truck owner ex-
pected great hostility on the part Of the
railroads. Possibly there was some such
feeling for n while but the truck owner
presently became aware that the rail-
roads. instead of objecting tn truck
traffic, were beginning to welcome II as
an adjunct to their own systems.
Trucks are taking away the unprofit-
able short haul from the railroads and
making Of Il a profitable haul for them
selves. Instead Of hurting the railroads.
truck traffic is helping them by bringing
huge amounts of perishable freight
which 1t would otherwise he impossible
to snip 10 "a thousand junction points all
over the United States l..
short HauIs Costly to Roads.
a study made by Mr.. McAdoo's
1t rarely. II ever pays the railroads TO
handle short hauls. During the war. by
cooperation and mutual consent, We have
transferred much Of this short haul
traffic to the highways As a result
freight can. within reasonable limits.
be hauled from the door of the shipper to
the door of the consgnee more cheaply
than any railroad can carry II. AS q
consequence. too. the railroads will
a Ia ltNtlT e. A.
the State of Kansas has about decided
not TO build any more intersuburbln
traction lines. The analysis made by
the Railroad Administration proves that
most of these feeder lines never have
paid and were all the while economic
ally unsound. The feeder lines of the
future will largely be highway transport
vehicles. gasoene driven, running over
improved roads from the producing
vendors to the shipping points OF the
railroads, trolleys and inland water
ways. thus developing the country on a
broader scale and finally tying up every
producing confer with an ultimate out
let.
The advantage Of motor truck trans
port has to DO with the rehaulling of
goods. The cost OF rehandling Is be-
coming one of the great problems OF all
transportation experts. Rehandling in
wolves more labor possible damage 10
goods, warehOusing and delay. Within
It's sphere highway transport eliminates
these exceptional factors and lends its
value to the general scheme of trans
portation.
The policy of shipping by truck has
much to recommend It. For instance,
when 4 shipment is entrusted to one OF
the several thousand truck transporta-
ton companies in this country there is
ample assurance of punctual delivery
These companies dispatch their trucks
on regular schedule over carefully
planned routes
Less Handling Ncccssitated.
In addition 20 prompt shipment. they