The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-19

| truck h particularly well kept This
/ increase. however, Ia hcdged with
conditions which prevent the driver
from consolidating during most Of
the week. ana appearing with a good
truck on inspection day.
This method Of inspections Ia
[ worked out on an army basis with
"A scale OF extra bonuses or penal.
| ties. In otr Of an accident. the
driver. II the dispatcher tries to
charge tho accident Co him, can APP
peal to arbitrntors chosen from out
side the shop. To pass on his negll'
gence. The system n not as detailed
az II seems ~ works out simply.
THE first three months after being
put IN effect saw an average cut In
repair bills OF more than double the
total paid out IN bonuses.
Various methods. however. may be
used. All 10 based on "a system OF
weekly inspections OF the vehicle.
/ A good bonus system charges the
driver with the tools and equipment
on his car. withholdH enough OF his
pay to make "A fund for replacement.
[ in cane OF loss, again copying an
army method 81 charging tho driver
I for the vehicle which he drives. The
first essential OF any bonus system
IL To make Il worth while for tho
driver 10 keep his machine In good
condition.
Regular Inspection
A weekly vehicle inspection. either
running or In park. IN essential 10
| Judging a drivers care Of his truck.
/ Cleanliness. fabrication. engine
knocks and the general care OF a
machine all should be passed upon
by the inspector. This Is entirely
different from shop or mechanical
inspection. Il IL study Of the car
from the driving or operating stand
point
A bonus may BE- paid In tho way
Of extra oaRh for every week THAI
the machine Is out Of the shop. This
however. Is likely 10 cause the driver
to fail TO report minor difficulties.
which may become serious II not
promptly attended 60.
Some firms hold out Of q drivers
wages all money expended In repairs.
but this leads 90 dissatisfaction
among the men. a fair wage with
a cash bonus brings the brat Hpiri,
Of cooperation among the men.
Another way Of fixing bonus pay
ments II 20 take a cost sheet OF re.
pairs for an entire fleet. pro rate
lhcfn BY machines. and then give TO
each driver a percentage 81 what IL
not expended by hrn in repairs for
that vehicle. This brings excellent
results. but must be hesixcd with
provisions that the split Of the
saving 10 over a considerable period.
for otherwise a single bin 81 repairs
will cat up only the saving for
week or a month. leaving the owner
Of the neet To hold the bag for the
bulk ~ tho bill.
FIRST Of all to secure effective op
Grafton Of a fleet. ~ In essential IN
get an esprit de corps in the corps
Of drivers. and to rs~rsuade them 20
put a pride Ia their vehicles A
small element In this IL TO start
them out with Eood.looking. well.
painted trucks. not material that
looks aA though Il was usod By Pop
Noah TO load his ark. A good look
ing truck. rules TO keep II iookin.
good. and properly cared for. me
chAnieaiiy. more than pays for the
decorators services in advertising
alone.
one elerncn, that IL paid particu.
lar attention TO by many operators
-. a. Fsttts.
age. Too little attention Is paid to
this feature. which is largely de.
pendent upon the driver. though not
TO the same extent AZ repair bills.
THIS element. gas and oil consurnp-
ton. should certainly bc considered
in awarding bonuses.
In the a. r. r. and on the Amcri.
can side OF tho big puddle ms well.
the white star" system WAS In
vogue. Briefly. Il was this. When
a truck passed a credltablc inspec.
don at saturday inspection. the driv.
or. ~ hts disciplinary record for the
week was good. was given n credit
mark and half day off duty in adj.
dition TO any regular leaves for the
following week. This half day
would be continued. II earned. until
the fourth week. Then II his truck
had passed four perfect inspections.
"A white star would be painted below
the drivers seat. on the side OF tho
cab. The driver who carried the
white star would be entitled TO extra
leave for - hours during the fol
lowing week. and during every sub
sequent week In which he passed n
perfect inspection. Damage To "A
truck. due TO no fault OF his. would
not sacrifice the star. A poor in
spcction, however. would forfeit the
decoration and all special privileges
and he would have 10 work his way
up again for four weeks 60 regain
this star.
Needless to say that when the
trucks were chasing Huns in the lat.
ter days OF the war there was little
time for such bonuses. but with the
first relaxation the bonus aystem
WIS resumed.
fufn ~