The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-26
Systems of Mechanical and
Shop Inspection Prove Value
Freedom From Excessive Shop Costs Are Brought About
by Careful Methods of Inspection. New Era of High
way Transport Sees Many Changes for the Better in
Truck Operation
of Interest TO Farmers WIN lie Captain BuI Next Article
Next Saturday. u sing
20 starr

Constant inspections are tho price
Of freedom from shop costs. The
b@atrun motor truck establishment
will have itn repair bills. but the In.
spcetion system t. the stitch In time
that saves many fold nine later In the
life OF the truck.
The best inspection systems make
an allowance for the care given 20
the truck by IN. driver whenever he
Is out on tho road with his vehicle
or In tho yard. waiting for an order
to make a trip. The bonus system.
which Induces the truck driver Co
make an effort To keep his truck IN
condition. - tho first phasc Of a
ihoro inspection system. The next IL
a regular inspection By the chief me.
chanic % the fleet. who can make
his inspections more or isaH curaori.
". AZ the truck Ia Idle at night or
when work In light The third step
IL regular shop inspection BY either
tho chief mechanic % tho feet, or By
a subsidized garage. II IN. fleet has
\ repair arrangement with any fsar-
iicular Enragc or repair house. This
~ an expensive procedure. but II In
icss expensive than tn. making 81
repairs upon truck after heavy
damage has been done.
Tho best method for tn. average
truck establishment IL TO have a
working arrangement with the man.
ufaeturcr Of the truck operated by
the feet company. for systematic.
regular inspections by that com.
pany's representatives. Tn. bigger
truck companies are not only giving
this service. but arc advising their
customers to utilize their services in
making frcaucn, inspections 20 keep
the truck up 20 the highest pitch Of
efficiency.
Tho various companies make ar.
ferent arrangements for such insp~c-
tons. and to tell what thenc systems
are would be unfair TO IN. selling or.
CARNATIONS and systems Of the man.
ufarturcrs. II can be- said. however.
that the truck companies will coop.
crate gladly with tn. fleet owner In
the making Of a detailed. regular.
systematic inspection Of tho entire
vehicle
The driver can be counted upon. IL
there IL a wcli.workcd out bonus Hyn.
tenn. TO try TO keep hia truck In the
best possible condition. both from
the standpoint OF appearance and
mechanical efficiency. Tn. mere
Incident Of a clean and good looking
truck ~ worth more TO the fleet own.
err than tho bonus system win cost
him. A clean looking truck IL "a roll.
Ing advertisements for the fleet. The
truck which Il muddy. dirty. and not
kept In good shape. IL at "A glance a
bad advertisement for the company
which Is operating the vehicle. To
USE the body Of the truck 10 carry, in
good.looking colors and letters. an
advertisement for the company IL a
moneymakcr. The shipper viii be
glad to use tho truck which looks as
tho its operator was trying 10 keep
his plant in good shape. II IL prima
facic evidence that the truck will be
In condition 10 deliver properly and
quickly the load consigned 10 II.
Tho truck. therefore. should be
made a rolling advertisement for it's
fleet by the Offering of Inducements
to It's driver 20 keep IL so. This work
by the driver includes such matters
as fabrication. proper greasinR of all
parts OF tho vehicle. in addition TO
the first question of clea nliness. a
clean truck IL not only n good look
ing vehicle. but II IL n machine which
is less likely 10 get out OF order. II
n truck Is clean. Il will show 20 the
driver in an instant any part OF the
machine which is threatening to
make trouble. II n spring leaf Is
weakening. II win tell It's story when
the driver In cleaning tho vehicle.
Some fleet owners like 10 have
their trucks kept clean with oil
which cleans off the gritty, dirty
grease from near the moving parts.
The army regulations forbid the use
of oil for this purpose. chiefly from n
cost basis. and for conservation Of
oil. The army used solution Of sal
soda In water 10 clean tho greasy
! portions OF the truck. The drivers
did not like the soda. which was loas
expensive. but which cuts tho paint
and IL not 40 quick in it's cutting the
oil. The individual truck owner may
well try his own experiments on this
problem.
The driver should be required to
keep all bolts and nuts tight, watch
against lost grease cups. guard
against damage to the engine first.
and then to report instantly any diff
fictulty that develops. so that II can
be fixed In the garage as soon as he
reaches n company station.
The fleet mechanic should make n
thoro weekly inspection TO see that
the main portions Of the machine are
In good condition. This is more or
less a running inspection for cleanli.
ness and fabrication. and to find any
evident faults with the fleet. This
inspection should be regular and pref.
erabiy every week, MS II will be used
as part OF the method for checking
up the bonus Of the individual drIv.
ers.