The Washington times., 1919-09-06
BIG TRUCKS CUT
HAULAGE COSTS
r. e FULTON.

! r. e. FULTON, .ss.-.
L Vice President, international Meter Co.
| With the constantly increasing vol
ume OF transportation upon our high
| ways, the problem is one which Will
\ have to be met with the development
of the future in mind, as we'll as the
needs Of today. There is only one
thing we can assume as absolutely
certain, and that Is, the amount Of
| transportation will continue to in
crease at an enormous rate every
year.
The problem before US is not pri-
marily good roads nor motor trucks.
but how shall we handle the enormous
volume OF traffic that is increasing
| every year at a tremendous rate?
In meeting this problem, We must
keep in mind first of all that trans
! portation must be cared for; We can
not reduce it or abolish it. We have
got to build our roads up TO the de-
ma9ds made upon them by the needs
/ of the people. We can not permit
| progress to be strangIed by made
quate transportation facilities.
From an economic standpoint, the
development Of highway transporta-
tion lies in the use of larger capacity
units, and not in limitations to
smaller vehicles. II transportation
efficiency is to be the standard, our
highways must be constructed or re-
built TO carry satisfactorily heavy
motor trucks Of even larger capacity
than the largest now in use.
II is not difficult TO picture the ec-
onomic handicap railroad tfranspo--
tation, and with it the curtailment
of the wonderful development OF this
country, if the railroads had been
g. II.
stead Of advancing steadily to the
TO-lb., the SO-lb. and 9O-lb. rails. which
make motives and heavy trains now
IT. use. The only difference in the
situation is that the roads are pub
licly owned, while the railroads are
privately owned.
In the matter OF initial cost of mo-
tor trucks, there is a marked gain in
economy with the larger capacities
The cost per ton capacity in the
case OF the average half ton truck
is $2,02S, for the 3-ton capacity We
hicle, $1,322, and for the az -tonner
$40. There is no doubt that the
ratio Of increased economy will hold
for sizes up 70 at least 10 and l2-ton
capacity trucks.
In the operation Of trucks, we find
increasing economy on the per ton
load capacity basis, not in a few or
even group Of items. but in practi-
cally every charge coming under the
head OF operating cost, from fuel to
depreciation, and from drivers wages
to insurance. Where large units can
be used they materially decrease the
ton-mile cost OF transportation.
Comparing the 2-tOn capacity truck
with the 5-ton capacity, we find that
in increasing the load carried $50
per cent, the operating cost is de-
creased 1872 per cent; while compar-
ing the 3-tonner with the TJk-tonner,
there is also a $50 per cent increase
IN carrying capacity with a decrease
Of 22.S per cent in operating costs.
Unquestionably, this ratio will hold
good for much larger sizes, so maxi
mum transportation efficiency in mo-
tor transportation must be sought in
vehicles with carrying capacity
greatly beyond the largest in use to-
day.
In view of these facts, our high
ways should be built to stand the
amount OF traffic that is demanded
Of them. Limiting the gross weight
OF any vehicle to less than 2S.OOO
pounds is short-sightcd economy for
the present that is storing up a large .
amount OF trouble and expense for
the future. Roads must be built to
meet the requirements, for the re-
quirements cannot be limited to road
conditions. 0