Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-04
:.
TRUCK LINES:
REDUCE H. G. I.
President of the Garford Mo.
tor Truck Co. Tells How
Problem May Be Met

systematic organization OF motor
truck express lines already in opera
| tion and intelligent Inauguration of
new routes will afford at least a
partial solution to the present high
cost of living problem according to
men prominent in industry and
| commerce.
Lack of adequate transportation
is one of the chief reasons offered
for the present crisis. In many
| cities, government and state officials
are investigating food waste which,
according to the commissioned men.
may be traced directly to transport
tation delays.
There arc numerous instances of
commission firms having been in
dicted for the Wholesale disposal of
foodstuffs, which, the commission
men claim. were delivered by rail-
roads in unsaleablc condition.
Efficient organization of the mo-
tor truck lines in various communi-
ties with the idea of eliminating the
possibility of idle trucks and light
return loads will go far toward solv-
ing this transportation problem and
reducing transportation costs, in the
opinion of many who have given
this phase of the matter careful
consideration.
ITO obtain maximum returns
from motor truck transportation,
the numerous lines now operating
should be Systematically organized"
according to E. A. Williams. Jr.,
president of the Garford Motor
Truck Company, who has devoted
considerable time to the study of
tho ffon fof rn-Ah1nx.a
without n unity OF purpose there
Is capacity waste in every COM
munity. This naturally results in a
loss of tonnage and increased costs.
1t has been said that seventy per
cent. of the motor trucks operating
In the United States during 1918
travelled empty one way. From these
figures 1t was estimated there was
q capacity waste of 2S3, 500, 900 tons
during the year.
with the establishment OF high
way transportation commissions in
the various states and the organiza-
ton of transportation bureaus in
many of our cities this tonnage
waste Is being eliminated. In several
cities the haulage concerns have
formed associations and have estab-
lished central Offices from which the
motor truck transportation activi-
ties of that particular community are
directed. These associations are af-
filiating with associations in nearby
cities in order to further decrease
the possibility OF idle trucks and
light return loads and to increase
the general efficiency of the service.
"The motor truck actually has be-
come n public utility in many To-
calities. Entire communities are de-
pending upon II as means of sup
ply. It has become equally as es-
sential as the railroad and water
way.
ITO obtain maximum efficiency,
the transportation units of the coun-
highway-should be linked up sys-
tematically. More highways should
be built, the present highways i'm
proved and a greater number of mo-
tor express lines touching those Sec
tions not reached by either rail or
water, should be created.
THAT such system would have
important bearing upon reducing
the cost Of living essentials is ap-
parent. Available government fig
ures show that in 1919 the cost of
shipping by truck throughout the
country was from ten to thirty cents
per ton mile lower than the cost by
horse-drawn vehicles. One can at
least imagine what this will amount
to in a year.
Speakers before a recent con-
vention of retail and wholesale
grocers in Toledo voiced the opinion
that their hope of reducing prices
lay in the motor truck. Practically
an entire session, of the convention
was devoted to this phase of the
transportation problem which they
deemed highly responsible for the
present high costs.
zone speaker, an officer of the
grocers' organization. declared that
the motor truck held the actual So
luton to the problem.
This recognition OF the motor
truck as transportation factor.
coming from men who analyze and
understand conditions governing the
markets. is noteworthy and should
be taken as convincing proof of its
worth"