The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-23
Films Tell Story.

dangers and difficult situations encoun-
tered, such as streams which had to be
forded. the mud-holes without number
which not only presented eriou diff
f~iculties to travel, but. imposed a tire.
mendous strain upon both trucks and
tires.
In addition, ,as they went along, the
crew kept an absolutely correct record
OF the amount Of oil. gas, air and all
else connected with the trip, In order
to compile facts and figures wanted by
the Firestone ship-by-truck bureau for
the use OF the public generally. This
bureau has been quietly accommodating
a vast fund Of information, which will
be at the disposal Of the public through
the local branches of the Firestone,
where the bureau representatives will
be stationed.
There were truck demonstrations and
parades all the way back to Akron. 1t
was surprising how much interest was
manifested in 'ship-by-truck" In such
| big cities as Washington, Baltimore and
| Philadelphia. Even blase New York city
sat W, and took notice; Ana the rleSt
in big truck parades and demonstra-
tons In Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo and
Cleveland, as the caravan neared AK
ron,
There was a great welcome and much
| enthusiasm as the fleet rolled down the
main street of the Rubber city, to re-
port at the Firestone plant,
This trip was by all ODDS the most
convincing demonstration of the feasi-
bility of motor truck express e
staged. Other long distance truck runs
yes, but never under like conditions.
carrying capacity loads at all times.
st was a wonderful trip" said Mr..
FAR. in charge of the fleet. land the
way we were received everywhere
showed that ship by-truck" is recog-
nized as one Of the greatest movements
in the history Of transportation. 1t Is
a safe bet that our loaded test trucks
were received with more enthusiasm
than any truck fleet that ever tray
ersed the country.
Everywhere people told US that we
had opened their eyes to the real possl-
bilities Of shipping by truck, and every.
! where we left behind us well organized
ship by-truck' associations. with truck
routes planned In every direction.
But. wonderful as the record Of these
test fleets bearing the flag of 'ship-by-
truck" appears, 1t is merely the next
step in the great campaign of education
which Mr.. Firestone has undertaken.
to make motor truck express a per-
manent institution and a recognized in
tegral part of our transportation sys-
TEN,
The ship-by-truck bureau, centralized
for the great elearing house OF m1Orma-
ton for the shipping public, and local
lied by its many offices at the various
Fi~restone branches, Is the main objec-
tive which in Mr., Frestone's judgment
will do more to develop the motor truck
express than any other factor in its
progress.
1t is the work of this bureau as it Is
operated locally--and locally 1t will make
its influence felt more especially at the
start-to make II serve not merely as a
clearing. house Of information, but IL
will bring shippers and operators to-
gether on a basis OF mutual profit.
owners of trucks win be listed and
the names of these operators and their
truck routes will be published regular
". Rates and the tonnage capacity of
their trucks available will be on file.
Shippers will be put in touch with op-
orators. Information as to return loads
will appear through the bureau. Meth
DDS of handling shipments as far as pos
sible in other sections will be suggest
ed to local operators, with methods on
arriving at accurate costs and reason
able rates. And so on-its activities
will cover the whole field of the busi-
ness.
Attached to the central bureau will
be a department whose special func-
tion will be to conduct exactly the in
vestigatisns and researches into the
various economic phases Of the new way
Of transportation. This Information win