Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-12
Ho1U About Motor Trucks?
Here's a Fine Summary
OfResults From the West

their trucks will prove to be a
profitable investment.
| In the opinions of these men the
prlnclpal advantage of a motor truck
disadvantage IS 'pcor roads"
| AS compared with horses and
wagons the trucks save about two
| thirds of the time required for haul
ing to and from these farms.
On the average there are over
the roads. are in such condition on
account of mud, snow, etc, that these
trucks cannot be used. The roads on
which nearly 95 per cent of them US
ually travel are all or part dirt
The condition of the roads prevent
ed the use of the trucks with pneu-
matte tires a little less than seven
weeks during the year covered by the
reports, and of those with solid tires
a little over nine weeks.
are equipped with pneumatic tires, 81
per cent with solid tires, and 40
per cent with pneumatics in front
and solids in rear.--However, eXpeRi-
ence has convinced So per cent that
pneumatics are best for their condi-
tions. IS per cent that solids are
best. and per cent that pneumatics
in front and solids in rear are best.
These men have return loads for
trucks about one-third of thn i,np
A majority of these men still use
their horses for some hauling on
the road.
On more than half of the farms
all the hauling in the fields and
around the buildings is still done
with horses and wagons.
Abouts40 per cent of these men did
some custom hauling with their
the reports. The average amount re-
celved by those who did such work
Their owners estimate that on the
average these trucks travel 2,777
miles and are used on 112 days per
year. -
The average estimate life of these
trucks is six and one-half years, and
on this basis depreciation is usually
the largest single item of expense
in connection with their operation.
The average cost of operation, in
clnd'n" fenre"ia loo. interest on in
yyestmentt, repairs. registration and
license fees. fuel, oil, and tires, is
and three-quarter ton trucks, 1872 for
the one-ton, 21.3 cents for the one and
one-quarter and one and one-half-ton
and 25.S cents for the two-ton.
The average cost of hauling crops,
including the value of the drivers
ty-four cents per ton mile with the
one-half and three-quarter-to ton
trucks, PAL cents with the one-ton,
23.3 cents with the one and one-quar-
ter and one and one-half-ton, and 21.5
cents with the two-ton trucks.
Nearly So per cent of thes trucks
had not been out of commission when
needed for a single day during the
year covered by the reports, and 80
per cent of the owners stated that
they had not lost any appreciate
time on account Of motor and tire
trouble, breakage etc when using
their trucks. About one truck in
fifteen was out of commission more
than five days, however, and one
owner in forty reported a loss of
more than 5 per cent Of the time
when using his trucks.
Fifty-siX per cent of these men
have not reduced the number of their
work-stock since purchasing trucks.
Twenty-four per cent have disposed
of one or two head, and 20 per cent
of more than two head. Tee aver
age reduction for all fans is IL
head.
Half Of these men own ira ctors as
we'll as motor trucks Most Of the
tractors are owned on the larger
farms, howeve'. Only 33 per cent of
the men whose farms contain $50
crop ceres or less own tractors,
while SIS per cent of those with over
800 crop acres own them. The num-
Der of work stock kept on the farms
where both trucks and tractors are
owned is only slightly less than the
responding size where only trucks are
owned.
Seventy-eight per cent Of these
farmers state that their trucks re-
duce the expense for hired help. On
those farms where there is a reduc-
ton the operators estimate that it
amounts to 5000 per year on the aver