Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1920-11-12

A steadily increasing number of
shippers are looking toward the motor
truck for the solution of their trans
pOrtatiOn problems. Farmers are in
Guided In this category, and it may
therefore be well to point out, as the
result Of actual experience of others,
the things they should consider in con
nection with the use of motortrucks to
haul their produce to market
In very few instances, say experts of
the bureau Of markets, Unitsd States
Department Of Agriculture, it is advis-
able for farmer to purchase and op-
crate a motortruck solely for his own
needs, as the initial investment cost Of
upkeep and the limited time the truck
Is likely to be in use make the venture
expensive and disproportionate to the
/ convenience secured
Where trucks are operated by pri-
vate individual for profit the owner Of
I the truck usually operates between
certain points on a fixed schedule. The
farmer assumes no risk. He simply
pays whatever the rate for carriage
may be, and may find the use Of this
means Of transportation an advantage
over the railroad or over hauling his
produce to market himself by team
At the same time 1t has often occurred
that when the farmer had learned to
depend upon this service, the rates
would be raised to a point that the
farmer could i'll afford to pay or that
another motortruck operaSr would
enter the field with the result that both
operators were compelled to go out Of
business, leaving the farmer without
any truck service at all
One Successful Venture.
1t may be well to consider the basis
upon which a farmer may secure mo-
tOrtruck transportation at a nominal
cost and create a service upon which
he can place full reliance.
There are several cooperative mo-
tortruck associations in existence of
which perhaps the Farmers CO-Opera-
tive company of Hartford county, Md.
has had the largest measure of sue
cess, The territory served by the as
ISOLATION is a very productive agriCul-
tural region. Many Of the farmers
ship milk to Baltimore some raise
truck crops, and others practice gen
eraI farming.
The association rates on many com
modities are decidedly lower than
those of the railroad The members
say that the saving of time in market
ing their produce is a big advantage,
also. For example, when the farmers
hauled their produce to market by
wagon they had to start out at mid
night and did not return home until |
nine o'clock the next morning. Now,
at least eight hours Of that time is
saved for other work.
But while the Hartford county COM
pany has had considerable success, it |
would not have been possible had the |
conditions not been favorable for the |
operation Of a cooperative motortruck |
route. This fact should not be lost |
sight Of and for the benefit Of those
contemplating the establishment Of CO.
operative m0tortruck associations the |
following points should receive care
full consideration;
Factors to Be Considered.
A careful survey should be made to !
determine the adequacy Of present |
transportation facilities, the reasona-
bIeuess of the rates charged, tie APP |
proximate daily tonnage available for |
movement in each direction, the char !
acter Of the roads over which the |
trucks must be operated and the gen
eral sentiment Of the community to- |
ward such an association, The dis |
lance from market should not be more |
than 40 miles and there should be suf-
fcient volume OF produce to warrant |
reasonably constant operation Of the
trucks throughout the year.
II uuNlLE bEtH NbuAluhtA AlAhA NhN
cooperative enterprise will be decid-
ed advantage, only men who have dem
onstrated their business ability Iii
handling their private affairs and who
exercise a good influence among the
members Of the community should be
selected as directors. The secretary
should be man with energy, tact
business ability and a high apprecia.
ton Of the farmers interests. The
capitalization Of the association should !
be large enough to permit the issuance
of enough stock to pay for the trucks
In cash to assure sufficient amount
of cash on hand as working capital
and to have enough unissued stock to
provide for future sound extension of
:he business, as well as depreciation
fund to replace wornUdt equipment.
Make Service the Watchword.
The trucks should be selected only |