Evening star., 1931-06-21

In American cities has developed into
an exact science. Two OF the basic rules
are the absolutely safe operating condi-
TORS Of the vehicles and the tested and
prove competency Of the man placed In
charge of it. There is back of these
trucks highly organized system Of
daily inspection and frequent overhaul.
which prevents any unit being allowed
on the streets If found faulty in any
respect. Whether the State requires
licenses for operators or not, no man Is
employed without a period of tutelage
under expert direction and then he
must give definite and convincing proof
Of his ability to controi a vehicle under
the most perplexing and intricate of
traffic situations.
Course of Training.
The course of training includes a
thorough grounding in the rules Of the
road, the traffic laws of the city and
State and an intimate knowledge Of the
vehicle itself and the functions Of its
various parts. Nor is he allowed to
forget. Safety first" Is constantly
urged upon him. To prevent accidents
Is his first duty. He must concede the
rights Of the pedestrian He must obey
trafdc officers and signals. An accident
becomes a black mark on his rec
ord, the memory Of which can only be
erased by subsequent freedom from mis-
haps for a long period. A repetition
may put his job in jeopardy. No con-
Germ is likely to take many chances
with vehicle employees who show any
inclination toward indifference or care
lessness.
Generally speaking, the men placed
in charge of vehicles operated by prom
inent and long-established concerns are
fc
therefore. that their record is remark
able for the relatively small number of
avoidable mishapS charged against
them, considering the possibilities that
lie in civic centers of the gravest traf-
fic density, where crowds of pedestrians
well-nigh overwhelm or hamper con-
tinuous movement, in spite Of police
regulation.
1t has been suggested that trafic
congestion in the cities might be less
ened somewhat were commercial truck
ing operations carried on before and
after business hours. That might be
practical in the movement Of such sup
plies as fuel, milk and food, but 1t
could not be done in the handling Of
urgently needed merchandise and many
other commodities, under the present
long established distribution methods
Of American business concerns. In fact,
it would require complete transforma-
ton Of customs and practices that are
virtually a part of the Nations eco
nomic life. It would have many rani-
fications. not the least being a neces-
sary readjustment of railroad schedules,
to f1t In with such a radical change.
Business People Dictate.
It Is not the transportation operators,
but business people themselves who die
tate when they will receive the goods to
be delivered to them by transportation
companies. They operate in the day
light hours and the service they employ
must necessarily function likewise. Even
excessively early deliveries of goods are
not wanted. for it involves an overlap
ping of employment that some one may
be on hand to receive it,
: The penchant of business people to
suit shipping to their convenience is
concretely demonstrated in preparation
Of their own gocdS for movement. In
the largest cities, that is not begun un-
til late in the afternoon and often not
completed until closing time. Their
goods are then released for movement
by truck at the very period when the
street traffic is at its peak. Regularly
scheduled railroad trains are awaiting
it, and so that congestion problem be-
comes intensified rather than laSened,
without definite prospects of solution
at the present time. At any rate, it will
apparently always be with us and We
can depend upon it that commercial
vehicle operators will do all they can
to help alleviate its most serious as
DectS