SPECIALIZED METHODS N TANKER OPERATION
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Transport of Liquids the Main Feature of the Business of the Crow Carrying Co., Ltd. A LondonNorthamptonRegular
Service Also Run
Hauling Over 20 Different Classes of CommOdity,Many, of Them Being Liquids. Eight-wheeled Tank Wagons Among a Fleet of 49 Vehicles "A LIST of the commodities which we handle covers practically every letter of the alphabet from A to X inclusive. The commodity represented by the letter X is Xylole, a coal-tar product." This statement was made to a representative of The Commercial Motor by Mr. Herbert H. Crow, A.M.Inst.T., a director of the well-known Crow Carrying Co., Ltd., Harts Lane, North Street, Barking, London, E
The company was established in 1920, by Mr. Latimer Crow, who purchased
three lorries, each constructed for the transport a SOO cans of petrol, for work on behalf of the predecessor of the existing Redline-Glico concern. Later, the company took up an agency for the sale of Acme petrol throughout Essex, a contract which gave the concern its first introduction to the use of tankers for the bulk distribution of motor spirit. This agency was, however, surrendered in favour of concentration on road haulage, particularly the bulk transport of liquids.
The fleet now comprises 49 vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce breakdown tender. The transport units are of Albion;•,Bedford, Dennis, Leyland, Morris-Commercial,•Scantrnell and Thornycroft makes. One of the latest B24
acquisitions is an Albion 1,200-gallon tanker, with a body by the Aluminium Plant and Vessel Co., Ltd., and a Duramin cab, the complete vehicle weighing under 24 tons unladen. A similar vehicle was to be seen on the tank maker's stand at the Commercial Motor Show, last year.
The company claims to run the largest tanker in this country—a Scammell 3,850-gallon outfit with a Thompson Brothers' stainless-steel tank body, for the transport of industrial alcohol, for which purpose it has been passed by the Custom's and Excise authorities. By way of contrast, the fleet also inchides a Scammell mechanical horse. The tanker fleet comprises all types of vehicle, some of the most impressive being the big Scammell frameless articulated eight-wheelers.
The Crow concern has achieved such a reputation for the transport of liquids that its other haulage activities are sometimes overlooked. Since 1921, the company has operated, regularly twice weekly, a service from London to Northampton. This route is now covered by a Bedford 3-ton Luton-type van and the same driver has been engaged on the service since its inception.
"chis facility is provided principally for the boot and shoe trade in Northampton, loads comprising finished products and raw materials. Mr. Crow informed us that, in 15 years, the only claim for damage has been made' in respect of one pair of low-priced shoes.
The company also undertakes general haulage, and has had experience of such specialized work as the transport of ice cream. The stock includes an insulated container for perishable goods.
In discussing the liquid-transport activities of the coneern, Mr. Crow emphasized the need for cleanliness in
tankers. Vehicles must be grouped and maintained exclusively for handling certain classes of con-unodity, in order that there may be no contamination. In addition, however, the tanks are thoroughly cleansed by means of steam and are afterwards swabbed out by hand.
According to the type of product to be dealt with, the company uses ordinary steel, stainless-steel and aluminium tanks, also keeping a range of detachable tank bodies which may be changed from chassis to chassis. The ordinary steel bodies are suitable for prattically any of the usual oils.
Stainless-steel tanks are employed for the transport of edible oils and
other liquids such as vinegar. Aluminium bodies are particularly valuable in handling coal-tar products, such as benzole, which show a tendency towards corrosion of the tanks.
Hot liquids are carried in insulated tank bodies, Alfol being the principal insulating agent. The liquid is pumped into the tank in the warm state and the insulation maintains the required temperature. Nearly all the tankers are equipped with mechanical pumps, the Albany pump being particularly suited to the handling of hot liquids. On one occasion, a pump of this type dealt with with 1,650 gallons in 18 minutes. The principal makes of tank represented in the fleet are the Thompson Brothers, • Aluminium Plant and Vessel, and Steel Barrel.
The latest departure by the company is the supplying, under contract, of a tanker for tar spraying, although for many years the concern has transported tar. The chassis of the new machine is an Albion 6-73-tonner, upon which is mounted Thompson Brothers patent spraying apparatus.
Maintenance is effected on the unit replacement system. The Crow company conducts all its own maintenance operations, with the exception of one or two specialized tasks. The wide variety of types of tanker necessary in dealing with so many different kinds of liquid makes it difficult to adhere strictly to the principle of docking by mileage. The concern follows a policy of "little and often," small faults being rectified immediately they become apparent and the vehicles maintained at a high level of efficiency. In addition to the drivers' daily reports on the condition of their vehicles, a sheet, bearing in the lefthand column the identification number of each vehicle in the fleet, is posted up nightly and each driver makes a note beside the appropriate number, of any defect which may have become apparent in his machine. This schedule forms the basis of the work of the maintenance night stall.
In dealing with a fleet which covers over 800,000 miles a year, accurate costing is of vital importance. A weekly record is kept of the petrol and oil consumption of each machine, a standard figure being determined and marked in red ink on the right-hand side of a large sheet of graph paper.
Week by week a note is made of the average consumption, red ink being used when it shows an improvement over the basic figure and black in cases of excessive consumption. A monthly statement of all cost—operating and establishment—is prepared. Mr. Crow has a keen appreciation of the value of road-rail co-operation. On his premises he has a railway siding, and distributes in London a good deal of rail-borne traffic. He plans further to develop this phase of the business and is willing to purchase road-rail trailers (similar to those now extensively employed for milk transport), containers and any other special equipment which may be necessary to deal with goods not only from other parts of this country, but also from the Continent. A wharf is also being constructed and will open up new possibilities in road-water co-operation.