"Artics" Give Place
Page 46
Page 47
Page 48
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
By P. A. C. Brockington, A.M.1.Mech.E. FOR the past eight months Alfred T. Hartshorne, Ltd., Darlaston, Staffs, have been operating Bedford 7,tonners converted into sixwheelers for sand deliveries in place of Bedford articulated outfits. The experiment has proved a sound one, for the " rigids " are more economical on fuel and tyres, and are mote popular with
drivers, . When the change-over was made last July the company were operating 12 vehicles on sand work, six of them " arties." The Bedford 7-tonners which replaced them had their chassis lengthened and were fitted with a Boys
trailing axle. Increasing the chassis length by .3 ft. 6 in. enabled a 20-ft. 10-cu.-yd. fixed-sided body to be employed, giving a payload of 11 tons, This correspOnds with the capacity of the old seini:trailers.
Improved Fuel Consumption The six-wheelers cover the same route as the semi-trailers. On the outward journey they run empty to a quarry in Congleton, 50 miles away, and on the return trip they carry sand to local foundries, making a daily mileage of about 200. The " artics " were powered by Perkins R6 oil engines and equipped with standard driving axles, returning a fuel consumption of around 12 m.p.g., whereas the consumption of the rigid six-wheelers is about 15.4 m.p.g. These vehicles are fitted with the makers' oil engine and two-speed axle. Because of the limited mileage it is not possible to make an accurate estimate of tyre life, but tread measurements indicate that the six-wheelers will run about 50,000 miles before replacement of the 9.00-20-in, covers is necessary. This will provide a substantial saving in tyre costs, which is shown by comparison with the life of the " artic " tyres. On average the 37 x 7-in. covers • of the tractor and the 36 x 8-in, semi-trailer tyres were replaced when the vehicle had completed 35,000 to 40,000 miles.
1 part, the improved tyre mileage is attributed to the 'other running of the six-wheelers when they are rating without a load. The greater riding comfort n empty is particularly appreciated by the drivers, who sider that the rigid lorries are more stable on the road the " artics."
the six other lorries in the sand fleet, one is a Bedford on six-wheeler, four are A.E.C. eight-wheelers and the aining vehicle is a B.M.C. 7-ton tipper. The heavier ies are used in conjunction with three drawbar trailers. and is loaded by excavator in the quarry and the dard type of wood floor is liable to frequent damage the impact of the grab and to severe abrasion by the 1, which has a high silica content. Until recently this .esented a serious cost factor but, following the applicaof glass-fibre fin, lining to the six-wheelers, there been no measurable wear of the (Right, upper) An rs and their high impact resistance Austin articulated obviated damage by the grab. outfit, with an he lining is resin sprayed and its unusual frontal apposition includes granite powder, pearance and wide wrap-round windch is rolled in before hardening. screen, leaves the I of the lining is about 5s. a square premises of Wilkins :, and it is supplied by Toni Byatt, and Mitchell, Ltd., , Stoke-on-Trent. A full descrip Darlaston. (Right, lower) Mr. A. T. was given in The Commercial Hartshorne, on the or on November 14, 1958. right, emphasizes a Lse of this flooring material has Point in discussion with Mt'. E. A. tsed great interest, both in this Riddle, general airy and overseas. A recent inquiry manager of the the operators came from New company, land.
Four haulage groups in the two asociat concerns, the.
second company being Alfred T.
Hartshorne (Darlaston), Ltd. In addition to the sand vehicles the fleet includes 25 semi-trailers with van bodies and 20 stand-by trailers carrying Wilkins and Mitchell washing machines under contract.
There is a. general haulage fleet comprising eight vehicles and a second group of six vehicles operating under contract to the Sankey company, giving a total of 51 vehicles and 23 additional trailers. B.M.C. oil-engined tractors with Eaton two-speed axles are employed for the finished-goods contract traffic. The articulated trailers are of the 8-ton van type on 10-ton units fitted with platform bodies.
General-haulage vehicles comprise E.R.F. four-, sixand eight-wheelers, powered by Gardner 6LW engines, which are mainly engaged on night trunking runs to London and Liverpool.
Mr. A. T. Hartshorne regards the sl 3 drivers as the mainstay of the organization and this represents the guiding principle on which operations are based. According to Mr. E. A. Riddle, general manager of the companies, the principle is exemplified by the rule that the driver must be satisfied about the mechanical condition of his vehicle— no one can overrule his instructions relating to maintenance.
If, for example, a driver does not consider that the brakes or steering gear of his lorry are operating efficiently, despite an assurance by the workshop foreman that they are in perfect , order, the vehicle will not leave the depot until he has approved its performance after further adjustments.
Drivers are assured a full week's pay for 52 weeks in the year and no deductions are made for enforced absences necessitated by such things as domestic troubles. All the long-distance vehicles are equipped with heaters and radios and three pairs of overalls are provided which are changed every week for cleaning. The " one vehicle, one driver" rule is strictly observed, and each vehicle is invariably washed and greased by the driver once a week.
In Mr. Hartshorne's view the success of the fleet has been built on good maintenance. Although a driver does not normally perform mechanical work his pride in his job and in the condition of his vehicle fosters a valuable keenness regarding fault finding. In the event of minor mechanical trouble on the road which the driver considers he can rectify he telephones his base for instructions by a mechanic. All vehicles are docked for a day every fortnight for a thorough inspection by the staff of five mechanics. They have four pits for routine servicing.
Operational Efficiency
Mr. Riddle is pleased with the facilities provided by members of the Transport Association, who now number 57. In the case of the general haulage vehicles, operational efficiency is aided by interchange of traffic with other members and by their assistance in backloading. The knowledge that members will readily give emergency aid in the event of a breakdown promotes driver confidence.
Most of the companies' vehicles have the registration number 333, obtained by transfer from various counties. Although this number does not apply exclusively to the Hartshorne fleet, it is a mark of distinction which the drivers appreciate and which is increasingly recognized by traders and other road users.
Several vehicles are equipped with glass-fibre cabs. All the new vehicles have them—Homalloy are mainly specified. Plastics cabs are preferred to the standard type because they reduce the unladen weight of the vehicle and are more easily cleaned.
Long-distance vehicles mainly operate night trunking services and are taken over by a shunt driver at the end of the run for load distribution and collection. The shunt driver is allowed 30 minutes to check tyre pressures and inspect the vehicle to ensure that the controls, lights and so on are operating efficiently.
The replacement policy of the organization is based on a vehicle life of four years, apart from the eightwheelers which run for longer periods. This normally obviates major overhauls and replacements.