MAKING LIGHT WORT
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of AWKWARD LOADS Adams Bros. has Built Up, j a Big Haulage movals, the C, and Cars for E ling of Boats, al
Transport), Ltd., mall Beginnings, ss. Factory Re of Aeroplanes and the Hand)ng its Activities
ANicka., born of an advertisement that 'appeared in The Commercial Motor 10 years ago, formed the foundation of a successful haulage business built up by a specialist in the transport of awkward loads. Adams Bros. (Super Transport), Ltd., Dickerage Lane, New Malden, Surrey, started in 1926 with a capital of well under 2100 and with one second-hand Ford 1-tonner ; to-day the concern operates 16 vehicles and five trailers, and its associated firm, Messrs. Adams Garages, hold the agency for Commer and Karrier machines. y
The concern suffered an inauspicious start, for, at the end of the first week of operation, it was found that the Ford had already outlived its period of usefulness and its internals were good only for the scrap heap. A fresh start had to be made and the vehicle was sold at a loss that caused a severe setback to the ambitions of the two brothers who are partners in the business. Undaunted, however, they purchased a second machine and, at the end of four months, the results justified the purchase of another vehicle.
It was at this time that the advertisement, previously mentioned, appeared in The Commercial Motor. It concerned the sale of a second-hand Olsen-Ford longwheelbase 1-tonner. The brothers inspected this machine, and the idea occurred to them that there was
a good market for the I decided to specialize day the company has
The Olsen-Ford gay in 1929, Mr. A. E. Is decided to operate lig with Carrimore semiThis class of machine dealing with much of and five outfits are no It must not be thoul only with awkward lo a good deal of gener contracts for delivery 1 that the success of -Y.] from its ability dada] of awkward loads. They s of work and from that Iked back.
:vice for some time and, i Mr. A. W. D. Adams ded outfits, a Chevrolet ing added to the fleet. .ed very satisfactory for handled by the concern he Adams concern deals he company carries out e; also it holds several is fair to state, however, ny has largely resulted odle tricky loads.
The fleet, at the moment, comprises eight Commers, four Bedfords, two Morris-Commercials, a Dodge and a Karrier. The last-named is a CK3 low-loader, and it has been found to be of particular value for film work, a branch of haulage that has been highly developed by the company.
Five semi-trailers are operated and all these are of Carrimore make. It should be noted that the fleet, as mentioned, does not include a number of contract vehicles.
Being situated near to a part of the Thames that may be said to be the centre of the boat-building trade for this river, the partners came to the conclusion that there were good prospects in the transport of boats from and to builders' yards. They built up an unrivalled service for this class of work and now haul boats from the yards not only to exhibitions, but to purchasers in all parts of the country.
Another interesting feature of this class of transport is that the Thames boat-builders carry out a number of conversions, ships lifeboats and naval-pinnace hulls being renovated and converted into cabin cruisers. The carriage of these hulls from places as far apart as Liverpool, Portslaouth, Cardiff and Southampton to the riverside yards, forms a not unimportant section of the company's activities.
Haulage for film work requires a sound knowledge of the special requirements of the film industry, and the Adams concern has given close consideration to the needs of the producers. The increasing demand for this class of transport 'necessitated the purchase, recently, of the Karrier low-loader, and it has proved of special use for transporting the necessary equipment from the studios to outside locations.
As an example of the types of load that have to be carried for film companies, in addition to cameras, electrical equipment, etc., Adams Bros., Ltd., was recently responsible for removing to location a complete property submarine. As a result of the company's connection with the film studios there as been quite a demand for the use of the concern's vehicles in the actual films. Where commercial vehicles are required in British films, Adams outfits frequently secure the "part."
Based on it experience in handling boats, the Adams concern quoted and secured contracts for the handling of private cars to and from exhibitions, and two weltknown motor manufacturers use this service exclusively. The transport of damaged cars to the makers' works or service stations is an offshoot of this plan.
Cars for export, either packed or unpacked, form another important branch of the concern's work, and daily deliveries are carried out from the makers' works to the various docks. Aeroplanes are also handled, and these, too, are transported either packed or unpacked.
The company has been responsible for the removal of several factories. The dismantling of the machinery and its erection on the new site is also a task undertaken by this haulage concern. A recent removal of this type involved the dismantling, transport and erection of nearly 200 tons of machinery.
Another interesting job tackled a few months ago was the removal from Ham, to a site in Berkshire, of a complete orchard of 10-year-okl apple trees. These were carried upright on a semi-trailer and the greatest care had to be exercised in avoiding damage to overhead telephone wires, etc. A story that is worth telling in connection with this event concerns a stop that was made in Staines, when an onlooker turned to his companion and said: " Blimey, Bill—here comes Bushy Park DE a lorry!"
Road reinforcing materials, comprising shaped arches for bridges, etc., require careful handling. These awkward loads feature in the list of commodities handled by the Adams concern. Air ducts and air-cleaning plant are other examples of bulky but light loads, and it is noteworthy that a full load of air ducts, as carried an a 24-ft. lorry, weighs barely 2 tons.
Apart from the problems involved in dealing with thc type of goods mentioned, other articles of a fragile nature call for the exercise of the utmost care. Among these are gramophone records, sanitary fittings, accumulators, bottled mineral waters, bottled beer, etc.
Mr. A. W. D. Adams told our representative that the company bases its rates entirely on The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs, and these Tables, said Mr. AclAnlq, have proved their value time and time again. The services of S.T.R., this journal's costs expert, have also been invoked on several occasions to supplement calculations and prove to the customer that a rate quoted is equitable.
At the concern's headquarters at New Malden there is a good-sized garage and a well-equipped workshop. In addition, a mess room is provided for the drivers. Three mechanics are employed to maintain the vehicles and good service is available for machines Sold by the associated firm, Messrs. Adams Garages.
A regular system of maintenance is carried out, the vehicles being dealt with, so far as routine operations are concerned, by a night man. The company builds its own bodywork and undertakes painting and sign-writing.
A well-equipped stores adjoins the workshop, and carefully selected spares are stocked for the fleet, as well as for all Commer and Karrier vehicles. Large quantities of block tackle, shear legs and winches for loading and unloading are stocked and carefully maintained, and the workshop is equipped with an overhead runway to facilitate the removal of power units, etc. • The drivers are required to report defects in their vehicles to the shop foreman and, where possible, these are rectified during the night. A further check on the condition of the machines is afforded by the system under which a mechanic drives the vehicles from the garage to the gateway every morning, a distance of several hundred yards. They are lined up in the order required by the day's order sheets and are then taken straight away by the drivers.
Each vehicle is given a complete overhaul about every 12 months and, in consequence, breakdowns on the road are a rare occurrence.
Operating-cost Record System.
The company keeps a careful record of the operating costs of its vehicles, and it is noteworthy that the system employed proves conclusively that The Commercial Motor Tables of Operating Costs are based on practical experience. The maintenance costs per annum for the Adams fleet works out to almost exactly the same figure as that given in the Tables.
The earnings of each vehicle are noted, and analysed daily, a monthly total being made up. Maintenance is calculated On a weekly basis, an allowance being made against each machine for mechanics wages, depreciation, etc., whilst the cost of spares is put against each machine as it requires them. A careful check is kept on fuel costs, and the tanks are filled, and the mileage noted every night. These figures axe also analysed daily and entered in a record book, so that variations in consumption can bQ quickly spotted and discrepancies in performance are immediately apparent.
Adams Bros., Ltd., realizes fully the importance of keeping its vehicles clean, and an inspection that we made of some of the machines showed that their condition, both externally and internally, was beyond reproach. The fleet has a high advertising value.
Drivers and maintenance staff are kept up to concert pitch by unexpected inspections and tests of the vehicles by one or other of the partners, and the machines are frequently followed on the road as a check on speeds and the filling up of log sheets. It should be mentioned that these methods are not intended as a trap for the drivers, but rather to ensure that the regulations concerning speed, driving hours and records are being. properly observed.
Novel Check on Drivers' Hours.
All drivers are paid for a guaranteed 48-hour week and to ensure that each driver has a fair chance of any overtime that is required an ingenious system has been developed. The time cards are checked daily and hanging in the partners' office is a board similar in appearance to a cribbage board. Each driver is represented by a peg and holes are provided to mark the hours and days of the week ; a red line indicates when the 48 hours are reached.
As each driver's time card is checked, his peg is moved on the board, so that it can be seen at a glance and at any moment exactly how many hours have been worked by each of the drivers. The game is to land all the pegs on the 48-hour line every Friday evening.
That the care taken by the company in ensuring that its drivers comply fully with the regulations as to speed had records, etc., is of real value, is evidenced by the fact that the concern has yet to receive its first summons.
A useful facility that is to be developed by Adams Bros., Ltd., is a night parking service. Plenty of space is available, and the position of the company's headquarters close to the Kingston By-pass is a strategic one for this purpose. The trade has already found these facilities of value and it is hoped, in the near future, to include an all-night service station so that lorries parked for the night can, if necessary, receive attention.