RAILWAY TRUCK LOADS

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3717, 2 November 1926, Page 2

RAILWAY TRUCK LOADS

A VICTORIAN DIFFICULTY. The Victorian Railways Commissioners, in replacing smaller trucks with larger, have had to deal with the problem of the small load. .They have given assurances that producers’ interests will he protected when the eleventon and other small capacity trucks now in use in Victoria are withdrawn and replaced by large- trucks. The Commissioners have promised that when the (3,000 or more eleven-ton trucks now in use are withdrawn an equal number ol sixteen-ton trucks will be placed in service under such conditions that lor the purpose ol making freight charges when a load does not exceed eleven tons, the snick will be regarded as an eleven-tou truck. Ibis will mean that producers will pay no more for the sixteen-ton trucks up to the number of eleven-ton trucks now in use than they now do. The arrangement, of course, will not provide for an increase in the number of small trucks available, as the number of sixteen-ton trucks winch will be treated as eleventon trucks will be equal to the number of eleven-ton trucks now running. The official statement issued by the Commissioners says;—

“As each eleven-ton truck is withdrawn, a sixteen-tou truck will he marked as available for use if required as an eleven-ton truck at the rate and under the conditions applicable to an eleven-ton truck. Any loading over the minimum prescribed for the eleven-ton truck will be charged pro rata. The elimination of eleven-ton trucks will not mean that consignments will be held at stations when the larger trucks are introduced in order to form full truck-loads. The service to be given will, to all intents and purposes, be as good, if not better, than at present, and the staff will co-operate with railwayusers in every possible way to ensure that consignments are received and despatched with promptitude.”