THE TREND OF LARGE COMMERCIAL MOTOR-VEHICLE DESIGN 250049

Reviewing the present transportation problem in regard to its demand for larger motor-vehicle units of transport, the author says that the motor truck is proving to be successful in the movement of practically all local freight and that the motorcoach is meeting with greater and greater favor as the logical vehicle with which to meet the demands of the traveling public for better transportation facilities.

Although the present types of motor vehicle are serving present needs in a more or less successful manner, when strict economics becomes the standard for measuring road transportation a demand will be made for vehicles that will accommodate the maximum freight or passenger loads in the minimum of street space. At speeds governed within limits of safety they will offer the utmost comfort for passengers and will haul perishable goods over long distances in quantities large enough to assure strictly economic operation.

Pointing out that the railroads long since discarded the four-wheel car as being entirely unsuited for freight and for passenger haulage and saying that more wheels must be called into service for motor vehicles if greater loads are to be carried, so that the axle loads may be kept within reasonable limits and that the weight on the roads can be distributed over as great a road area as possible, the author says further that, no matter what the ultimate multi-wheel motor-vehicle may prove to be, one of the intermediate stages of development will be along the lines of six-wheel and eight-wheel vehicles. Uses for such vehicles are enumerated and somewhat detailed descriptions are given of the six-wheel and the eight-wheel types in which the author is interested, inclusive of their operating characteristics.