UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Ni BULLETIN No. 770 
Contribution from the Bureau of Markets 
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CHARLES J. BRAND, Chief 
Washington, D. C. January 29, 1919 
MOTOR TRANSPORTATION FOR RURAL 
DISTRICTS.* 7 
By J. H. Coiuins, Investigator in Market Surveys. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
Agsiteldi top the motor ctyuckes ea 1 Collection and delivery arrangements...... 20 
Preliminary survey of the field of Harm-to-Parm collection 2220.2 aa- 21 
GVEGA lO Lee Aa Mihara eho on) Cross rodds-xcollections. ss EAH 
Advance estimate of operating costs...... 9 Central assembling points... 2.2. 97 
Gasoline; o1] and ‘grease= = > Sil Deliveryaennethodss Saws acne aes . 22 
DD Givierseewia CCS ue ee ae, Hoke fel Collection of money. 
DepreGiatiornie ses eak see Mee neem AD Keeping cost records 
Interest son “imvestment..--. = =e =D Utilization®-of =the tarm truck = = 25 
REN Ali Spe eee ee energie arsine Me 13 The return or supplementary load... 26 
oA DS eh SKS) apt ar ee ee ee ae eee eal 13 ihiesicentral seternapsala) | oe 8 len eee ree . 26 
Garage R enit pees sere tree es he es id Business arrangements for stabilizing 
Taxes, license and insurance... 14 the business of the rural motor opera- 
Overtiead expenses eae . 14 Oo Nsen jcabet a Ne eNO Glee Ye cae Bape Wer earea eC) oo) A . 22 
Selection of operating equipment... 15 The standard bill of lading 
Sizes trick ee UN SIN sEB h one =o) Insurance on loads carried by motor 
Bodyamequipment ss ae ee ene 16 Ti CN yrange Reopen eae ee 
Tire equipment WWW... et oe eS} Limiting factors .. 
Determination: of rates... -—-— 18 Conclustons i soe ee ae Le 
A FIELD FOR THE MOTOR TRUCK. 
The motor truck as a medium for the carriage of farm products is 
now assuming a permanent place in the general scheme of trarispor- 
tation. It was to be expected that the motor truck would find its 
greatest usefulness in solving the problem of the “short haul,” one 
of the most difficult problems which has confronted transportation 
experts during the last decade. The steady growth of our larger 
centers of population and their increasing demands for larger quantities 
of food have stimulated the development of producing areas adjacent 
* Acknowledgements are due to Mr. Robert H. Black, Assistant in Marketing, who 
assisted materially in the preparation of the insurance policy provisions included in this 
bulletin, to various members of the New York and Philadelphia Underwriters’ Associations, 
who reviewed and criticised these insuranee policy provisions, and to the Secretary of the 
Philadelphia Truck Owners’ Association, who criticised the proposed bill of lading. 
