FARM MOTOR TRUCK OPERATION. 25 
several days at a time when it is needed, and its owner is depend- 
ing upon it to help through a busy period, it can hardly be regarded 
as a profitable machine for him to own. 
For the purpose of obtaining definite information as to the relia- 
bility of motor trucks for farm use these truck owners were asked 
in 1920 and again in 1922 to give the number of days their machines 
had been out of commission when needed during the preceding year. 
In 1922, 306 of the 325 men who were still using their original 
trucks replied to the inquiry. Two hundred and eighteen, or 71 
per cent, of the owners stated their machines had always been ready 
for use when needed during the preceding year, 62 had been out of 
commission for periods ranging from 1 to 5 days, 20 had been 
out of order from 6 to 10 days, and 6 had been out of commission 
over 10 days, or an average of nearly 24 days for each of the last- 
mentioned machines. All of these trucks had been in use 32 months 
or more at the time the reports were made. Two hundred and 
ninety-five of the same 325 men had in their 1920 reports given the 
number of days their trucks had been out of order when needed in 
1919. Of that number, 220, or 75 per cent, stated their machines 
had always been ready for use when needed in 1919, while the 
remaining 25 per cent had been out of commission on an average of 
5.49 days during the preceding year. According to the 1922 reports 
the time the 88 trucks had been out of commission during the pre- 
ceding year averaged 5.53 days. 
To a certain extent the reliability of a motor truck depends 
upon the ability of the operator, and the care it is given. A very 
large part of these trucks were operated by their owners or some 
member of the family, and it is to be expected that under such 
circumstances reasonable care would be given the machines, and that 
they would be operated intelligently. The fact that automobiles are 
owned on a large percentage of these farms, and tractors on nearby 
half of them, indicates that most of the men driving the trucks have 
had more or less experience in the operation of similar machines; 
and this experience probably accounts to a considerable extent for 
the small amount of trouble most of the trucks have given their 
owners. 
SAVING OF HIRED HELP. 
Ninety per cent of the truck owners reporting in 1920, and nearly 
94 per cent of those reporting in 1922, stated that the saving of time 
made possible by the use of their machines was the greatest advan- 
tage connected with their use. This saving of time, however, will be 
of little financial benefit to a truck owner unless he uses the time for 
other work, or unless it enables him to dispense with some of his 
hired labor. 
No information was obtained regarding this saving of hired help, 
as there had probably been little, if any, change in this regard since 
the making of the earlier reports. In 1920 each truck owner was 
asked "Has the truck reduced your expense for hired help, either 
man or horse? " and " If so, how much per year? * ? The replies of 
711 men to this inquiry as given in Department Bulletin 910 showed 
that nearly four-fifths of the number answered in the affirmative, 
and the remainder in the negative. Of the 562 men who stated their 
trucks had made possible a saving in expense for hired help about 
