24 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 12-54, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE. 
The average weight of the load of crops hauled with the ^-ton 
trucks as given by their owners in 1920 was 0.480 ton; with the 
f-ton trucks, 0.926 ton: with the 1-ton trucks 1.196 tons; with the 
1^-ton and 1^-ton trucks. 1.734 tons; and with the 2-ton trucks 
2.464 tons. The average cost per ton-mile for hauling crops, there- 
fore, obtained by dividing the cost per mile of haul by the weight 
of the load in tons (see fig. 12), would be as follows: 
Cents. 
£-ton trucks 37. 3 
4-tou trucks 26. 2 
1-ton trucks 22. 3 
li and lftou trucks 21.3 
2-ton trucks 15. 8 
A comparison of the cost of using motor trucks by the farmers 
reporting shows that the total cost per mile run in 1922 was lower 
for each size of truck than it was in 1920. The decrease for the 
respective sizes was as follows: 
Charge g- 
for | 
Driver I 
Truck 
Cost 
e\] 
40 
-30 5 
-I 
-10^ 
u <S 
Fig. 12. — Cost per ton-mile of hauling 
crops with motor trucks of different 
sizes. 
For the |-ton trucks, 4.1 cents 
for the f-ton trucks, 4.3 cents: 
for the 1-ton trucks, 4.1 cents ; for 
the 1^-ton and H-ton trucks. 3.1 
cents : and for the 2-ton trucks, 5.2 
cents. The cost per ton-mile for 
hauling crops was likewise re- 
duced by the following amounts: 
For the J-ton trucks, 13.5 cents; 
for the f-ton trucks, 7.4 cents ; for 
the 1-ton trucks, 5.5 cents; for 
the lj-ton and H-ton trucks, 2.9 
cents; and for the 2-ton trucks, 
3.3> cents. 1 For some items the 
same figures were used in both 
years, as, for instance, the annual 
repair charge, cost of lubricating oil, per cent of time trucks were 
run without a load, average weight of load of crops, etc. Some of 
the other items were lower, and some were higher in 1920 than in 
1922. The only change in the average first cost of the machines is 
that due to a difference in the number of replies used in the sum- 
maries for the two years, but the longer period of usefulness as given 
by the 1922 reports made the depreciation charges lower in that year. 
The average distance the trucks traveled in 1920 was greater for each 
size than in 1922. Interest in 1920 was computed at 6 per cent, and 
in 1922 at 8 per cent on the average investment for the respective 
years. The registration and license fees were from $2 to $10 higher 
in 1922, but the cost of fuel was 2 cents per gallon less. The cost of 
tires was also from 20 to 30 per cent lower in 1922, and the charge 
for the driver was half as much as in 1920. All these changes affect 
the total cost, and make the reduced expense as shown above. 
RELIABILITY. 
The reliability of a motor truck, as of any other machine, deter- 
mines in a large measure its profitableness. If it is out of order 
i a direct comparison between the 1922 averages and those of 1920 as reported in 
Departmenl Bulletin 910 is not possible, since the former report is based <>n 7.".:; replies 
while this report covers only 325 replies. The above comparisons arc > based on averages 
of the 325 replies covering both years. 
