FARM MOTOR TRUCK OPERATION. 7 
AGE OF TRUCKS. 
Approximately two and one-half years intervened between the 
dates of the 1920 and 1922 reports. The length of time the 325 motor 
trucks had been in use at the time of reporting in 1922 was as fol- 
lows: 
51 had been in use 36 months or less — average age 35 months. 
74 had been in use 37 to 42 months — average age 39 months. 
96 had been in use 43 to 54 months — average age 50 months. 
67 had been in use 55 to 66 months — average age 61 months. 
37 had been in use 67 months or over — average age 82 months. 
ARE THESE TRUCKS PROFITABLE INVESTMENTS? 
The method of conducting the investigation was such that it was 
not possible to determine the extent to which the use of motor trucks 
had changed the income of their owners, but each one was asked the 
question "Do you believe this truck has been a profitable invest- 
ment ? " Without doubt each of these men expected when he pur- 
chased his truck that it would prove profitable, and the replies to 
this inquiry should at least show the extent to which the trucks have 
failed to< come up to the expectations of their owners. Ninety-four 
per cent of the 321 men who answered this question stated they be- 
lieved their trucks would prove profitable, and 96 per cent of the 
316 men who answered it in 1920 apparently were satisfied that their 
investment would prove profitable. 
Neither the size of the truck nor the type of farming practiced 
appear to have, had much weight with the owners answering this 
question, as 95 per cent of the men owning the 1-ton and smaller 
sizes, and 92 per cent of the remainder stated that they believed their 
trucks would prove profitable. In 1920 the percentage of satisfied 
owners was 97 per cent for the 1-ton and smaller sizes and 94 per 
cent for those over 1 ton. 
Ninety-four per cent of the men on the general and truck farms, 
and all of those on the fruit, dairy, and crop farms stated in 1920 
that they believed their trucks would prove profitable investments. 
In 1922 the replies by type of farming practiced showed that 92 per 
cent of the general farmers appeared to be satisfied, and over 95 per 
cent of the truck owners on the other types of farms believed their 
machines would prove to be profitable investments. 
Practically all of these men expected to continue to use their 
trucks, 98 per cent of the 318 owners who replied to this question 
stating they expected to use their machines during the remainder of 
1922. There was but little difference in the percentage of the owners 
of the different sizes of trucks who answered this question in the 
affirmative. 
In reply to the question as to whether they intended to buy other 
trucks when those reported on were worn out, 96 per cent of the 305 
replies were in the affirmative. 
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MOTOR TRUCKS. 
There are many advantages in the ownership of a motor truck, 
but just how great these advantages are, and which should be given 
the greatest weight, are questions which the man inexperienced in 
