30 
BULLETIN 931, TT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
COST OF HAULING WITH TRUCKS. 
The cost of hauling with a motor truck is determined by the cost 
of operating the truck, the charge for the drivers time and labor, the 
size of load hauled, and the percentage of time the truck runs with- 
out a load. In Table XXIII are given the cost per mile of haul and 
the cost per ton-mile of hauling crops with trucks of different sizes. 
The cost of operating the truck is taken directly from the preceding- 
table. The charge for the driver is obtained by allowing a rate of 
50 cents per hour for his time while driving and while loading and 
unloading the truck. The average time required for hauling differ- 
ent materials as given in Tables V to VIII is 0.12 hour per mile of 
travel for each size of truck. 
It is stated on page 13 that these men have return loads for their 
trucks about 34 per cent of the time ; that is, each truck hauls loads 
both ways on 34 out of every 100 round trips it makes from and 
to the farm, and runs without a load 66 one-way trips. The cost of 
operating the truck and the value of the driver's time for these 66 
trips with no load must be charged to the 134 trips with loads, in 
order to obtain the actual cost per mile of haul. Every 134 miles of 
haul, then, must bear the expense of 200 miles of travel, or every 67 
miles of haul must bear the expense of 100 miles of travel. The cost 
per mile of haul as given in the table is obtained by multiplying the 
total cost per mile traveled by 100 and dividing the product by 67. 
The cost per ton-mile hauled is determined by dividing the cost 
per mile hauled by the weight of the load in tons. As shown in 
Table V the average weight of the load of crops hauled with the 
^-ton and j-ton trucks is 1.326 tons; for 1-ton trucks the average 
load is 1.313 tons; for lj-ton trucks and 1-J-ton trucks 1.745 tons; 
and for 2-ton trucks 2.204 tons. The costs per mile of haul for the 
trucks of different sizes divided by these figures give the costs per 
ton-mile. 
Table XXIII. — Cost of hauling crops with trucks of different sizes. 
Size of truck. 
Hon 
and 
ft on. 
li-ton 
and 
li-ton. 
2-ton. 
Truck cost per mile run 
Charge for driver per mile run. 
.152 
.060 
SO. 152 
.060 
SO. 213 SO. 258 
.060 
Total. 
212 
212 
Cost per mile of haul (33 per cent idle running). 
Cost per ton-mile for hauling crops 
.316 
.240 
.316 
.241 
407 
233 
318 
475 
215 
SAVING OF HIRED HELP. 
The saving of time is given by these men as the greatest advantage 
in the use of a motor truck; but the saving of time will not be of any 
financial benefit to a farmer unless he uses the time thus saved on 
