March of Progress in the Development of Transportation 380164
IN the first part of this paper, read at the March 3, 1938, meeting of the Baltimore Section of the Society, the author discussed the advantages of cab-over-engine trucks as compared with the engine-under-the-hood type, covering much of the same ground included in his earlier paper: “Cab-Over-Engine Trucks-Their Place in Transportation,” published on pages 421-427 of the September, 1937, S.A.E. TRANSACTIONS.
At Baltimore Mr. Schon also traced the evolution of transportation by depicting examples of various forms of transportation at different stages in their development; portrayed the progress in allied industries; evaluated the uncontrollable expense increases from greater regulation, higher taxes, and increased pay-rolls; and touched upon dangerous practices and maintenance methods.
In the remainder of the Baltimore Section paper, which follows in full, Mr. Schon interprets the trend of commercial-vehicle regulation in the various States, aided by tables showing 1937 changes. He then states the case of four million truck owners in opposition to proposed drastic grade-climbing-ability regulations, showing what their effect would be on the size of engines and other torque-transmitting parts, and upon truck prices, operating costs, and freight rates. Safety features claimed to result from such legislation are scrutinized critically.
