Dependability of Highways Transportation Proven.
The practicability and dependability of highway haulage between neighboring cities has been demonstrated fully. Hundreds of local and intercity motor express lines are in successful operation in widely scattered sections of the country. The return-load bureau system has been installed in England, where it is now considered unpatriotic to run a truck without a load. Manchester, England, for example, and all the surrounding cities were among the first to start return-load bureaus and have reciprocal arrangements whereby they exchange information regarding available trucks and loads.
Much of the short-haul freight is carried on the highways by motor trucks. It is picked up at the door of the shipper and delivered at the door of the consignee, entailing only two handlings. It is delivered the same day it is shipped, which for certain commodities is the rapidity of transport desired. Frequently after motor trucks deliver a load, they return empty, whereas there are shippers who would avail themselves of the opportunity to send a load on such a truck to its home town. On the other hand, the truck owner would like to obtain a return load because the charge for it would reduce his own haulage cost. To bring the shipper and truck owner together serves the interests of both, hence the return-load bureaus are of mutual benefit. These bureaus are nonmoney-making patriotic organizations deserving of the support of shippers whom they serve unselfishly.