Questions and Answers on New ODT Truck Regulations

(Continued from Page 11) this requirement until November 1. They will also be exempt from the 25 per cent mileage reduction and the limitation on number of deliveries for the same period.

A.Q. Are these trucks exempted by the order?

A. This exemption is contained in General Permit ODT 17-r.

D.Q. Are additional exemptions planned?

A. A number of additional general permits covering special operations will be issued.

30. Q. May contract and private carriers take additional steps to fulfill the objectives of Order 17, other _than registering their trucks for rent or lease with Joint Information Offices or making inquiries of other carriers ?

A. Such carriers mav take ioint action under certain conditions. Wher6 such joint action involves local delivery service, the carriers must comply with the joint statement issued by the Office of Defense Transportation and the Department of Justice under ' date of March 12. 1942. The order further reads : "In accordance with such statement, proposed plans for pooling or cooperating deliveries, for curtailing services, or entering into other arrangements involving joint action may, if desired, be submitted to this Office for approval. In order that this Office may be informed concerning plans which have been or are hereafter placed in operation without such prior submission for consideration and approval, a copy of each plan shall be filed with this Office."

With respect to joint action by contract and private carriers involving over-the-road service, the order reads:

"'Whenever joint action between two or more motor carriers is contemplated with respect to overthe-road service in order to accomplish any of the purposes of this subpart, such carriers may formulate and submit to this Office for consideration a plan or plans designed to accomplish such purposes. No action shall be taken in furtherance of such plan or plans except in compliance with a specific order or orders issued by this Office."

31. Q. What requirements are common to all trucks affected by the orders?

A. All carriers are required to eliminate wasteful operations and to curtail schedules sufficiently to comply with the orders; they are required to limit speeds to 40 miles an hour, to conserve and properly maintain tires and equipment, and to rent or lease their trucks wherever practicable or necessary to carry out the objectives of the orders.

32. Q. Is the burden placed entirely on the carriers for complying with restrictions on number of deliveries?

A. No. Order 17 requires that "no person shall cause to be made by motor truck and no motor carrier when operating a motor truck shall make" any delivery not in accordance with the terms of the orders. Order 6 includes a similar provision. This makes the person who demands or requests an unauthorized delivery equally responsible with the carrier, should such a delivery be made.

33.Q. Is the load-carrying ability of the tires the only weight limitation which the carrier must observe?

A. The orders provide that no carrier shall be required to load a truck to the point where the gross,weight will exceed the current gross weight limitations of anyState in.which the truck is operated. Neither is a carrier required to violate maximum load limits of any bridge or other structure, as set by State or local highway authorities.

34.Q. Has the ODT set any standards for maximum loads?

A. With the exception of tank trucks, farmer-operated trucks, military trucks and trucks operated within industrial plants, no truck may be loaded to a point where the gross weight will exceed the load-carrying ability of the tires by more than 20 per cent.

35.Q. What are the conditions under which carriers affected by Order 17 may make more than one delivery ?

A. No truck may make more than one delivery from the same point of origin to the same point of destination except under the following circumstances:

1.If the property to be delivered is more than a truck can carry at one time, the truck may make as many deliveries as necessary to complete the operation.

2. A carrier operating different types of speciallyequipped trucks, such as ice and coal trucks, may make a second delivery to the same point on the same day, if the commodity to be delivered on the second trip requires the use of a different type of specially-equipped truck than was used in making the first delivery.

3. A truck which has delivered a load to any point may call later in the same day for the purpose of picking up empty containers, if this does not add to the mileage of the truck. Such a call is defined by the order as a "delivery".

4. An extra delivery may be made on a Friday before a National holiday falling on a Saturday, or on a Saturday before a National holiday falling on a Monday, provided the carrier makes no deliveries on those holidavs.