Motor Carriage—The Long and Short of It

Abstract

Motor carriage consists of the use of the automobile, the truck, and the bus. It and the industrial effort back of it are substantially responsible for the growth of America during the past forty years. The private automobile has revolutionized travel in the United States as well as the customs of its people. The bus provides public transportation to thousands of communities having no other public transportation. The truck has revolutionized the transportation of goods. Trucks furnish common-carrier service to all of America's new industries and industrial sections—in many cases, all or the preponderance of this service. Trends in the United States economy—decentralization of industry, both areawise and into suburban areas—point to an ever increasing utilization of for-hire truck transportation, which has already climbed, revenuewise, to a par with rail transportation. The trucking industry still faces serious problems, but none appear insurmountable. It is comprehensively regulated by both the federal and state governments. The American transportation plant has the capability to continue to meet our needs.