6.00 600 _x_ = --------- = --- = 30 miles. .25 - .05 20 It will be noticed that this formula contemplates no terminal charge for the motor truck as it is expected to pick up and deliver the freight at the doors of the consignor and consignee and that the cost of doing this is absorbed in the cost per mile. The dividing distance between profitable rail and freight transportation, _x_, is seen by the formula to vary directly with the terminal charge and indirectly with the difference between motor and rail cost per mile. To lessen this distance is in the interest of the railroads and can be accomplished by decreasing the terminal charges and the cost of transportation per ton-mile. Express companies have for years accomplished this by employing the system of free collection and delivery, and railways in England do likewise. The motor transport companies will have to decrease their cost per ton-mile in order to increase the distance that it is profitable for the shipper to utilize motor trucks. If the difference in cost per ton-mile could be reduced to twelve cents with terminal costs at $6 per ton, and doubtless this may be done under favorable circumstances, the distance would be lengthened to 50 miles. This is probably the maximum motor truck haul which can in general profitably compete with rail transportation. With better roads, larger trucks, trailers, or, in special cases, with certain classes of goods and commodities, longer hauls will be profitable. The distances which it seems profitable to do trucking are continually being lengthened. Forrest Crissey, writing in the _Saturday Evening Post_ of December 16, 1922, relates a case in which household goods were hauled from Boston to Cleveland at a saving over rail rates and expenses incurred by delays of $417.50 on the shipment. His figures summarized are as follows: Rail-- Crating and Hauling to Station $ 300.00 Freight 150.00 Hauling and Uncrating at destination 75.00 Hotel Bill of Family of five, two rooms and board, while waiting 525.00 House rental while waiting 67.50 -------- Total $1117.50 Van company’s charge from home to home $ 700.00 -------- Calculated saving $ 417.50