Rushden Research Group: PX

Taken from a booklet "PXtra" - Midsummer 1942

PX Transport

Forward by the Managing Director

Magazine cover

As I listened to Mr. P. Noel Baker, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, after the 9o’clock news on May 9^th on the "Strategy of War," I wondered how many engaged in Road Transport actually realised the important contribution they are making to the War Effort.

In the main each of you have done a grand job so far and to those who have fallen short I would make the appeal of Mr. Noel Baker a personal one:

"That the War can be won or lost on the Transport Front."

The Bulletin is prepared for a "Winning Team," so here's hoping and GOOD LUCK to you all in your efforts.

W. J. A. PECK.

Much of the magazine is promoting the part each person can play in the War Effort. Several pages are phrases 'oveheard' and anecdotes.
One page lists those from the firm who have enlisted.

On another page the following comments:-

Editorial Industry — Transport — Commerce.

This is the slogan of the Chamber of Commerce.

Industry produces the goods, Commerce sells them in the market of the world; both would be useless without distribution. Transport is the vital factor linking these two great forces.

P.X. Ltd. is a great factor in our lives for not only do we earn our daily bread through its medium but our whole interest is bound up in its welfare.

We are interested in its progress and in what our fellow workers are doing.

We are all bound up together and we feel that there should be a link between Head Office and the depots, between the Managing Director and the vanboy and office boy, between driver and office worker, between London and Manchester, Leicester and Rushden, Birmingham and Northampton. Between those who have left us for a time to serve in the forces and those whose duty lies on the home front.

Our aim is to bind all closer together, to share in each other's ideals and ideas and this bulletin is a contribution to that end.

These Are They—

Who go to the road on wheels,

Who do business along the highways.

The operators who plan the services,

The drivers who handle the machines,

The dock hands who load the freights of industry and war,

The mechanics who keep the wheels turning.

On another page:

We overheard the other day - that

The rubber position is not elastic.

Born drivers require well borne loads.

There is much muddle because of much meddle.

Your tyres should be treated to last as if they were your last tyres - as well they may be.

In 1914 about 3 million motor vehicles were registered.
In 1939 (excluding motor cycles) it was 44½ million.

It will pay us all to watch the future.

It does not pay to get "over-heated," under-inflating and speeding only "tyre" us out.

"Good morning" does not always refer to the weather.

The National Conference of "Express" Carriers officials we know are "fast" workers and certainly "speed" matters up.

Some drivers often cover the same ground twice and then wonder why their tyres must be "re-treaded" so quickly.

We can never "tyre" of repeating—test pressures weekly; avoid overloading and under-inflating; remove flints and stones daily or even sooner; do not "kerb."

TO-DAY, A MAN MUST

Keep both feet on the ground,
Put his best leg forward,
Pull his socks up,
Tighten his belt,
Throw his chest out,
Keep his back to the wall,
Muscle in.

Turn his hand to anything,
Work his fingers to the bone,
Elbow his way through,
Put his shoulder to the wheel,
Keep his chin up,
Keep his mouth shut,
Keep a stiff upper lip,
Hear all and say nowt,
Smell a rat.
Keep his eyes skinned,
Keep his mind alert,
Hold his head high
Keep his hair on

AND GO TO IT.

And another page:

Some Outstanding Dates.

1896	Mr. Arthur Peck established a carrying business.
1916	The first motor vehicle came into service.
1929	The first depot was established in Leicester.
1930	London depot was opened.
1934	Peck's Road Transport and Mother Services became a private limited company under the title of P.X. LIMITED.
1938	Manchester depot was opened.
1939	Northampton depot was opened.
1939	The Head Offices were transferred to Cleavers Chambers, High Street, Rushden and the premises at Washbrook Road became the Rushden depot.
1941	Birmingham depot opened.
P.X. LIMITED employs more than 300 workers.
P.X. Limited own more than 70 vehicles which travel over 1,600,000 miles, and carry more than 500,000 consignments, the total weight of which exceeds 54,000 tons every year.
P.X. LIMITED are members of national organisations:—
	The Commercial Motor Lasers Association The National Conference of Express Carriers The Industrial Transport Association The Chamber of Commerce The Road Transport (Goods) Managers' Association Members of the Directorate and staff hold important offices in these associations in various areas throughout the country.
P.X. LIMITED was one of the first in the country to establish Standard Conditions of Carriage and uniform rates and it was mainly due to their initiative that the Northants and Leicester Rates Agreements came into being.
Permission to publish this magazine has been obtained from the Paper Control, the Ministry of Supply.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We tender our thanks to all who have contributed to this venture, and Directors for their generous gesture in defraying the costs of publication. If you have liked our efforts, say so—

If you have not, well still say so and we will not let it happen again.

At at the end:

It Is Only Routine Every-Day Work

Commercial Department Secures an Order,

Operating Department Works Out How it is to be Done,

Maintenance Department Keeps The Fleet in Order,

So That

One Depot May Arrange The Collection

Other Depots Make The Delivery of a Load or of Hundreds of Smaller Consignments,

And So

Another Day's Work Has Been Done.

Your Individual Part May Have Been Small, ......but by co-operation and because it has been successfully carried out, satisfied customers have extolled the services of "P.X. LIMITED," and the reputation of the firm and yourself has been enhanced.

PX Transport - mainpage