sr-081065-5b
DATE:
T0,
~
,;;
~
~,,,, SUBJECT:
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMO t..~,/
August 6, 1965
Perry Scott, City Manager
T, 0, Prior, Director of Transportation
COMPARATIVE COST OF OPERATION
General Motors Buses Vs Flxible Buses
~a~~,,
l ~er;7 ' ~
AU., ~ ~ 1965
'w$3~C^! 1~ ~ sOr ' 'a~S.ti.Os
~~~i.s'M~b''Y39~ !'~,-B'B'1~R
i,l 1 k ~ ~~ a1B14i=
As requested by our City Council, I have gathered some facts as to
the operating costs o£ a General Motors Bus as compared to the Flxible Bus.
On July 28, 1965, I asked Mr. Samuelson if the Flxible Company was
actually building a 45-passenger bus. He stated they were; that 5 had been
3.vu41t. He did not know their location, but stated he would locate them fox me.
On August 2, 1965, through another source, I determined that the 5
Flxible buses were purchased by the Avenue B & East Broadway Transit Company,
Inc., 235 Cherry Street, New York City. This is a city and charter service in
lower Manhattan. They have 38 buses, 33 are Mocks and the 5 Flxible buses,
The Mack Company has not built a bus for approximately LO years. I called Mr.
Jacob Greenberg, the President of the Company, He would not quote his actual
operating cost of the 5 Flxible buses, as they have bean in service less than
four months. He did tell me they have had a considerable amount of trouble
with the connection between the engine and the transmission. He stated this
unit has been replaced on each bus at least one time, and twice on two buses.
He also stated they have had a considerable amount of trouble with the trans-
mission, which is made by the Spicer Company, a subsidiary of the Dana Company.
His overall general statement was, "T'ney have a lot of bugs that need working
out.11
I next contacted Mr. W. E. Williamson, General Superintendent of
Maintenance, Bi-State Transit System, St. Louis, Missouri. This is a publicly
owned transit system operating 1296 buses, providing city and suburban transit
service in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles, Missouri, and in East
St. Louis, Belleville, Alton, and other parCS of Madison and St. Clair Counties,
Illinois,
Mr. Williamson has provided us with a summary of their direct labor
and material cost for the period of March, 1964, through June, 1965, comparing
the Flxible bus with the General Motors bus. The General Motors bus operating
cost is 66.6 percent less per mile than the Flxible bus. The General Motors
bus produces 6.23 percent more miles per gallon of fuel than the Flxible bus,
operating on the same lines, under the same operating conditions. A copy of
Mr. Wiiliamson's statement is attached.
I next contacted Mr, Donald C. Hyde, General Manager of the Cleveland
Transit System, Cleveland, Ohio, This is also a publicly owned transit system,
operating 943 buses in city, suburban and charter service in Cleveland and ad-
jacent suburbs.
Mr, Perry Scott
August 6, 1965
Page 2-
Mr. Hyde has furnished us a copy of their motor coach maintenance
and fuel costs (Dents per mile), and major work performed report for the month
of December, 1964 and 12 months ending December, 1964. In this report, we are
able to compare the cost of operating 60, 1963 model, 53-passenger General
Motors buses with 65, 1963 model, 53-passenger Flxible buses, operating under
like conditions.
1963 Flxible
1963 General Motors
Actual
Average Miles
12 Months Direct Labor
and Material
Cents Per Mile
Miles Per
Gallon
61,299 2.13 4.33
58,837 1,35 4,55
G.M. 36,6% Less G.M. 5.,~.% More
In this same report, we are able to compare the cost of operating
25, 1964 Model, 53-passenger General Motors buses with 25, 1964 Model, 53 -
passenger Flxible buses, for the same period of time.
1964 Flxible
1964 General Motors
Actual Direct Labor
Average Miles and Material Miles Per
12 Months Cents Per Mile Gallon
19,586 .52 4,40
22,531 ,31_ 4.63
G,M. 40.4% Less G.M. 5.2% More
Mr. Hyde also provided us with a comparision of miles per road call
for the period of October, 1963 through March, 1964. I will not itemize these
figures, as a copy of the report is attached. However, the report indicates
that the Flxible bus averaged 10,139 miles per road call, as compared to 26,620
miles per road call for the General Motors bus. The reliability of the General
Motors bus is so much greater, that it is possible to operate with fewer buses
needed for spare equipment.
The report, for the same period, also reveals the fuel and mainten-
ance cost per mile to be 5.10 cents per mile for the Flxible bus, as compared
to 4,53 cents per mile for the General Motors bus.
The same report reflects the following in consumed fuel for the same
period, at two garages for these same fleet of coaches,
Haydon Garaxe Reed Garage
Flxible 4.39 M. P. G, 4.13 M.P.G.
General Motors 4.71 M.P,G, 4.44 M.P.G.
GM 7.3% More M, P. G. GM 7,S% More M. P, G.
Mr. Perry Scott
August 6, 1965
Page 3-
In the overall picture, the General Motors bus is costing lees money
to maintain, and at the same time, the General Motors bus is averaging .31 more
miles per gallon of fuel, This in itself represents a considerable sum of money.
The Cleveland and St. Louis properties were selected to make these
comparisons, as they are considered in the industry to be far above average,
and, in fact, have won numerous awards throughout the years for their high
class maintenance programs,
My next contact was the Southern California Rapid Transit District
of Los Angeles, Mr. Cone T. Bass, General Manager.
Mr. Bass provided us with their direct labor and material cost for
their 1963, 53-passenger Flxible buses. This figure is 5.47 cents per mile,
compared to our cost of 4.23 cents per mile for operating our entire fleet of
103 General Motors buses. The SCRTD's direct labor and material cost, for their
entire fleet, is 7.44 cents per mile, as compared to our 4.23. This is ex=
tremely interesting, in view of the fact our mechanics were being paid, prior
to July 4, 1965, $3.53 per hour as compared to $3.31 .per hour being paid mech-
anics at SCRTD. With the last increase in wages, our mechanics are being paid
$3.62 per hour, compared to a rate of $3.36 for SCRTD's mechanics, which be-
came effective June 1, 1965.
The cost of operating the Flxible bus at SCRTD is 29.3 percent
greater than the cost of operating our entire fleet of 103 General Motors buses.
While the overall cost at SCP.TD is i5.9 percent greater than our overall cost
of direct labor and material, at the same time, our hourly labor rate per hour
is 7,7 percent greater Chan their hourly labor rate..
In my opinion, the greatest success story is right here in Santa
Monica. The program set-up some 11 years ago has proven beyond a doubt to be
extremely successful.
By standardizing on a particular make vehicle, and a constant re-
placement program, the City of Santa Monica has the finest transit system in
the United States.
Let us make some comparisions. From 1954-55 to 1963-64, hourly
wages in our maintenance department have increased by 54.4 percent, yet the
total amount paid in earned wages has only increased by 6.9 percent.
Parts and materials have increased 25 percent, yet the cost of parts
and materials used on our fleet, has only increased by 2.4 percent. The total
increase in expenses amounts to only 5.5 percent above the 1954-55 figure.
While all this has taken place, total miles operated have been in-
creased by 2.2 percent.
Mr. Perry Scott
August 6, 1965
Page 4-
From July 1, 1955 to July 1, 1965, we have reduced our inventory of
parts by 29.5 percent. This could not have been accomplished with a mixed
fleet. It is our intention to reduce our inventory by another 15 percent in
the next 5 years.
We pray the members of our City Council will recognize the advant-
ages of a standardized fleet, purely from a cost of operation viewpoint.. There
are many other advantages, such as mechanics working on the same type of equip-
ment at all times. Drivers driving the same vehicle at all times; this alone
is a great safety feature. I could go on naming many advantages, but I do not
want to burden you and the members of the Council with unnecessary information.
We still, respectfully request approval to waive bids for seven new
buses to be purchased from General Motors.
TOP/dag
T. 0. PRIOR
Director of
Transportation
Een >.~, ~',K .At!':^d!„IC n PRo3PEC3 i.~,6: ", .r 6 °„+`s. 4„',.b 63lG A4?. AQ,iSarJ SIRF
:!h•~+ad iW
rr.~,ris;r sea.+rr,:~r.~ E~rs'>^aarioPs
nF AM1vsapcipua ^F. lw,x
52xm.~ci nrd 4kae,, „1sy v1
~9.Sih'.FFS l~k1~j.~"si?~r.'.!;l'r' t#G'sPtM';
NGsr<ur€,Ii,15;u4s ?.ktoa ap.Ma 44C.fd
July 30, 1965
Mr. Tom Prior
Santa Monica Bus Linea
1620 Sixth Street
Santa Monica, California
Dean PSr. Prioro
With reference to our conversation regarding the
maintenance cost and fuel mileage on Flxible and GM coaches,
we have summarized our direct labor and material cost for
the period March 1964 through June 1965.
Flxible $ .020 per mile
GM $ .012 per mile
Fuel comparison has been made on ten F]xible and ten
GM coaches running on the same lines under the same
operating conditions for a period of one year March 1964
through February 1965.
Flxible 3.69 miles per gallon
~ 3.92 miles per gallon
Both groups of coaches are 51 passenger, 102+~ width
and were delivered the same time during March 19611. They
are Model 5303 GM and F2D6V Flxible.
Sincerely yours'
///. ZC./~000l.C~7~as/~._-.
W. E. Williamson
General Supt. of Maintenance
WEW/mlb
cc-Mr. J. C. Baine
_~IF r_E lydyK_--1964 AND 12 MONTHS ENDIh'G,~'F r]GtK ig5y.
' DIESEL BUSES
T-7___
16Edi- Ac*uGL
SLMED-'
I
~
To
TpL _-.__
ISIS ._`__
fuEL
coMelAf
p i0T4L _.
MLE6/4LLLOY~4.LE5 -
/OVAPt
LOtl
PLEiE
ENG
'
INE TOP
PG
INl
6o
0Y MN
NT£fi
Af:GE
EAR FLEET ING
DUS ~CAp- DARE NOOEL B vEM. N0. ULED 14YE PLGE MILES 130a- BOGIES t]05 - LNGS515 p0a -1305 ING L. Tpz UOa-OS }.5-16 FLEET Oi FvEL Oi OIL EN
OVEP GINE
HLUL O
+E
PE H PN<UL
:xG
[OU
E%t
PLCiE
EH10R
CO'A
INTf
PL ETE
fl IDfl
-FGIiY NILES
_ ___ _ Np_ 12 N.O. _lu0 _ __2_4p MO 12 M!_ _D_ 12 NO
_- MD.
_ I
2 N
0
_
_ NO 12 Mp NG 124^ 4C
12A10
MO
4M0
MO
I MO
uC
a
4
I MI
u0 HOR
12 Ae N
e0 GJOR
i NU
19a=
}<
4 }aoo 3aza (L) la
~y AS 4ML LDH a50i 3a50 3a)5 (1 Q 4?11 -
u
q
ILII
I}.~~
I•~.~ _
_
__
U
~Ip _
- -
A~. 1•~ _
3a
I ~:I I. I ~ .
_ _
I ~'~, _
- . ,
-~
_
~ 1 1 ~ I - - b ~
L
1951 JS C(
~ 51 GML TDH 5 03 ]500 J569.
1~ 3(~~ L4o
I,? i} - 1,198 2.41- 4 IF E.I 4 %fi ~ jl
_ . N c; 5,14 114'y 15 60 3s __
~ t
a.G l ~.a~l l I.z~. ~;_
( __ _
I-
_C..
'. __
II ~ _
IJ -
_
IJ
_ _ _
~ _.
26 r
~7 -
50 --M M1C ~C~50 2601- 2Ba~-_
00 ~ n
4uL ENGINE 36 ~~ ~~ ~ I~ 1 ~ __
A ~ 1
J
,
~
1 ~1
_
~ LJ1J
_
•1.~a
4.06
.fao
I~.15 _ _
'>-al _
38 }
I h - f _
~s 1 ~. 3.5-1 9`i -
~__
I II')
- __
-
- __
-
- _
3 ___
- _._
i -
-
~
- _
I
v
I$V ~
so upc%-c-+o noo-va9 X41
j9L1 '. t'6c11
.3
`
3 ~
<
J 3h 1.
<j9
l11
IL9c
44y
68
6
1a
28
IX
1a-
2= ! -J
25d ~
2
d9 lug
_--9Z
- _ _
_ -
.
-~
pt
•
y
~ -
/ _ ,.
_ , _ ,
.
V.--__ 2 - - -
_ 13 - 13 - In - 3
1952 J6 LFI St 4KL-LOX 5103 3590-36]0 IS61YI I/j if
1 .4~
4
- a
I /~_ __
4.4G - J 13 .
•+.a9 4 IL y9p C
,
I
c I I[Vil 36 ~J 1p 3. (,L ILII 13c I
i9 jIFS 50 WHITE-11500 29A1-2999 `9
3~
85x9 .bfi'
}6b I ' L•13 1z8 C
~.Od- I 6.43 4.JD '1.11 yk'l 4 IL (
j
,I
- f
L 29 A3~I .:{~ ~ a7L0
1 184 - I _ - _ ~ 1_ - -~ yj - -.
IssJ a je ; sl 4MC-TOH SIw aoo- Gag 3,53x- 950'~3:19G L6~ LII :~. j~ _.119 ~~.ag IG.4o ,~,cS Q: j3 1 ID,51S 1 1I 1`I °._ ~ ~. i
d.da
sa- 1~1
1
II3 _
q - 6 - i - - - - - -
!I ,S JI GHG TDH IF G 5100 Ao<
C8
L I dP?(8
I.5 ~ 1018 ~ 41 ,48
I
3.IC 1 s }' l
4 88
~.1 i IJ IP 141 _
1 - - - i - i - I -
194G
4
1~
51 4NL TDH 5105 GSO 525 1.35E ISI
.Iq 5o-4 1.53 { 13~ R.19~ 3,09 43a- 4,31 4.2-9_ 4.a1
~ 817- d )C 3 ?8>. 3r14
~ 142- I4o - - - '! - it - II
- .F - i
Isss :
5 µ0
41 --._--
at('19, °,~ - -
Jr 4NC rDH }r1a roo >J9 ^ oK4 ~R4 SUl 3~
~.^ y
5 4qG TDH SIO4 530 STO ~I,Cib 1.811 ', ~-441c+n_I IF
- _ I 12S
I iY Is, L44
/
6.41 -
3.4 fi
+
a~4J_ 6 ~J
AA
'I •ai•~ _4.13
49 tP
._ ii
J. )}-
4,45 I
3.b3
4,7a~ lE, 10
la,j4 ~, ~
_
II ~a T
S i
441 + 4.33.
iS3 ,J.`I LI'
Iol
I `IS -
t l03/
1 t~5
I
-
t _
L~ -
I ~/_
I ~ }
-
-
IyS
0
-
-
9
it
-
-
9
S
-
1
3/
S
1956
J
e. 1
GS 4NG tOH a42 J00 353
Itl'S3' 1838 I7(. u~1 ,43
-
~
.94
•O.dd
-
^~
~
a i!f O
46p
_
,3,7C
.0 I(n
~
$, (~1
9.93
1, S(;
]
-_ r1
40
1 4,tf1
t IIL(- -
I
ISLI
`~
-
-
- ~
~ 3__
-
.S
-
~
I
S
-
(r
19sr Ir 4L + '
`64S! 3,4
sl GNC rDHSps ,roo 1=39 1.3x1 1,361E ;,A
_. _
_ _
- 2~1
T . 4.4 3.18_ ~YU .S, l-`1 4.ro .3.SlP . 11.99 9b'1 I= _Lf oi,( 4.34 1 Iz'( f
IJo - - - a I ~ IG - 4- I 13
zD
g
sl upc% c a9 zoop zoor
~1~5~~1 14_ ~ 3c4~ISD 38
Sc xb ,
_z23'13'i
S8 3z-
411'IS
-Ir$_$$
_ 11 S5 '
~.a2-
4a_1, 3~;
113 84
20
1 42- 3,1
25$
31+g _
-
-
-
."L
U
3.
4
-
-
1
LI,
1946 IB 3i SI 4ML 1DH 5105 IBOO s3o _ 1,6k9 198c a,$313 Cy) ~qq ~
- -t -- ,---- j '31
~ 3,41
- 2,9C 4ylr 4.z
-~ 3.,( :~,~71 ~
--- 8,_~~I
- glo
- .
IB
- 4411 ~i .~d-_ i 151 14~
I
a - __
-
-~
1
I o
I
I c
-
:e -
8 i
19s4 6 icc v 4MC TD s}o-_wo 699 .3,IkC 3484___'(~91r. 1.44
--- I
i.lfi -4.ifi
I* 33A. _ bza. 4.SI_ 4.od 3.SS Ic.39 k.42 - -
6 -
d#o4~ 4.3
4 1 131 137- - ~ - I - II - S z - Ib - 1
rs6o 41 3x, 53 eqc TpH S]ol 400 631--._l},4).9 g37.'l. So eBS~ ,9$
-
__ _- ~ 131 ij .`ICI
-
111 3.1$ .S.$Z 1 4.31 34(' 1
3.4(r 2_b3
- _
ge81
- B~ .
4531
4.S1^ I (c
i.2 _
4
1
~ - - _ - _ _ _ -
I
- -
, 1361 10 ~(; ~1q / /
S3 iL%IBLE FzD6V GOrI <001a29 3 361 ~ II> 4~Ila
_. - {
--
f
I
ta ?'1
3
1_
41
11 ~
z43o1
1
Ap
Y
•~ _
jSi{ 4.°Z ...
t Ii$ i _
_
_
IbG - __
_
- - - - - - I - i
1962 Is 1 ;io -co11 sop sz9
s3 a%B~EFZO6
, $
~ 133,
4a6V A94J 11 ~•I ~ 1.4
- 3p3 . 4a
4 7
5 8 8a/
9 5 38S Li ~1 I Id I 171 - - _
- - -- - - I I - ~
1963
19
({( -~
51 4ML TDH 5303 1900 959 T
SI1~ a49~.<+$,fi31 y~
-_ -s..s da-t
i
1
1,11 t
~
%01
. 11 184
Tz
1.35
44 1
3.4
W l
41
~ }
SO%i~
.._ -
9
~
4
~
3
1
_
{
f -
~.S
~
~(
.21_~ __
~
.233_ _
_
-
-
-
_
-
-
I ^
4
-
-
16 (GS 43 iL%18LE i206v-G01~00 660 SS~'~..4 la.'ti 6i'~9 IFII fifi I
V ~_ .~_yfi~- .-may
/
(
7
~~ I IGp
,_:.. _I: I i(
- adtl
_-. ,.. a~l'J1 •~r(+,
-_ ~•fi'~'a
.~ 6 /-l~ 40~Jii 6
...-1
`}-
4.3 ~~
~n~'
.35 _ _ __
- _ _ _ _ _ _
3
b _
.z
196< 10 +~S s1 GMG-TDH Sap} IOOO IozG ~94$
,$2'S 7,}Sfl
' 12W
CE .aa .. _!Ll 'i 35} 1
~1e0 3?c oy
e3>~) 'DA /
4 as 44(- 478 ~CPi - - - - - - - - - - -
u +~S sz ~n%I4LE FzD6v .pI- 300 3zG X34} ~c91 14 `k1F .ll¢ 2c 1 .ai 3a_ 3 S 3 )1- 3.•16 µ 1L{ 43L1 '3 qja 4
40 4F$ Sa - - - _
- - - - - - - -
, -' I__-_°.__."~ -~ •- •~-~ - . _ _ ~- - -- - - .
- . l
. -
DIESEL
6'J6
4
.[~~641
„ 6z'1
3c8
I.'IS
143- _
4.65
3,10 -
443 -
~3~ -
¢o) - -
3,99
IO,L')
9.4'1
3.q1
4.11
i58
I;g
~
aS
3
44
~
1.3
>
111
`l
lob
4-
73~
GENEP AL VH DISTPI BUTEO EYPERSES ~ •16 •~5 I:3b 93 a•IR I,aB - 2.11 1.33 -- _
- - - - - - - - - -- _ _ --f
L` / ~ 4't la I µ1uL~ .rate,- Iylrz, 3Jao a.d 3 Y 53 b Y n}y-Aa, (V.4~i.-,. 11G1..n 1 lu..
LF4Exp ]I~];3Vo}',SRII a..tl 3tl7'+~(~te~N~I"~"'G,~c-.
~. - tL,.e•.:.5 ur:d. n~ 1f~t a<~d ~!. 6 ni 4:,•A L dy k4.. INi-6R , °k~Ld 63.L.."+1. 15GV.
(E) tx<(=IL.t, ~=..I.p.d 'qtr.. zq•r•I n.s z1 az.
(c) -I>ro (x) ILw7. IiFl: v A ~- lleG. 3 SI u.d 3 53.
° (E()le dc•MA„<+A 'lo ^(35 u,u1.F ;c14~ €ec~ '31, 1564
- ({')~4pNu4A atazu~, ~da. h'j,a•.. SIV(,I
C ) PnrxNaGd nt ~(~ 4.: (• its. A~,I,... b~.~ 1
(~) C6,=(wLd at '/ uN(. - 1 F.. K.(n~.. aLat.-,
(t) ~1.%ywL! %t `fa<Idmx3 , 10 <i S4a,Ay, ~,tS(,..4~1G)„
( )!`G`Ent d3SS.J1CuA.f 4(i.r:+{...t~--Itt~..n.#:
- fi~) ~(jG~t> f z5?.11 Cu~~r4 G~arw„tl
~(,) (~i Lit !< ZEI.71CLd.~ G~+cdK+ ef+ZZ~.u..Y:
(.HCI ficL&. ~,.+1 A<,,:~.. n...-, Jo C<uJ... 1 Sob
__ ~ G* 7 P^rbLG. Cd-44y f e~ au[ ~u.'.~ -L°edeG 17! b .
DATE d S GS
a
The Following is the Road Call record at the Cleveland 'iransi.k.
system for the months of October, November and December of 1963, and
January, February and March of 1964, on sixty (60) G.PLC. 53-passenger
coaches placed in service in April, 1963, and sixty-five (65) Flxible
53-passenger coaches, placed in service in September, 1863:
Flxible G.'4. C.
Miles Per Call Miles Per Call
October, 1963 21,952 42,299
November, 1963 9,497 308215
December, 1963 7,139 13,512
January, 1964 7,405 14,175
February, '1964 7,218 30,404
i4arch, 1964 78624 29,119
Fuel and maintenance for 12_month period, or since.
placed in service:
Flxible 5.10¢/mi
G.M.C. 4.53¢/mi
Also, the following are the fuel mileages for these same fleets
of coaches for the following periods as operated from two garames:
Haydon Garage Reed Garage
Flx. GMC Flx. GPiC
October, 1963 4.60 4.95 4.36 4.74
November, 1963 4.39 4.93 4.27 4.60
December, 1963 4.33 4.70 4.06 4.34
January, 1964 4.25 4.37 4.07 4.42
February, 1964 4.49 4.65 3.99 4.23
i~iarch, 1964 4.28 4.69 4.03 4.34
5_18_64
mab