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 Loading from hand trucks requires less labor than that for either of

the other two methods. In the conveyor method, loaders do more walking,

because conveyors do not extend the entire length of the motor truck. In

loading from pallets, loaders must spend part of their time moving them from

the rear of the truck to the place where loading is done. Under the system

observed, it was impossible for the fork truck to enter the motor truck. In

addition, loaders are required to handle empty pallets.

 The methods differ greatly in the amount of labor required to move

potatoes to the load. To operate at about 300 hundredweights per hour with

the hand truck method, three hand truckers are needed. In the fork truck

method, one truck operator is required. No labor is required in the conveyor

method for handling from the time the bags are placed on the conveyor until

they reach the loading point.

 Analysis of costs.--The fixed and variable costs for handling 100-

and 50-pound burlap bags of potatoes to the load and for loading motor trucks

only are shown in Tables 8 and 9. In the hand truck method, labor costs are

higher than for either of the other two methods. Labor comprises the major

share of variable costs. Repair costs are a significant item for the conveyor

method. Electricity costs are high for the fork truck method because of

recharging the batteries which power fork trucks; and for the conveyor

method because a large amount of electricity is required to operate conveyors.

 Fixed costs are low for the hand truck method, but are relatively

high for the other two. In the conveyor method, a large investment in the

conveyor system results in high fixed costs. In the fork truck method, fork

truck rental is the large item.