Produced by Sarra Productiosn for the National Safety Council, “Smooth Operation” is a black & white educational film, about how to drive trucks safely and efficiently on city streets. Copyright 1951.

Opening: National Safety Council presents SMOOTH OPERATION (:06-:29). A man pulls a Pacific Intermountain Express (P.I.E.) trailer, with a Ford F7 Big Job truck. Truck turns down a street. A trucker smiles, waves at another. Trucks come into the depot. Another trucker fills out a form on a clipboard. Drivers enter the office while the narrator discusses smooth operation in city driving (:30-1:38). Cars drive through the city. Trucks and cars move about on the street. Our narrator explains he’ll be asking questions. How many miles do you cover in an average day? 8, 19, 27, 35, 42? How many traffic lights do you meet in an average day? 57, 69, 76, 90, 113? How many stop signs do you meet in an average day? 8, 15, 28, 22, 40? How many times do you make a left turn at an intersection? 61, 76, 88, 92, 105? How many times do you turn right at intersections? 50, 60, 68, 81, 90? How many times do you back up in an average working day? 58, 65, 71, 83, 107? How many times a day do you park? 45, 62, 68, 80, 90? (1:39-3:30). The answers are now given: the highest number for each was the correct number (3:31-4:25). Driving signs. Smooth Operation written on a key. Vehicle + traffic + you = smooth operation. Animated truck drawings (4:26-5:36). Your truck. Different truck models. Animated trucks (5:37-6:22). Trucks drive on city streets. Traffic is explained and discussed by the narrator. Examples of what you encounter while driving on your sides, in front and behind (6:23-8:14). A truck on a one way street, what can you do to change lanes is explained. Lane changing. Try and stay in one lane, the right lane. Keep to the right traffic sign. The benefit of sticking to the right (8:15-9:50). Traffic light. Speed limit sign. Truck makes a left turn. Truck goes straight. Man in the drivers seat. Animated driver (9:51-11:25). Speed demon, lazy driver, hasn’t grown up yet type of drivers. Average man as a driver. Truck. Traffic pictures. How to be a good driver is explained and stills are shown (11:26-12:47). Smooth operation. hand on a steering wheel, A clock. Speed gauge increases. Animated accident. A car accident. A pencil points at a route on a map. Driver walks over to his truck and gets in. Key turns on the ignition, truck pulls out (12:48-14:27). End credits (14:28-14:31).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com