Day: April 17, 2018

Beyond the Dumpster: The Growing Trash Problem

Beyond the Dumpster: The Growing Trash Problem
Beyond the Dumpster: The Growing Trash Problem

Beyond proper dumpster moving equipment for your facility, have you ever given any thought to the impact trash has on our society as a whole? Despite the increase in recycling efforts, waste disposal is still a serious issue generating problems for the environment.

Where Does All the Trash Go?

According to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), approximately 251 million tons of trash are generated annually in the U.S. That works out to just under five pounds per person per day, which equates to four-fifths of a ton per person per year.

Currently, only one-third of trash is recycled, with another 12.5 percent going into incinerators. That leaves 55 percent to be deposited in landfills.

How Landfills Work

As one expert put it, dumping trash in landfills is more of a mummification process than a composting process. Once the landfill is sealed, the trash inside is cut off from air and water that would trigger natural decomposition.

Despite precautions, liquids from trash in landfills can seep into groundwater. Landfills are also responsible for one-fourth of all methane released into the air as well as 2.3 percent of greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental laws have made landfills more expensive to create and operate, so there was a movement from many small landfills to a reduced number of mega-dumps. As a result, trash has to travel farther, which causes more pollution from transportation.

Eco-Friendly Dumpster Moving Equipment from DJ Products

Trash rooms are a prime risk area for costly musculoskeletal injuries. Battery-powered dumpster moving equipment such as our popular WasteCaddyLite reduces the strain and overexertion that often results from transporting dumpsters.

Call 800.686.2651 and let our friendly sales engineers help you find the right solution for your property.

Dray Drivers Impacted by ELD Regulations Boosting Rail Use

Dray Drivers Impacted by ELD Regulations Boosting Rail Use
Dray Drivers Impacted by ELD Regulations Boosting Rail Use

Dray drivers are feeling the pinch of the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate, just as truckers grapple with the same. We may even see dray drivers plot a career switch to OTR trucking, causing labor shortages and a spike in drayage costs. Railcar movers look more attractive than ever to help meet the demands of the intermodal supply chain.

As the ELD mandate proves a stumbling block for trucking, the market shifts more toward intermodal. That increases the demand for drayage, but many dray drivers are restricted by ELD rules, which only exempt those who log fewer than 100 air-miles daily. Plenty of drivers move longer distances depending on geography and work loads.

In short, we have fewer dray drivers and drayage is getting busier. The strong market for intermodal leaves many railway fleet managers looking for ways to reduce the workload and increase productivity—which railcar movers can help accomplish.

The Impact of ELD Regulations on Rail Use

Many factors come into play besides the electronic logging, not the least of which is the rise of e-commerce and its effects on rail industry trends.

However, the solutions will have to come from the ground floor up. As industry insiders recently told DC Velocity, “the big will get bigger” and small firms will fight to compete. “Timely and efficient operations” hold the key to success.

DJ Products railcar movers move up to 200,000 pounds at up to 3 mph in forward or reverse. Battery-powered, free of local emissions, and easy for most anyone to use, the equipment even has a versatile coupler to fit all rail cars.

If you need to make drayage more efficient, with fewer employees and better maneuvering in tight spaces, visit DJ Products and request a demo.

Prevent These Four Common Warehouse Injuries

Prevent These Four Common Warehouse Injuries
Prevent These Four Common Warehouse Injuries

An ever-increasing number of retailers are relying on warehouse personnel to receive, store, and distribute products directly to end users. This results in an increased demand for warehouse workers. You can minimize the risks of warehouse injuries by incorporating efficient material handling equipment and being mindful of these four common warehouse injuries.

Falling objects and collapsing pallet racks

Forklifts can be useful when moving and lifting heavy loads. One person has an immense amount of power literally right at their fingertips. A slight distraction can result in someone being struck by falling objects or an entire rack of products. Consider having assigned safety personnel who regularly inspect racks and other areas where forklifts are used for potential dangers.

Forklift accidents

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 100 U.S. workers are killed by forklift accidents each year and another 20,000 sustain serious injuries. Reducing the number of forklift accidents requires worker training, ongoing safe work practices, and warehouse traffic management. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has tips to prevent injuries and deaths to people operating and working near forklifts.

Slips, trips, and falls

Approximately 15 percent of all accidental deaths are due to slips, trips, and falls. These accidents are common in all work industries. They are also among the easiest to prevent. All employees should be vigilant about reporting spills, damaged flooring, and other safety hazards. Managers must promptly correct any unsafe condition.

Overexertion injuries

Warehouse work involves pulling, lifting, and carrying products. Overexertion injuries are common and very expensive for companies. Provide your workers with energy-efficient material handling equipment specifically designed for busy warehouses. Contact DJ Products to consult with one of our sales engineers and schedule a free demo.

What to Do and Not Do When Moving Your Small Airplane

What to Do and Not Do When Moving Your Small Airplane
What to Do and Not Do When Moving Your Small Airplane

If you work at an airfield or fly small aircraft, you’ve probably towed a plane into position by pulling on the propellers—even though you’ve been warned not to. There’s a reason why professionals use an aircraft tug.

Never Pull a Prop by the Tip

When moving a small airplane by the propellers, there’s a greater risk for damage when your hand is farther from the hub. The blades bend, the bearings loosen, and you may need to replace the entire hub earlier than you should.

Pilots and ground crews debate plenty about tugging on the props. They all agree that you should at least hold it near the hub.

Push or Pull an Aircraft by Hand?

Your propellers can handle plenty of force, but why risk injury or accident? The exertion of twisting and pulling thousands of pounds in an awkward body stance can tear a muscle or build up to a repetitive stress injury.

Moving small aircraft by hand also makes it impossible to see in every direction. In tight spaces near hangar walls or other planes, it’s worth using a walk-behind aircraft tow for better visibility.

Get an Aircraft Tug You Will Want to Use

A user-friendly aircraft towing system will reduce the temptation to pull on propellers. The Lindbergh AircraftCaddy from DJ Products lets one person do the job easily. Our tugs come with options for 4,000 to 35,000 pounds, and for aircraft with or without wheel pants.

The AircraftCaddy removes most of the manual effort for towing small planes. For operations, it saves on employee time while reducing injury and damage risk.

For a better way to move small planes in and out of hangars, contact DJ Products or explore our site for battery-powered aircraft tugs.

The Uber Concept for Logistics Movement – Is It Right for You?

The Uber Concept for Logistics Movement - Is It Right for You?
The Uber Concept for Logistics Movement – Is It Right for You?

Could your next yard truck be robotically driven? Alongside autonomous or ‘self-driving’ cars, autonomous tractor trailer technology is entering the market. Turns out Uber isn’t just interested in toting people around … It’s in it for the long-haul. Literally.

Uber Ramps Up Robo-Trucking Efforts

Uber’s been trying to rule over the self-driving big-rig market since it acquired Anthony Levandowski’s self-driving truck company, Otto, in 2006. But it’s far from the only contender battling for market share. Daimler, Tesla, Waymo, Volvo, and even some startups are parrying for position in what’s seen as the future of long-haul trucking.

Driver Shortage Fuels Efforts

Online shopping is pushing out the traditional retail purchase, and with Americans ordering and shipping more and more stuff, and a driver deficit, the market is primed for new players. And though it’s tough to get vehicles to drive themselves in the city, on the freeway is another story.

Dangerous Curves Ahead

Still at issue: The difficulty of trucks safely negotiating industrial yards, intersections, and areas with pedestrians. To navigate such issues, those in the robo-trucking game are trying-on different tactics. Startup Starsky is looking to remote operation on service streets, like an RC car.

Uber is trying out the ‘bar pilot’ model, using humans to pick-up shipments and transfer them to robo-truck transfer hubs situated highway-side, with a hand-off in reverse at the exit. For now it’s trying the task at weigh stations off I-40 in Sanders and Topock, Arizona. Their goal is not only safety, but logistical efficiency, to maximize profit and minimize liability in an arena of multiple players sharing the same tote.

Is your staff safe? Save time, boost manpower, and prevent injuries with the help of an electric yard truck from DJ Products today.