April 29, 2018 - DJ Products

eBay Invests to Speed Deliveries with Logistics Joint Venture

In the highly competitive digital marketplace, expedited shipping is one of the ways a company can set itself apart from the competition. A motorized trailer dolly and other sophisticated equipment are useful for making shipping processes more efficient.

In an effort to boost its cross-border logistics network, eBay has entered into a joint venture with Citic Private Equity Funds Management Co. Ltd. The ultimate goal is to speed delivery service to eBay’s customers around the globe.

The Debut of SpeedPAK

Orange Connect Holding, a unit of Citic, and eBay have agreed to start a company called Orange Connex Ltd. (OCL). In their first order of business, OCL has rolled out SpeedPAK, an eBay shipping program focused on cross-border activity and China-based eCommerce vendors.

Currently, SpeedPAK offers a total transit time of eight to 12 business days across all regions of the U.S. In the second quarter, the company plans to initiate service to a number of other countries. including Australia, United Kingdom and France.

How SpeedPAK Will Benefit eBay

John Lin, eBay’s global vice president of international cross-border trade, praised the partnership with OCL, saying that it will give eBay “end-to-end management of shipping processes” for a superior customer experience. He added that more buyers will be able to purchase high-quality, competitively priced products from China.

eBay is actually the second online retailing giant to take this proactive approach. In September 2017, Alibaba Group Holding announced plans for a $16 billion investment toward creating its own global logistics network.

The Yard Dog Motorized Trailer Dolly from DJ Products

Do you want to improve turnaround time in your warehouse terminal? Visit our website and find out how the Electric Yard Dog can improve safety and efficiency in the workplace.

Freight Companies Book a Whopping 14.9% Increase in Sales

The 2017 numbers are in, and transportation performed even better than many thought. After growth of 3 percent in 2016, last year saw a 14.9 percent jump in freight sales. Profit margins jumped, too, nearly doubling to 6 percent.

So, where’s the money going? Large shippers have the most leverage, but small freight companies can compete with smart scaling and agile adjustments, using the tools at their disposal such as a motorized trailer dolly for efficiency around the docks.

What’s Fueling Growth in the Freight Industry?

Booming e-commerce and a healthy overall economy created strong demand for shipping and distribution. A looming driver shortage keeps prices high, as well.

As Forbes has noted, experts forecast the strong sales figures to continue for several years. As the president of KSM Transport Advisors has said, you’d have to be making mistakes to lose money right now.

Keep Operations Lean with a Motorized Trailer Dolly

Of course, things can change quickly. High margins may indicate that your competitors have room to slash prices. If a firm struggles to retain good drivers, operations could slow down. Smaller firms, in particular, need to stay ahead of the curve on efficiency gains.

At DJ Products, we know how material handling equipment can improve your bottom line. Our TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractor does just that by increasing warehouse efficiency.

A motorized trailer dolly offers more maneuverability and control than a typical shunt truck. And because it’s not a truck, you don’t need to log hours on a CDL driver. TrailerCaddy products cost less to purchase and operate while helping to keep your trucks and trailers on the road more.

Visit the DJ Products site for more info or request an onsite demo of the TrailerCaddy motorized trailer dolly.

Warehouse Space Supply Struggles to Keep Up with Current Demand

The explosion of e-commerce has brought with it a greater need for speedy last-mile delivery. Accommodating these increase requires far more than adding material handling equipment. A recent report shows that warehouse inventory is “aging,” with supply lagging well behind demand.

The New Realities of the Warehouse Industry

In March 2018 CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, published a report about warehouse modernization in the U.S. According to their findings, 1 billion square feet of new warehouse capacity has been added over the last 10 years, yet it makes up only 11 percent of total warehouse inventory.

In addition, these modern warehouses account for just four percent of total buildings. This is due to new warehouse structures being built approximately three times the size of existing facilities.

In the push to fulfill the needs of today’s business environment, developers are facing a dilemma. Focusing on streamlined last-mile delivery systems requires warehouses located in proximity to large urban centers and densely populated areas. Unfortunately, such land is so limited that it carries a premium price, making it difficult for developers to be profitable.

Finding Solutions

Warehouses may start growing up instead of out. Developers could take their cues from vertical and stack warehousing models used in cosmopolitan cities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong, where population sizes and real estate prices effectively prohibit conventional warehouse buildings.

Material Handling Equipment for Today’s Modern Warehouses

DJ Products offers a full line of battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers for all warehouse applications. Visit our website to learn more about state-of-the-art material handling equipment such as our popular CartCaddyLite. Sales engineers are ready to help you via our convenient online chat feature.

Top Forklift Dangers and How to Avoid Them – Part Two

Top Forklift Dangers and How to Avoid Them

Have you provided your employees with top-of-the-line material handling equipment such as our CartCaddyLite? That’s a crucial step in maximizing productivity, but it’s only part of the answer. All workers should be trained to spot safety hazards and how to avoid them.

We recently listed the top three forklift dangers along with corresponding safety tips. In this post we’re concluding with a look at the last two of the top five dangers.

Falls from Forklifts

Not all forklift injuries and fatalities are caused directly by the vehicle. A fall from a forklift can have serious results, ranging from cuts and contusions to broken bones to death.

– Institute a zero-tolerance policy for lifting workers who are standing directly on the fork.

– Always use an approved lifting cage and make sure the platform is securely attached to the fork or carriage.

– Use rails, chains, body belts or other restraining devices for the worker on the platform.

– Always lower the platform before traveling.

Shoddy or Inconsistent Maintenance

Forklifts require maintenance just as any other motorized vehicle does. Accidents due to poor maintenance are doubly tragic because they could have been prevented. In addition, your company could be liable for negligence.

– At a minimum, follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule. You may want to have more frequent inspections based on heavy usage.

– Pull a forklift out of operation immediately if any problems are found.

Turn to DJ Products for Safe and Efficient Material Handling Equipment

Our battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers are designed to let a single employee transport loads of up to 10,000 pounds, including irregular shapes and sizes. Visit our website and use the convenient online chat feature to learn more from our friendly and knowledgeable sales engineers.

Tips for Planning a Warehouse Relocation

Whether you need a larger space, a more convenient location or a more affordable warehouse, relocating is a major move that requires careful planning. You need to ensure that all of your products, material handling equipment and other supplies are brought to the new place in good condition. Also, take care of practical matters such as adjusting your budget for the move. Keep the following tips in mind for planning your warehouse relocation:

Find the Right Location

This means weighing your options with your business needs and budget in mind. Look for locations that provide you with the space you need at a price that fits comfortably within your budget. Consider whether or not your move will require hiring new management and staff, such as if you go to a different part of the state or to another state entirely.

Keep Track of the Timeline

The amount of time it will take you to relocate depends on different factors, such as how large your business is. Plan out the steps you need to take in order to prepare for it, and keep track of the overall timeline. Work out a schedule that allows you and your staff to get everything ready for the move without having to rush.

Adjust Your Budget

Factor in expenses that you will be dealing with before, during and after the move, such as a recruitment budget for new staff. You might also need to budget for productivity loss as you move from one warehouse to another.

If you need to invest in new material handling equipment after your warehouse relocation, please contact DJ Products. We offer high-quality equipment that can help you run your warehouse as efficiently as possible.

Could the Blockchain Concept Work in the Trucking Industry?

Blockchain may be the “Holy Grail” of the trucking industry. We have enough trucks and drivers to fill demand, but matching up shippers and carriers in the right place at the right time can be tricky, even with a yard truck to position trailers where they need to be at a moment’s notice. Blockchain technology is the other piece of the puzzle necessary to make trucking the efficient industry that it should be.

Blockchain for trucking looks a bit different than Bitcoin, which runs on a public blockchain. Transportation companies use a private blockchain. Both offer a distributed ledger of highly secure data, but the private version requires an invitation.

A co-founder of Transfix, a trucking marketplace, recently laid out how blockchain is used in transportation and what needs to happen for it to be wildly successful:

– Trust: Shippers and carriers must trust the system. This requires an agreed-upon process of vetting and contracts.

– Small business participation: We’ll need to see close to universal adoption by small firms, which make up the vast majority of shippers.

– Standardization: Things will only go smoothly if everyone involved uses the same data type.

The Yard Truck for a Hyper-Efficient Trucking Industry

If your warehouse could have a driver ready to take every piece of freight to the next destination, would you even be ready for it?

While blockchain may revolutionize the data, you need boots-on-the-ground preparedness to make use of the improved warehouse efficiency.

The TrailerCaddy electric yard truck from DJ Products can tow any trailer up to 100,000 pounds with speed, safety, and incredible efficiency. Load trailers up to the dock, move them around the yard, and be prepared for the new wave of blockchain for distribution. Contact us for more info.

Day: April 29, 2018