Day: September 16, 2018

A Little Whimsy: How Truckers Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

ELD Changes Impact More Than Just the Trucking Industry
A Little Whimsy: How Truckers Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

With 6.5 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the United States being produced by heavy-duty freight transportation, CO2 reduction is a serious goal for the industry. Our battery-powered semi trailer mover is easy on the environment with no sacrifice of power and efficiency.

The promise of electric semis from Tesla, Nikola and other manufacturers is still beyond the horizon, but there is literally a green option truckers can implement to significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

How Big Is a Trucker’s Carbon Footprint?

According to the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA), each gallon of diesel fuel burned by heavy-duty trucks releases 22.4 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. At an average distance per haul of 450 miles, which consumes 64 gallons of diesel, total CO2 emissions amount to 1,442 pounds.

When you consider that for-hire truckers transport an average of 217 loads each year, the number for each works out to 312,914 pounds of CO2. How can this amount be offset?

Investing in a Cleaner Environment

A tree can actually absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon per year. Planting 6,519 trees equals a 100 percent offset of a truck’s annual emissions. While that number may sound intimidating, a single tree can cost as little as a dime, resulting in a total cost of only $651.90 or $0.006 per mile.

Another option is purchase of carbon offsets, which are credits used to finance carbon absorption projects. Full coverage via carbon offsets would cost approximately $1,420 or $0.013 per mile.

Eco-Friendly Solutions from DJ Products

Our battery-powered semi trailer mover is safe for the environment as well as your workers. Use the handy chat feature on our website to learn more about the benefits of our Electric Yard Dog.

Are Flying Cars Coming to Your Local Field in the Future?

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Are Flying Cars Coming to Your Local Field in the Future?

Will your aircraft caddy soon be toting flying cars? The Kitty Hawk Flyer is touted as the future of the flying car industry. Tested atop Lake Las Vegas amidst journalist fervor, the California-based company put on quite a show.

Potential Use within Urban Communities

The 254-pound Kitty Hawk Flyer, classified as an FAA Part-103 ultralight aircraft, requires no pilot’s license. With just 12 moving parts, including 10 propellers and 2 cockpit controls, the recreational vehicle is a cinch to operate. The Flyer sports no altimeters, fuel indicators, gauges, or computer read outs. With a carbon fiber body that resembles an oversized drone bedecked with pontoons, it’s as simple as they come.

Easier to Operate than a Video Game System

The Flyer’s flexibility and ease-of-use put it front-and-center as a likely predecessor to the much anticipated flying car. Brittney Miculka, flight training manager for Kitty Hawk, said she could teach someone the basics of flying it in about 20-minutes. However, new pilots typically undergo a 90-minute training session that includes training in a simulator, as well as additional training on how to escape the vehicle in the unlikely event it overturns in the water.

Early Testing with Clipped Wings

Kitty Hawk is under extensive restrictions in its early testing phase at Lake Las Vegas, facing a 6-mph top speed, 10-foot height restriction, and low wind tolerance. However, this didn’t seem to diminish the excitement of the company, its investors, and the plethora of journalists who traveled from as far away as England, Germany, and Japan to see it in action. Kitty Hawk officials have yet to release cost and availability information, but the future awaits…

What will you soon be carting with your aircraft caddy? Reveal the future with DJProducts today.

Robotics Disrupt Warehouse Picking Systems with Productivity Advances

Robotics Disrupt Warehouse Picking Systems with Productivity Advances
Ecommerce and the Speed of Fulfillment Drives New Robotic Technology into Warehouses

The rise of e-commerce has increased demand for automated material handling equipment in the warehouse and logistics industry. In particular, the field of robotics is becoming a primary source of solutions for a wide range of warehouse and distribution center applications.

Automation: The Key to Raising Productivity

As more purchasing is done online, order turnaround and delivery time becomes an important way for companies to set themselves above the competition. In addition, facilities are forced to keep greater quantities of SKUs in stock, making traditional methods of warehouse management less efficient.

According to a recent study by Allied Market Research, the global warehouse robotics market is expected to reach $5.2 billion by 2023. E-commerce currently surpasses even the automotive industry for the largest share of this growing market.

How Robots “Stretch” the Workforce

Robots are an ideal way to handle picking and other repetitive tasks so human workers are free to focus on activities that require more precise skills. This is a distinct advantage in light of today’s labor shortage, especially when warehouses need to ramp up for peak seasonal periods.

Loading docks are another prime target for the influx of robotics. Mobile robots designed to load and unload trucks, such as the ones from Bastian Solutions that debuted at the Modex trade show last spring, are well-suited to withstand extreme weather while lifting heavy loads.

Crystal Parrott, vice president of Dematic’s Robotics Center of Excellence, says the robotics industry is still evolving. Next steps include using artificial intelligence to refine robots for more complex tasks.

Quality Material Handling Equipment for All Applications

Customers say that tugs, pushers and other electric material handling equipment from DJ Products are like adding another worker to the team. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more.