Day: October 23, 2018

Changes in Store for Calculation of Carrier Safety Scoring

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Changes Are In Store for Carrier Safety Scoring

Transportation industry stakeholders are constantly searching for ways to improve safety. Our battery-powered yard trucks are ergonomically designed to reduce risk of injury when shunting trailers, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is focused on safe conditions for drivers.

In 2015 President Obama signed the FAST Act, a five-year transportation funding bill. Last August, in accordance with one of the requirements contained in the bill, the FMCSA filed a report with Congress about proposed changes to the Compliance, Safety, Accountability carrier safety rating program.

Prioritizing Safety in Transportation

The FAST Act included the following mandates for the FMCSA:

– CSA’s public SMS percentile rankings were to be pulled immediately from public view.

– The FMCSA was to contract the National Academies of Science (NAS) to study CSA and offer recommendations to improve its fairness and accuracy.

– Finally, the NAS findings were to be incorporated in a corrective action plan that the FMCSA would then submit to Congress.

Opening the Channels of Communication

In addition, the FMCSA planned a public meeting in late August to get feedback from industry stakeholders about the best methods to incorporate the corrective action plan. Prospective reforms in their 10-page report include:

– Changing the methods of calculating scores using improved data.

– Making the scores more user-friendly for carriers to interpret and calculate.

– Instituting an absolute scoring program that provides a universal standard rather than relying on relative scores.

Testing of the new system was scheduled to begin in September.

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As More Warehouses Are Built, Managers Find Skilled Workers Harder to Find

Tips for Proactice Warehouse Accident Prevention
Skilled Warehouse Staff is Becoming Hard to Find

As online shoppers demand faster and less expensive shipping, it’s created a warehouse boom in several parts of the country. Companies are investing in high-tech facilities and state-of-the-art warehouse equipment to provide an elite level of customer service.

Unfortunately, there’s a downside to this seeming success story. While the number of warehouses grows, it’s become increasingly hard for employers to find enough qualified people to staff them.

The Shrinking Labor Force in Warehousing and Logistics

The problem is readily apparent in the Midwest, where many companies are locating their distribution centers to be close to a larger segment of the public. One example is Cincinnati-based Proctor & Gamble, which recently opened a mile-long facility not far from Dayton International Airport.

According to P&G’s Jeff LeRoy, the entire warehouse is digital, allowing them to get product to the customer in less than 48 hours. But LeRoy adds that the influx of warehouses is making competition for employees tougher, with the biggest demand coming for jobs that robots are still unable to do.

How to Beat the Competition for Qualified Workers

In order to attract qualified applicants, P&G is offering a starting wage of $15 per hour, which is more than $5 higher than the area standard for low-skilled warehouse jobs. LeRoy says that as automation becomes more integrated in supply chain and logistics, future workers will require a different set of skills.

Mark Cohen of Columbia Business School says that communities need to support programs to develop these new skill sets. Ohio Governor John Kasich is also urging companies to better align training programs.

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Warehouses Will Never Profit Using a Gig Economy Model with Employees

Profit if Projected to Decrease Soon.
Are You Burning Money?

Your company pays close attention to the money invested in quality warehouse equipment. But as today’s gig economy changes the traditional concept of a workplace, how much are you willing to invest in your employees?

Are Warehouse Workers Truly Expendable?

While labor is the largest expense in the warehouse industry, workers are often viewed as easily replaceable commodities. In fact, experts recommend taking the opposite approach and treating employees as your company’s most valuable asset.

With factors such as increased competition creating a sharply reduced labor pool, it’s more important than ever to consider the environment you create for your employees. A worker who feels appreciated puts forth a better effort and is more likely to internalize a company’s mission and goals.

Starbucks: A Culture of Employee Appreciation

Starbucks has maintained an enviable track record of success in the face of stiff competition. While cashiers and baristas are not highly skilled positions, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz firmly believes that these customer-facing associates are indispensable to the company’s success.

More importantly, Schultz backs up his philosophy with action. Starbucks employees receive a generous benefits package that includes stock options and free college tuition.

Efficient warehouse operations depend on workers who pay attention to details and keep the customer in mind. It’s hard to maintain that level when employees are passing through a revolving door. Why not make it worthwhile for associates to share your vision and culture?

Warehouse Equipment from DJ Products: Tools for Success

Employees work harder when they’re given the training and tools to succeed. Our battery-powered warehouse equipment takes the drudgery out of the toughest jobs and reduces the risk of workplace injuries.

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