Motorized Trailer Dolly Archives - Page 5 of 8

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.

Shell’s Fuel Efficient Concept Semi Truck is Sleek and Aerodynamic

One look at the new high-efficiency concept truck from Shell Rotella, and you’ll understand why they named it Starship. The sleek, sloped tractor-trailer developed in partnership with AirFlow Truck Company looks like it came from a sci-fi movie.

Starship trucks won’t be on the road immediately, but you can still get a jump on improving efficiency and cutting costs for transportation. Our motorized trailer dolly replaces the need for a shunt truck so you can maneuver trailers in and out of dock areas and keep your semi trucks on the road more.

The Shell Rotella AirFlow Starship

The Starship was built by AirFlow, a truck company founded and run a former owner/operator who’s been obsessed with aerodynamic truck design for decades.

A highly custom carbon fiber cab that looks like a cockpit highlights the sleek design of the Starship, but there’s more to it than aerodynamics:

– Cummins X15 diesel engine and Eaton transmission

– Solar panels to power the air conditioning, wipers, etc.

– Hybrid electric axle for uphill power and greater efficiency

– Automatically inflating tires to maintain even greater efficiency

Soon, the Starship concept truck will make a transcontinental trip to demonstrate its fuel ratings. We’ll be interested to see how the Starship stacks up against the Tesla semi truck.

Make Efficiency Gains with a Motorized Trailer Dolly

While distribution enterprises await the Starship, we can all benefit now from using a motorized trailer dolly at shipping docks and truck yards.

The TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractor requires no CDL or hour logging. Dock workers can easily operate it with safety and precision, so your trailers can always be ready to get back on the road.

Contact DJ Products for more info or to request a free demo of our motorized trailer dolly.

Congress and Senate Advance Bill to Boost Truck Weights for Some Sectors

Mississippi legislatures have passed a trucking bill (Senate Bill 2418) that increases the weight limits for hauling farm products and timber on many of the state’s roads. Supporters of the weight increase say it helps independent truckers and trucking companies by allowing them to haul more with fewer trucks.

A motorized trailer dolly from DJ Products is one of the most economical and easy ways trucking companies can maximize manpower and lower the risks of worker injuries.

Weight increase for some commercial trucks

The bill raises weight limits for vehicles with state-issued harvest permits and is scheduled to take effect July 1. Its five percent increase concerns many local officials according to Melinda McGrath, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

McGrath says there is already a five percent tolerance above the weight limit on each axle for trucks with a harvest permit. Senate Bill 2418 raises the tolerance to 10 percent. Critics of the weight increase assert that allowing more weight on each axle significantly increases the weight on a much smaller pavement area, and that is highly destructive to roads and bridges that are already in need of repair.

Lawmakers also approved increased funding for bridge and road repair. The Magnolia State typically spends about $1 billion every year for needed road and bridge work. That money comes from trucking fees, an 18-cent fuel excise tax, and federal funding. Senate Bill 3046 allows borrowing an additional $150 million and moving funds from other budgets to pay for bridges, roads, and infrastructure.

How trucking companies can save money

Equipment like a motorized trailer dolly allow any employee to easily move a semi-trailer; no CDL or Health Card needed. Contact DJ Products to schedule a free demo.

Self-Driving Trucks Hit the “Big Slab” Starting in Arizona

DJ Products Supplies Equipment for Moving Semi Trailers in Your Yard

Self-driving trucks sound like the things that futuristic movies are made of. However, it might not be long before they’re as commonplace as tractor trailers are on our nation’s highways.

Uber now has self-driving commercial trucks that are moving freight in Arizona through the Uber Freight network. These trucks can be seen traveling along Interstate 40 in both directions. They’re using dry van trailers, although the companies that are using their services have not yet been named.

Are Self-Driving Trucks the Start of a New Industry?

The goal is for long haul self-driving trucks to work with conventional trucks to improve the efficiency of the trucking industry. Experts believe that the use of this technology may save lives and improve the quality of life for our country’s truck drivers.

Currently, these self-driving vehicles will remain on the highway. They’ll still rely on drivers to complete the start and the end of each trip, which keeps humans behind the wheel for the more complex work.

The Role of Motorized Trailer Dollies

Motorized trailer dollies can be very useful in Uber’s new venture. The trailers have to be swapped at some point once the highway travel has been completed. Using manpower to do this can be time-consuming, but it can also be dangerous for the driver. With the right tools, trailers can be moved easily and quickly, getting both vehicles back on the road in no time.

The Future of Automated Trucks

Right now, every Uber self-driving truck has a driver in it at all times. They’re working toward making them completely driverless. There’s no telling what the future holds.

Will you be a part of it? If you are, DJ products can help make it happen. Contact us to learn more!

Could Your Fleet Qualify for an ELD (Electronic Logging Device) Exemption?

Check to See if Your Fleet May Be Eligible

The electronic logging device mandate has stirred up a polarizing debate. Some call the rule “Orwellian,” while others insist only those guilty of fudging paper records are upset. Many fleets are happily incorporating ELDs by using terminal tractors to reduce wait times with faster trailer towing around the docks. Still, you may be wondering if you qualify for an ELD exemption.

An owner-operator exemption request has not prevailed thus far. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has only granted a handful of ELD exemptions and waivers. These apply to old vehicles and situations where other safety measures are deemed sufficient:

– Vehicles manufactured before 2000

– Drivers who don’t use paper logs more than 8 days a month

– Trucks rented for 30 days or less; waiver through April 19, 2018

– Trucks rented for 8 days or less; exempt through October 11, 2022

– Agricultural commodities; waiver through June 18, 2018

– UPS drivers; exempt through January 19, 2022

– MPAA commercial drivers; exempt through January 19, 2023

Additionally, vehicles with the old AOBRDs are enjoying a two-year grandfathering period before a required upgrade by December 16, 2019.

Satisfy ELD and HOS Rules with Terminal Tractors

DJ Products can help your fleet comply with ELD mandates by using our TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractor. These replace your shunt trucks and any employee can operate them, so your CDL drivers don’t need to waste time moving trailers in and out of docks.

Terminal tractors save time and money. A TrailerCaddy costs less than 25 percent as much as a shunt truck, yet easily moves trailers up to 100,000 pounds and provides a long battery life.

For more info about how our terminal tractors can help ease the burden of ELD and hours-of-service rules, contact DJ Products today.

Why Would Amazon Want to Start Its Own Shipping Network?

Check Out Our Yard Truck Products

Amazon will soon be adding a yard truck to its extensive assortment of warehouse equipment at its distribution centers. The online giant is preparing to launch a delivery service for businesses that will pit them head-to-head with established companies FedEx and UPS.

Shipping with Amazon

Amazon’s announcement of the new service initially caused stock prices for both FedEx and UPS to dip. While the current partnership between Amazon and UPS is expected to continue short-term, it’s unclear how it will be affected down the road.

The service, to be known as Shipping with Amazon, will begin by delivering shipments from the company’s third-party suppliers. Shipping with Amazon will kick off in the Los Angeles area before branching out.

Why Expand into Delivery?

Experts speculate that there are several reasons why Amazon is pursuing this new venture:

– Amazon’s lucrative Prime membership service offers free two-day shipping on specific items, but that perk is lost when customers order from a third-party supplier. By assuming more control, Amazon is hoping to drive additional customers to purchase a Prime membership.

– With the massive size of its operations, Amazon prefers to be as self-contained as possible. Taking charge of delivery service will minimize problems, such as delayed shipments during the last holiday season.

– Shipping causes a lot of red ink on Amazon’s books. In 2017, the company spent $20 billion getting orders to customers. That figure can be sharply reduced with in-house delivery.

– UPS recently reported quarterly revenues of $18.83 billion. Even for Amazon, it’s hard to resist the lure of that kind of money in their coffers.

Move Trailers with the Electric Yard Dog from DJ Products

Our battery-powered yard truck allows any employee to safely move trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more.

US Railways Are Flourishing As an Alternative to Semi Freight Hauling

Road Accidents are a Big Cause of Death. Moving Loads By Train Could be a Great and Safer Alternative.

The idea of railroads often conjures up romantic images of days gone by, while semi trucking offers a more pragmatic picture of workers using motorized trailer dollies. Passenger rail travel has certainly fallen out of favor, but the freight rail industry is robust, thanks to its status as a viable alternative to semi freight hauling.

Today’s Thriving Railway System

Freight rail may seem old school, but the U.S. railway system is the envy of other countries around the world. Approximately 40 percent of all intercity cargo is transported via the 140,000-mile railway network.

Unlike many other elements of the U.S. infrastructure, the railroad industry is self-sufficient. President Barack Obama’s 2009 stimulus bill provided major support for freight-rail initiatives with sizable grants, but as a private entity, the industry maintains and improves itself without the help of taxpayers’ money.

In fact, freight rail makes significant contributions to the economy. The industry employs more than 200,000 across the country and pays taxes on the $60 billion it generates each year.

Benefits of Freight Rail

– Freight rail transport is more eco-friendly than long-haul trucking. Trains are three times more energy-efficient than trucks, reducing pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.

– Moving freight by rail means fewer trucks on the road. That, in turn, results in less congestion and fewer vehicle accidents.

– While trucks are preferable for time-sensitive shipments, rail transport is a more efficient way to move heavy loads over long distances, such as raw materials.

Improve Safety and Efficiency with the Electric Yard Dog

Is an outside shunting service costing you time, money and productivity? Visit our website and chat with our friendly sales engineers to find out why motorized trailer dollies from DJ Products are the best solution for your company.

Kenworth Previewed Hydrogen-Powered Semi Truck at Consumer Electronics Show

The powered trailer dolly you might use for your warehousing and transportation business doesn’t cause much damage to the environment, but what about the semi-trucks that deliver your products? Semi-trucks that run on traditional fuel do contribute to environmental damage, which is why improvements to these vehicles are being made. In fact, a semi-truck that runs on hydrogen was recently introduced at an electronics show.

Eco-Friendly Trucking

At the annual Consumer Electronics Show in January, Kenworth previewed a semi-truck that’s powered by hydrogen. The Kenworth T680 day cab runs on a hydrogen fuel cell rather than needing to rely on natural gas or diesel fuel. Why was this eco-friendly truck shown at an electronics show? The fuel cell contains a mixture of hydrogen and air that ends up producing electricity. When the truck runs, its only tailpipe emission is water vapor.

Details on the T680

The Kenworth T680, which was demonstrated for the show’s Zero Emission Cargo Transport project, won’t be ready to do long hauls just yet. Initially, the truck will mainly be able to handle 150 miles, which is better suited to short hauls. The horsepower that the motor puts out comes in at 565, and the truck is strong enough to carry the same weight as other Class 8 vehicles.

The electricity that the truck produces can be used to run the motor or recharge the batteries. This high-tech truck could help reduce emissions overall once it’s ready for regular use.

If you need a powered trailer dolly for your warehouse, please visit DJ Products to see our selection of available items. Our products offer important benefits for your business, including savings on manpower and reducing the risk of injuries.

Indiana Targets Placement of Devices on Truck Windshields

Devices while Driving can be Distracting.

In a climate where truck drivers often feel over-regulated and under-appreciated, it’s not surprising that plenty of tempers have flared over the Indiana State Police cracking down with more tickets. At issue: where GPS and other devices can and can’t be mounted on a windshield.

Many distribution centers are fighting to keep up with the driver shortage and new competitive market factors. If you could use a boost in efficiency around the shipping docks, consider a powered trailer dolly that can easily shunt trailers wherever they need to be.

Laws for Windshield-Mount Devices in Trucks

Indiana restricts the use of any object mounted to the windshield of a vehicle. The device must be mounted outside of the area covered by the windshield wipers, and within six inches of the top of the windshield. In any event, the device cannot block the driver’s view.

The state police’s commercial vehicle division issues tickets with fines up to $200 for an offense.

While many truck drivers have supported the safety-first initiative, others feel that GPS devices should be mounted wherever the driver wants. Having to look high up or down low could be as dangerous as a slightly blocked view of the road.

Safety Around Shipping Docks

For those interested in reducing accidents and easing the burden on workers, DJ Products presents the TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractor, or Electric Yard Dog.

Our powered trailer dolly does not require a CDL operator, so your drivers can stay on the road and virtually any employee can maneuver trailers in and out of shipping docks at a moment’s notice. It saves time, boosts productivity, and costs less than a shunt truck.

Shipping with Amazon Takes on UPS and FedEx Head-On

Will your semi trailer dolly soon be moving loads for Amazon’s latest pet project? In its efforts to expand its shipping and delivery infrastructure, Amazon will be rolling out a new shipping service, “Shipping with Amazon” or SWA, in the Los Angeles market.

Move Over FedEx & UPS!
Geared toward taking-on UPS and FedEX shipping services, SWA services will be shipping packages from third-party (independent) Amazon sellers. Items will be delivered to the doorsteps of customers relying nearly entirely on Amazon’s shipping infrastructure, using USPS and other shipping services for the last leg of delivery when necessary.

Shaking the Shipping Market
Amazon hopes to open up SWA to non-affiliated businesses in the future. The e-commerce giant is stepping into the shipping arena to offer a more affordable means of product delivery for sellers that both do and do not sell on Amazon. Pricing has yet to be revealed for comparison against UPS and FedEx standard rates, but online retailers – and shoppers – are salivating at the potential implications.

Just the Beginning
Grease-up your semi trailer dolly… This is just one of the online giant’s pet shipping projects, with more waiting at the on-ramp. SWA is one of many ventures aimed at giving Amazon added control over packages sold through its website. To date it has its own ocean freights, cargo planes, warehouses and lockers stationed around the globe. Its latest endeavor: Smart home devices allows couriers inside the homes of customers to deliver goods more quickly and securely.

As internet shopping grows in prevalence and popularity, protect your workers from the rigors of daily duties with the latest in tugging technology. Learn more about the time saving, injury preventing possibilities a semi trailer dolly can deliver. Contact DJ Products today.

Tag: Motorized Trailer Dolly