Semi Trailer Moving Archives - Page 2 of 5

2018 Is the Year of the Capacity Crunch

Is your staff geared-up with semi-trailer movers for this year’s “capacity crunch?” Low truck supply and heightening freight demands are continuing to tighten access to shipping services in the ongoing driver shortage. Don’t let a staff loss due to injury add to the capacity crunch climate…

Disappearing Drivers, Declining Services
As older drivers retire, fewer younger drivers are stepping up and into the cab. With fewer trucks available, rates are rising, and the competition to secure shipping services is fierce. Long work hours, lengthy driving distances, and extended periods of time away from home, friends and family make for a hard position to fill.

Climate Complications
The political and literal global climates have also complicated matters, diverting what resources remain given the rising freight volume of the burgeoning U.S. economy. Combined with the needs of servicing hurricane-ravaged regions, these issues have further added to the difficulty of securing trucks for shipment.

Big Brother
Another mitigating factor: Government mandates requiring electronic logging devices be installed on haulers, for the tracking of drivers’ hours of service. Drivers may now remain on the road for only 11-hours by law, with a continuous rest period of 10-hours mandated, daily.

Aimed at creating safer roads, though most carriers are compliant, many drivers have been turned-off, taking issue with the perceived privacy infringement on their personal space. Trucks are not only their workspace, but also their literal home away from home. It goes without mentioning that carrier concerns over the cost of installing such devices are quite the step-up from the manual logbooks of yesteryear.

Are you armed to protect your workers from the repetitive strain injuries of the capacity crunch? Gear-up with the latest in time and money-saving semi-trailer movers from DJ Products today.

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.

Investing in Supply Chain and Terminal Management Technology Starts with Staff Training

Innovation to Drive Future Production

Has your supply chain company fully committed to the high-tech advancements that are revolutionizing the industry? Embracing technology like data capture and terminal tractors is the most strategic way to attract a talented workforce.

Solving the Supply Chain Employment Crisis

The supply chain sector is facing a dire shortage of qualified workers. According to the 2016 MHI Annual Industry Report, approximately 600,000 manufacturing positions in the United States go unfilled and 58 percent of survey respondents reported major difficulties in hiring and retaining skilled workers.

Rather than continuing to search within the same talent pool, why not target the next generation that’s preparing to enter the workforce? The challenge is making an older-skewing industry appealing to younger workers.

Changing the Perception of Supply Chain for a New Generation

Today’s twenty-somethings have grown up with technology, so it’s an integral part of their lives. Incorporating technology in your company makes the business more relevant to them and offers a way for younger workers to express their ingenuity and creativity.

Technology was once seen as merely a way to automate and simplify repetitive tasks. Younger employees, who are familiar with the range and application of technology, want to use these methods to manage and grow a business.

Do you need another reason to invest in technological solutions for your company? In addition to making your workplace attractive to younger generations, technology cuts costs in the long run by improving productivity.

State-of-the-Art Technology for Material Handling Solutions from DJ Products

Our Electric Yard Dog easily moves loads up to 100,000 pounds and includes the latest safety features to reduce risk of accidents and repetitive motion injuries. Contact us for more information about our electric terminal tractors and other pushers, tugs and movers.

Top Logistics Industry Disrupters End a Business as Usual Mentality

World Marketing Is Changing

DJ Products is your preferred supplier for state-of-the-art electric yard trucks, but are you on board with state-of-the-art logistics technology? The future is no longer “business as usual” as disruptors present structural and competitive challenges.

Impact of Projected Global Market Growth

Industry consulting firm Transport Intelligence (Ti) recently published Total Logistics 2018, an analysis of the long- and short-term state of the logistics sector. According to Ti, adaptability is crucial for international freight-forwarding companies hoping to weather upcoming changes.

While different sectors will experience varying degrees of growth, Ti projects that the total global market will see a compound annual growth rate of 5.1 percent over the next five years. Road freight currently accounts for approximately one-third of the market.

Tighter capacity is expected to cause a rise in sea and air freight rates. This factor, combined with increasing numbers of regional trade blocs, will favor road-based shipping as supply chains grow shorter.

Technology Disruptors Upend the Logistics Industry

Technology puts unprecedented amounts of data at our fingertips. As a result, customers are demanding accurate, real-time information and more transparency. Adding to this disruption are start-ups that can easily build new systems unencumbered by existing ones.

Providers are also able to develop platforms that create a better match between supply and demand. The end result could be lower costs for shippers.

Improve Productivity and Safety with Yard Trucks from DJ Products

Is your company equipped to keep up with the fast pace of today’s logistics industry? Our Electric Yard Dog allows employees to quickly maneuver trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds with reduced risk of human injury and property damage.

Visit our website to learn more about our full line of battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers.

Should You Be Tracking Your Semi Trailers by GPS?

Innovative products and new developments in technology can improve efficiency in your trucking business. GPS tracking of your semi trailers can be a valuable tool for your fleet managers. Motorized trailer dollies from DJ Products maximize manpower while preventing injuries and damage to property. If you don’t currently use GPS on your trailers, consider these benefits of 24/7 asset tracking.

Different trackers for different needs

There are GPS devices available at affordable prices for every size of company and for every type of trailer in use. You have the option of advanced systems that constantly monitor speed, location, and can allow managers to label which trailers are full and which are empty using color codes. You can also opt for lower cost systems that simply help monitor trailer locations.

Very affordable to operate and maintain

GPS tracking units use low-voltage, internal batteries that operate for long periods of time without needing recharges. They can also alert fleet managers when their power is disconnected. This is just one of the many ways GPS trackers help prevent loss due to theft.

Easier to compile driver and cargo data

The electronic logging device (ELD) rule went into effect in December 2017 and applies to logging devices for truck activities. Currently, there are no requirements for cargo and trailers. However, with GPS tracking on trailers, fleet managers can easily monitor driver activity and track deliveries in real time.

At DJ Products, we specialize in providing affordable, energy-efficient, user-friendly solutions that help businesses just like yours operate more profitably and safely. Our motorized trailer dollies make it possible for one person to easily move trailers weighing up to 100,000 lbs; no CDL or health card required. Contact one of our sales engineers for more information.

Tips for Keeping Your Semi Truck Fleet in Top Shape

When trucks aren’t working, your company pays a heavy price in lost productivity and increased expenses. Keep your semi truck fleet in top operating shape by using a semi trailer mover and following these standard maintenance tips.

Semi Truck Fleet Maintenance Checklist

– Check oil levels regularly, especially before the start of long-haul jobs. Lack of oil can trigger extensive damage in the truck’s engine, which is expensive to repair or replace.

– Check the radiator and its overflow bottle. Top off radiator fluid as needed and repair small leaks immediately. It’s no fun getting stopped dead in your tracks thanks to an overheated engine.

– Tires with low pressure can reduce fuel mileage and interfere with steering, while over-inflated tires are vulnerable to punctures and damage from road debris. Check tire pressure weekly, and more often during times of weather changes or extensive highway driving.

– If your trucks have dual fuel tanks, parking sideways on a hill causes fuel to run into the lower tank. Once the engine is started, the fuel uptake system will pull in air instead of fuel. Make it a practice to park front to back rather than side to side on slopes.

– When trucks sit idle for a period of time, insects can build nests that block the fuel vent. Be sure to check the vents on any trucks that haven’t been moved in a few days.

– Have the brakes checked frequently to address problems before they go too far.

Electric Semi Trailer Mover Solutions from DJ Products

Our best-selling Electric Yard Dog lets a single employee safely and easily move trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds. Visit our website and learn more about our battery-powered semi trailer mover from our sales engineers.

Should You Consider Cloud Services for Logistics Management?

Still using local software for logistics management? Cloud-based services have taken hold in this industry like so many others. Perhaps you like your current solution and live by the motto, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” On the other hand, sitting still can be dangerous. Logistics in the cloud can be more efficient and scalable—and perhaps surprisingly, also more secure.

Cloud services help you know exactly where your inventory is and where it needs to be. As the makers of TrailerCaddy yard dog trucks, we know how much agility and safety matter at a warehouse or distribution center and how they can benefit your bottom line. Terminal tractors keep each trailer positioned exactly where it needs to be.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Logistics Management

The experts at Inbound Logistics recently offered a rundown of why warehouse and transportation firms should be using cloud-based WMS or TMS for logistics:

– Reduced IT costs

– Scalable for growth or seasonal fluctuation

– Enhanced data security (more redundancy)

– Business continuity and backup disaster recovery

– Internet of Things for labels, tags, sensors, etc.

In practical terms, moving to the cloud means your data is always backed up. Services have a predictable monthly cost and software updates occur automatically. When technology changes, your cloud services provider will already be a step ahead. Cloud storage is a great way to improve distribution efficiency.

DJ Products Electric Yard Dog Trucks

What happens on the ground matters as much as what’s in the cloud. Our TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractors are high-performance, low-cost yard dog trucks that don’t require a CDL driver. Move any trailer up to 100,000 pounds with tight maneuvering and better safety.

Ask DJ Products how our yard dog trucks can improve logistics and supply chain management.

Experts Share Their Tips on Running More Efficient Distribution Centers

As a warehouse manager, you undoubtedly understand just how important it is to find ways to boost productivity. Increased productivity helps ensure that all tasks are handled promptly and efficiently, no matter how busy your warehouse is. While using certain types of equipment, such as a powered trailer dolly, can improve productivity, there are several other ways to accomplish this as well.

Offer Easy Access to Top Selling Products

One of the most effective ways to increase warehouse productivity is by making sure that all of your best-selling products can be easily reached. Providing convenient access to these products makes it easier for warehouse employees to reach them and prepare them for shipping.

Invest in an Automated Inventory Management System

This type of system helps you maintain more accurate inventory management. Having greater accuracy means that you will know when inventory items are getting low, so you can restock. It also means that you will not end up with too much inventory for items that do not sell as well. Maintaining accurate inventory levels also helps boost your profitability.

Seek Input from Employees

Warehouse managers can also talk to employees about ways to increase their productivity. Turning to employees can help managers come up with effective ways to help them perform their jobs more efficiently. Managers can hold periodic meetings with employees to brainstorm new ways to become more productive and put these suggestions into practice. Getting employees involved helps boost morale, which can also lead to a boost in productivity.

At DJ Products, we offer equipment that can help you increase warehouse productivity. If you need a powered trailer dolly or another piece of equipment for your warehouse, please visit us to view our entire selection.

Tips for Helping Your Long Haul Drivers Manage Fatigue Enroute

Yard Trucks Can Lighten Loads for Drivers and Staff

Tired truckers are a huge problem. One that log books seek to prevent. However, like traffic rule books handed out to green drivers pre-licensure, log books are only as effective as those who follow their tenets. Luckily, CDL drivers can learn how to manage sleep without relying on them.

Get to Know Contributing Factors
Lack of oxygen, bright lights, noise and stress can all fuel fatigue, reducing the capacity to remain alert. While stress is tougher to tackle, oxygen is obvious and easy to address. Cool, fresh air is a fantastic fatigue-buster.

Monotonous, loud noise also has a prolonged fatiguing effect, making tasks difficult to perform. Luckily there’s fantastic tech these days, capable of providing both ear protection and entertainment.

Bright lights can seriously disrupt your concentration at night. Dim those interior lights and look at the fog line – and away from oncoming traffic.

Other Strategies for Managing Fatigue
From navigating yard trucks to planning a long-haul freight route, route planning will quickly show itself an ideal way to combat fatigue: Mapping routes and planning stops for rest in advance assures adequate down time, robbing your ego of “I’ll just try to make the next stop” syndrome and the dreaded ‘full’ rest stop.

Exercise tips from “Trucker Fitness” also don’t disappoint, helping you boost fatigue-busting endorphins and improving sleep quality. You cannot bank good sleep. Avoiding sleep debt/lousy rests actually safeguards sleep quality on-the-road. For those with the means, investing in a more comfortable sleeper unit can net amazing returns.

Are you protecting your employees from the fatigue and strain of shunting semi-trailers? Yard trucks can prevent muscle fatigue, injury, and other risks of moving heavy trailers. Safeguard against worker injury and boost productivity with the help of DJProducts today.

Tag: Semi Trailer Moving