Terminal Tractors Archives

What Fleet Managers Need to Know About Electronic Driver Log Books

What to Know About ELD

At the end of 2019, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate will be fully in effect. The grandfather clause for older e-log devices will run out, at which point virtually all fleet drivers will need an FMCSA-compliant logging device.

Hours of Service rules cause a cascade of effects on the transportation industry. If you’re short on drivers or time, you’ll need to get creative. Using battery-powered terminal tractors that don’t require a CDL license offers one easy solution for time management.

Approved Electronic Logging Devices

The mandate includes several necessary specs for an ELD. The device must connect to the truck’s engine and know when the vehicle is moving, and it must be able to transmit data by USB, Bluetooth, or the web. Drivers can log their on-duty or off-duty status, but otherwise the whole tracking process is automated.

ELD Costs and Savings

Each device will set you back hundreds of dollars. Most are around $500, but they vary from about $200 to $800.

The FMCSA and industry groups both find that the ELD mandate will provide long-term cost savings. Reduced paperwork and fewer truck accidents will save more money than the initial outlay.

One wildcard to consider: if your drivers have been fudging their time sheets, adhering to the HOS rules might mean that you’ll need to hire more drivers or avoid wasting your CDL drivers’ time.

Save Time for ELD Compliance

Many drivers are only struggling with ELD and HOS compliance because they waste too much time in the truck at warehouses. Electric terminal tractors make it easy to tow trailers from the dock to the yard—so your CDL drivers can simply pick up and go.

Contact DJ Products to learn more about TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractors.

What to Expect in 2019 in the Logistics and Transportation Industries

What to Expect in the Rest of 2019

What is the best way to use big data in logistics and transportation? In 2019 and beyond, businesses are under competitive pressure to turn the data they have into effective results. From overseas manufacturers to the terminal tractors and trucks at your warehouse, every piece needs to be in sync and taking advantage of the latest technology and data.

Transportation experts see organizations taking a “coherent and structured approach” to their newest initiatives. Whether it’s public transportation, warehouse shipping, or last-mile couriers, each segment needs to align its stakeholders under one vision of reliable, efficient logistics.

Logistics trends in 2019 include:

– Smart cities initiatives

– Customized service models

– Money-back guarantees

– Results-based investments using big data

– IoT solutions to solve TL, LTL, and parcel delivery issues

– Driverless vehicles to solve the shortage crisis

– Reducing transportation costs by minimizing loading and unloading delays

Controlling Costs and Improving Logistics Efficiency

New technology and approaches are emerging to cut down on the ever-rising costs of transportation. Once you have the data to identify bottlenecks, prevent overstocking, and streamline the supply chain, you need to put a plan into action.

At the warehouse, the digital age has already made inventory tracking easier. Transportation needs to catch up. All the speed in the world for ordering and picking doesn’t matter if you can’t get the trucks on the road just as fast.

To reduce wait times at the warehouse and move products more efficiently and less expensively, switch to electric terminal tractors instead of shunt trucks. TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractors from DJ Products cost less than a quarter of a shunt truck with lower maintenance, greater safety, and no CDL driver required.

To learn more about battery-powered, semi-trailer tow dollies and terminal tractors, contact DJ Products or call 1-800-686-2651.

Driverless Trucks – Did They Change the Supply Chain as Expected?

It seems surreal to think that we’ve been talking so much about driverless trucks. Most of us probably never thought this could happen. But here we are, in a new day and age, and it is certainly happening whether we like it or not.

But, the question is, what changes have taken place since driverless trucks started being used more often? Has the supply chain been altered at all? These are the questions we’re here to answer today.

Why are Driverless Trucks Necessary?

The reality is that most accidents are caused by human negligence or errors. If you think about it, the number one problem today is distracted driving. When humans are removed from the equation, the number of accidents should go way down.

In addition, our country is facing a truck driver shortage that is unlike anything we’ve seen before. The drivers we do have tend to maintain about a 40% utilization factor within 24 hours. They are not able to drive as long as companies wish they could.

How Will the Supply Chain be Impacted?

Experts believe that the supply chain will be affected in three key areas:

*A Decrease in Distribution Centers – With so many trucks being able to travel much longer miles each day, fewer distribution centers will be necessary. The ones that remain may be further apart and much larger.

*Delivery Speed – Customers will be able to get their orders much faster than they did previously.

*Product Costs – Costs are expected to go down significantly, which is great for the market as a whole.

At DJ Products, we offer the best in terminal tractors and other products to help your company function at its best. If you have questions about our terminal tractors, contact us!

Five Important Fleet Safety Tips All Managers Need to Embrace

Fleet Safety for Managers

Fleet safety protects more than just cargo. It’s about keeping your drivers safe even when they feel rushed or pressured to meet the demands of the job. You can control some things at your location, such as by using terminal tractors to safely tow trailers around the lot. Managers should also be hands-on when it comes to safe dock areas and safe driving.

Time to conduct an in-house safety audit? Implement these five tips for fleet safety.

Safety orientations: Teach new hires and refresh veteran employees annually with a little classroom training. Everybody should know the best safety practices for their job as well as the workers they interact with so that everyone is on the same page.

Regular feedback: On at least a monthly basis, review your drivers’ and warehouse employees’ safety and performance records. This takes away the feeling of confrontation when you need to address things like customer complaints or aggressive driving.

Technology and equipment: Make use of fleet trackers, telematics, and boots-on-the-ground equipment like electric terminal tractors. Focus on solutions that are easy to use and which your employees will actually want to use.

Team effort: Ask top employees to host those safety orientations or conduct ride-alongs. Make safety a team effort. Offer prizes for clean safety records or other goals.

Corrective action: Make your policies well-understood, and follow through with corrective training for bad driving or reckless behavior.

Easier, Safer Trucking with Terminal Tractors

A disproportionate amount of worker injuries occur around the dock. The Electric Yard Truck’s safety features streamline the task of backing up trailers to the dock and towing them around the lot. They can be operated by non-CDL workers with easy speed control, braking, and steering.

To learn more about the safety benefits of electric terminal tractors, contact DJ Products.

Forbes Predicts a Major Consolidation of Shipping Companies in 2019

Pros and Cons of Shipping Business Consolidation

Shipping companies are expected to form alliances in order to provide high-quality services to their customers in 2019. In addition to these alliances, investing in terminal tractors and other products can help these companies improve productivity and raise morale among their employees. Taking these steps can guarantee being able to provide superior service.

Logistics and Shipping Changes

Logistics companies and shipping consolidation have led to fewer carrier options for shipping companies. This drop in available carriers can make it difficult for shipping companies to ensure that they are able to keep products moving on schedule and get the quality they are looking for. This is especially true for independent shipping companies compared to much larger ones.

Some shipping companies have decided to form alliances, so they can do business with carriers that they can depend on. Making this move will help these companies protect their business.

Pros and Cons of Consolidation

Is consolidation a positive or negative change for shipping companies in general?

Consolidating has pros and cons that shipping companies should take into consideration. These alliances allow shipping companies to thrive and stay on schedule overall. However, shipping companies might find that rates end up increasing due to a lower amount of competition in the market. These rate increases could have a negative impact on shipping companies.

With alliance formations expected to continue this year, it’s important for independent shipping companies to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of consolidating before making any decisions on whether or not to go through with it.

If you need more information on terminal tractors for your warehouse, contact DJ Products. These products can help improve working conditions for your employees, which boosts productivity and saves on time.

Some Truck Stops Stand Out Above Others – What to Consider

To put an end to the monotonous ‘meh’ feel of truck stops, many centers have lately been striving to up the ante by offering added comforts and conveniences and boasting bright, shiny exteriors to lure you in and gain your business. There’s now a plethora of places for you to pick for a bit of respite on the road. Almost too many.

Tips for Choosing Truck Stops that are Worth Your Time:

Plan Your Stops for Easier Access to Added Services

Terminal tractors can go forever… but you can’t. Preparations for your journey should include your need for food, leg stretches, bathroom breaks, sleep, etc. You should PLAN your stops versus an on-the-fly haul, so you can take advantage of the services of specific truck stop locations. With the influx of freight shipping and drivers, truck stops are offering quite a bit more than they used to. What would you like to do on your trip?

-Laundry?

-Shower?

-Relax and watch TV?

-Address dental or medical needs?

-Renew DOT certifications?

Look for Superior Parking Facilities

Gas and food are a given, but a great parking setup with wide spaces and great lighting are signs of a quality truck stop.

Major Chains May Offer Bigger Advantages

While there are some great independently-owned truck stops, as a general rule major chains tend to offer more services. Major chains also tend to sport cleaner bathrooms, better food, and more reasonably priced gas than independently-owned stops, due to their increased purchasing power and corporate connections.

Hostler dead on his feet? Ensure the help you need, increasing efficiency and lightening the workload with the help of terminal tractors from DJ Products today.

Tips for Improving Your Distribution Center’s Inventory Management Skills

Decisions about distribution center equipment, such as the purchase of terminal tractors, are often relatively clearcut. But inventory management is a moving target that involves straddling a line between too much and too little. Both scenarios generate excess costs that seriously impact the bottom line.

Fortunately, improvements in technology have resulted in practical and effective solutions to the problem of inventory management. Here are tips from experts on how to incorporate these methods in your distribution center.

Remove Emotion from the Process

According to Ian Hobkirk, president of Commonwealth Supply Chain Advisors in Boston, too many companies set inventory levels based on emotion rather than logic. In most cases, they err on the side of excess inventory as a “security blanket.”

Numbers have no emotions attached, so inventory management software makes the process more objective. These systems provide real-time information that allows for decision-making based on actual data rather than what-ifs.

Embrace Technology

For decades, inventory management was a time-consuming process recorded manually with paper and pencils. These antiquated methods left too much room for error and they weren’t responsive to rapid changes.

At this point, even barcode scanners are becoming relatively outdated. E-commerce is leading the charge in adopting cutting-edge systems combining the Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile devices for timely data-gathering across the supply chain.

Crunch the Numbers

Excess inventory costs are greater than simply the purchase price of products. Hobkirk suggests calculating the true expenses of carrying too much inventory, including factors such as storage and labor costs.

Move Inventory with Terminal Tractors from DJ Products

A quick turnaround time for trucks gets inventory moving faster. Contact us to learn how our Electric Yard Dog enables a single worker to move trailers safely and efficiently.

ELD Changes Impact More Than Just the Trucking Industry

One of the advantages of our terminal tractors is that no special licensing is required to operate them. Other elements of the trucking industry are subject to extensive regulations, and nowhere is that more evident than with implementation of the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate.

While the news has been full of stories about transportation companies and drivers dealing with the transition, an unexpected but serious consequence has arisen: customers are being affected by significant delays in delivery times.

Coping with Extended Delivery Times

One such business is Dakota Gasification Co., which depends on deliveries of supplies to its Great Plains Synfuel Plant near Beulah, ND. According to senior logistics administrator Nathan Johnson, single-day deliveries are now taking as much as three to four days.

Another company experiencing extended delivery times is McQuade, a distributor of specialty, import and craft beers located in Bismarck. President Shannon McQuade-Ely explains that many of their shipments come from Colorado, but loaded trucks often sit idle because no drivers are available.

What’s Behind the Delays?

The ELD mandate didn’t change service time requirements, but it did have a significant effect on how time is tracked. For example, the clock used to stop during loading and unloading of trucks, but now ELDs continue to run so that no longer counts as down time.

Not surprisingly, freight rates are rising as demand outstrips supply. McQuade-Ely points to a couple of other factors contributing to a driver shortage:

– Department of Transportation physical requirements

– Spread of legalized marijuana, which prevents applicants from passing drug tests

Efficient, Cost-Effective Terminal Tractors from DJ Products

Our Electric Yard Dog moves trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds for one-quarter the cost of a new shunt truck. Visit our website for more information.

Is Your Fleet Winterized? Tips on Getting Ready for Cold Weather

Staying Warm on the Job Can Prevent Employees from Coming Down with Illness. Take Precautions!

Your terminal tractors may not need to be dressed for the winter weather, but your rigs do. Are yours ready? The frigid temperatures of winter deliver snow and ice that make trucking tasks increasingly difficult and dangerous. Many accidents on America’s congested roads lie at the hands of such weather, with 467 fatalities annually resulting from icy conditions, and nearly one-quarter of vehicle crashes caused in whole or part by inclement weather according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Luckily, however, with a bit of preventative winterization maintenance, you can limit risk.

Seven Ways to Prepare Your Fleet for Cold Weather:

Maintain Tire Health
Responsible for 1-of-11 crashes, watch for uneven tire wear indicating alignment or bearing/kingpin issues. Be sure to check tire pressure as temperatures drop as well: Tire pressure decreases with temperature, increasing rolling resistance and impacting fuel economy.

Watch out for ‘Fuel Gelling’
In cold weather, fuel molecules can gel or wax-up and cling together. Winterize fuel to prevent fuel filter clogs and protect MPG with the right additives/fuel treatments.

Keep Water Out of Fuel Sources
Water will settle into the lowest point of fuel filters, tanks and hoses, freezing. To ensure fuel gets safely to the engine, water contamination must be eliminated.

Check Battery & Fluid Levels
Monitor charge levels, replace washer fluid with ‘no-freeze’ alternatives, and ensure proper coolant levels.

Ensure Maximum Visibility
Always keep windows clean and clear.

Stock Your Cab
With extra water and non-perishable food in the event you may become stranded.

Drive Differently
Slow down and use extra caution when driving in rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, and wind, as other drivers struggle with the weather.

Increase safety from dockside to doorstep. Learn more about terminal tractors from DJ Products today.

Encouraging Congress to Take Action on “Super Slab” Improvements

Are your terminal tractors lugging loads destined for a road to nowhere? You don’t have to tell anyone in the shipping logistics industry that America’s roads, highways, tunnels, and bridges are in serious disrepair. Cementing the need for attention, the American Society of Civil Engineer’s 2017 report gave the nation’s transportation infrastructure a D+.

Deteriorating Infrastructure Is Impeding America’s Ability to Compete Globally

To safeguard our country’s future, timely action must be taken. While some progress has been achieved, reversing the trajectory of degradation due to under-investment in infrastructure over decades relies on the actions of the Congress, states, infrastructure owners, and American citizens.

‘Transportation Has Always Been Bi-Partisan’
– Ray LaHood, DOT Secretary Under Barack Obama

Far from a partisan problem, this national issue has not been addressed since 1993, the last time Congress increased the federal fuel tax – the primary funding mechanism for financing the majority of transportation infrastructure projects. Today, the issue remains, and is centered on the need for true long-term legislation able to attain the revenue necessary to finance the infrastructure projects of America’s crumbling highways, roads, bridges, and tunnels.

Bridging the Partisan Divide

A timely solution could help the nation capitalize on the current level of soaring economic momentum. As stated by Mr. LaHood, ‘There are no Democratic or Republican roads or bridges.’ And President Trump agrees, ‘We have a lot in common on infrastructure.’ Rep. Peter DeFazio notes, ‘We can’t pretend. There has to be real money, real investment, and it needs to be done soon.’ However, it’ll cost money at a time money is tight. A challenge that will be hard to surmount without everyone’s support.

Pave the way to a brighter future. Learn more about terminal tractors from DJ Products today.

Tag: Terminal Tractors