Terminal Tractors Archives - Page 3 of 6

Daimler Creates New Automated Truck Research and Testing Center

Pioneers in the trucking industry continue to emerge, as now Daimler Trucks seeks to discover and invest in new frontiers like automation and electric freight liners. The inception of an entirely fresh platform is creating a stir with those in the various industries affiliated with technology and freight delivery.

As the industries continue to spread and create opportunities through research and advancements, machinery like semi trailer dollies become necessary to facilitate their growth.

New Opportunities, New Uncertainty

How do you keep up with the latest developments in a burgeoning industry? Don’t let progress intimidate your business plan or determine your success. If you feel uncertain as to what electric trucks and automation mean for your operations, invest in problem-solving solutions.

Trust in products that can withstand any upheaval in the industry, to help you keep your labor costs down, and worker morale up. Longevity in business can be as simple as utilizing machinery that won’t fail you when the unexpected happens.

Advancing Your Business

Semi trailer dollies reduce risk to your business. An investment in new technology may come with a learning curve, at least in the near term. Similarly, trusting in new employees to develop expertise with these dollies comes with a risk. But thankfully, entrusting new hirees with DJ Products machinery isn’t a difficult task. Semi trailer dollies are so simple to operate anyone can do it.

You shouldn’t have to risk life or limb to get tasks done correctly. For industries that buy and move in bulk, easily maneuverable products protect your employees from muscle strain and exhaustion and your interests as well. Stay up-to-date and far from worry by utilizing DJ Products’ smart machines. They do the heavy-duty tasks so your team doesn’t have to!

Truck Sales to the Logistics Market Slows Due to Low Supply Against High Demand

In the trucking industry, success leans heavily on logistics. Detailed coordination needs all parts involved running smoothly to function efficiently. From the necessary acquisition of durable, heavy-duty vehicles to the utilization of useful trailer helpers, like a semi trailer dolly, every working piece needs to fit correctly to sustain a well-oiled profit-making machine.

Lately, the need for immediate product acquisition and delivery services has been steadily climbing. A recent article describes a disturbing trend that reveals the trucking industry is at a crucial time in its history – a veritable tipping point! High demand is creating real concerns for those in trucking and logistics as employers scramble to meet the needs of their customers.

Unwrapping the Rear Axle

Trucking business owners are keeping their used trucks close to the vest rather than trading them in for newer models. And they are purchasing newer models as well. The need is growing for reliable new and used semis so tractor/semi-trailer manufacturers are racing to keep up. It’s vital to businesses inherently dependent on their ability to deliver freight quickly to ensure there is no slow down in the logistics process.

Logistics emphasizes the need to acquire and retain reliable machinery to help deliver products on time and with care. Get rid of the confusion, safety concerns, labor costs and increase your potential to deliver freights. Quality inventions like a semi trailer dolly can take up the slack when a portion of the process falters.

DJ Products Keeps Freight Moving

Premium quality machinery solves difficult issues with ingenuity. When demands are high and supplies are low, the right products allow you to meet higher levels of expectations. DJ Products continues to reach across a multitude of industries to provide tested solutions to complex problems.

Daimler Moves into Tesla’s Electric Semi Space with eCascadia Semi Truck

Electric Semi Trucks

Will your terminal tractors soon be pushing a payload destined for plug-in vehicles? Giving Tesla’s revolutionary electric semis a run for their money, Daimler, one of the world’s largest truck producers, recently unveiled their eCascadia semi, adding the electric hauling behemoth to its relatively new electric truck division.

What Kind of Electrically-Powered Products is Daimler Packing?

– FUSO eCanter
A lighter-duty, box-truck-style hauler capable of lugging up to 3-½ tons over a 62-mile range.

– eTruck
A large, 212-kWh battery pack powers this 26-ton capacity hauler, gifting it with 125-miles of range.

– Freightliner eM2 106
A last-mile delivery hauler, with 325-kWh battery, 230-mile range, providing 80% recharge in 60-minutes.

– eCascadia Semi
The eCascadia is a heavy-duty, 730-HP, Class 8 truck with a range of up to 250-miles, powered by a behemoth 550-kWh battery capable of recharging to about 80% within 90-minutes.

How Does it Stack Up Against Tesla’s Competition?
Tesla touts an unbelievable 500-mile range for its yet roadway-ready Class 8, 80,000-pound capacity hauler. Martin Daum, head of trucks and buses at Daimler, implied Tesla’s specs are either stretching the truth, or defy the laws of physics – but if true, will pass them by. Both are feeling the pressure.

And the Winner Is…
The Daimler addition marks an interesting twist in the burgeoning market of more environmentally friendly transportation mediums. With competition in the all-electric truck division heating up, it’s anyone’s guess who will push to the forefront of the electrically-powered vehicle market when they actually hit the road, unveiling their true capacities. Potentially inspiring more competition from other manufacturers as motivations for a lower carbon footprint drive the market.

Looking to get ahead of the pack? Achieve new heights in efficiency and productivity with terminal tractors from DJ Products today.

Fuel Haulers Embrace 30-Minute Break Exemption

What does a 30-minute break exemption mean for the fuel haulers who work more than 12 hours each day? Quite a lot actually. For short haul runs that are under 100-miles, fuel haulers can now avoid taking the federally required 30-minute breaks. The more time they have alotted to haul and unload with no lag between jobs the better it is for their bottom line.

Similarly, a terminal tractor that helps move trailers into position without hard labor–the more cost-efficient it is for time-conscious drivers.

Watching the Clock

Close to 40,000 truck drivers now can benefit from the 30-minute break exemption. Those thousands of haulers will bring more business to other industries as well. This newest exemption could mean more hauling/unloading and a busier schedule for fuel haulers. While this can be a positive change, more hauls also could increase labor.

Don’t worry! Technology advances can help address any issues that present themselves. Precision machinery can drive those in the trucking industry to better profit margins.

Investing In Solutions

The best machinery ensures deadlines are met, safety guidelines are followed, and labor is lowered. A premium trailer tractor can do the difficult work so a driver on a time clock doesn’t have to. As the old adage says “work smarter not harder.”

DJ Products is a company that ensures time management and safety precautions are equal in priority. The products we offer our clients, like our terminal tractor, keep the most important things in focus. Your safety, your bottom line, and your efficiency are important to you. Visit DJ Products and find out why what matters to you matters to us as well!

Words of Wisdom: Make Sure to Read the Fine Print on the Load Rate Confirmation

Read the Fine Print on Load Rate Confirmations

A number of companies use our terminal tractor to increase efficiency in their yards, but what happens when a facility doesn’t share that sense of urgency? One husband-and-wife owner-operator trucking team recently shared their story of a great job that turned into a disaster to warn about the importance of reading the fine print on the load rate confirmation.

Too Good to be True?

After delivering a load in Phoenix, Gary and Ondena Caraway were left without an outbound job. Ultimately, they found and booked a job for Amazon through Mercer, the carrier from which the Caraways lease their truck. The job required a deadhead into Las Vegas, but the rate seemed to be enough to make it worthwhile.

The first sign of trouble came when the Caraways dropped their trailer at noon for loading. While it was promised for 4 p.m. that same day, it wasn’t ready for pick-up until 4:30 the next morning.

An Unpleasant Surprise

The Caraways left Las Vegas on Thursday afternoon with an appointment to deliver the load to the Amazon facility in Edwardsville, IL at 4 a.m. the following Sunday. On the way, Gary pulled up Mercer’s mobile app to complete the required documentation.

At that point, Gary noticed the fine print stating that unloading time was 12 to 48 hours. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the process ended up stretching out to a full week. Based on the number of bobtails the Caraways saw at a nearby truck stop, they’re convinced that theirs was not an isolated situation.

Move Trailers Safely and Efficiently with the Electric Yard Dog from DJ Products

Time is money, and our electric terminal tractor lets you optimize your operations for maximum productivity. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more.

Tech Requires More – Old Warehouses Not Meeting the Need

Tech is Impacting Warehouses and Warehouse Operations

The supply chain and logistics industry may make use of a terminal tractor and other modern equipment, but the same can’t be said about their warehouse facilities. Statistics show that the country’s rapidly aging warehouse space is falling far short of current business needs.

Warehouse Inventory Can’t Keep Pace with Business Models

Earlier this year, global commercial real estate firm CBRE published results of their survey about the state of warehouse inventory in the U.S. While total warehouse space sits at 9.1 billion square feet, only 11 percent, or approximately one billion square feet, was built within the last 10 years.

The average age of U.S. warehouse inventory is 34 years, with another 11 percent of the total more than 50 years old. Many of these warehouses don’t meet today’s requirements, such as clearance heights of 20 feet or more, causing the spaces to become obsolete.

Not surprisingly, older warehouse inventory tends to be centered in traditional commercial hubs such as northern and central New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Boston and Philadelphia. Warehouses constructed in the last 10 years generally run three times the size of older ones, but they constitute only four percent of the national total of warehouse facilities.

What’s the Solution?

According to CBRE, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Newer warehouses are usually located near major population centers with sufficient amounts of developable land, while there are several opportunities to rebuild older warehouses in primary industrial and shipping areas.

The Electric Yard Dog Terminal Tractor from DJ Products

Our battery-powered terminal tractor can improve safety and productivity in warehouses of any size or age. Call 800.686.2651 and chat with our sales engineers to learn more about our full line of electric tugs, movers and pushers.

Infrastructure Priorities for Supply Chain Logistics Help the Economy to Grow

End users may sometimes take supply chain functions for granted. The truth is that shippers and logistics management face congestion, bad weather and other challenges to deliver goods on time and in good condition.

Supply chain professionals invest in high-tech software and high-quality equipment such as yard trucks, but they can’t do it all by themselves. Here are five infrastructure-related priorities that should be addressed by public funding.

Congestion

Highways, rail hubs and ports in the United States are at such a high level of congestion that it’s putting our country’s shippers at a serious disadvantage with global competitors. This problem needs to be corrected so it aligns with economic growth goals.

Parking

Lack of sufficient truck parking was apparent during the stormy weather that battered the East Coast earlier this year and restricted travel on major highways. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act includes helpful provisions for building new parking areas and using existing facilities such as weigh stations.

Freight Advisory Committees

Under the FAST Act, the Department of Transportation is charged with promoting the establishment of freight advisory committees in each state. These committees would include stakeholders from the public and private sectors, enabling better communication regarding freight-related projects.

National Hiring Standards

Creating national hiring standards would eliminate confusion surrounding FMCSA credentials and help small carriers be more competitive.

Infrastructure Funding Methods

While there’s a definite need to create funding mechanisms, care should be taken to institute methods that allow collection of funds without hampering the interests of the freight companies they’re meant to help.

Boost Safety and Productivity with Yard Trucks from DJ Products

Looking for a cost-effective way to increase efficiency while reducing injury risk? Call 800.686.2651 to learn more about our Electric Yard Dog.

Tips for Diversifying the Number of Your Truckload Carriers

With more than 200,000 for-hire full-truckload carriers in the U.S., it seems there are enough providers to keep semi trailer movers hopping. But available capacity is subject to a number of fluid factors, which could suddenly leave you in a bind without proper planning.

Experts say your best bet is to diversify suppliers among large- and small-asset carriers. Here are their top suggestions for optimizing this approach.

Align Supply Chain Segments with Provider Goals

Many carriers are implementing yield management tools to maximize revenue opportunities without overburdening drivers. As a result, there is little flexibility to accept jobs that don’t fit their lane and volume requirements.

High volume alone is sometimes not enough incentive for carriers. Look for providers whose goals are compatible with your different needs.

Leverage the 80-20 Rule

If your business is like most, 80 percent of load volume is in 20 percent of lanes. The challenge becomes addressing the other 20 percent of load volume that’s in 80 percent of lanes.

Approximately 97 percent of carriers in the U.S. have fleets of 20 or fewer trucks. These smaller providers have the elasticity to handle demand spikes, niche locations and other features of the 20 percent volume.

Engage a Third-Party Logistics Provider

Portfolios with multiple carriers benefit the big picture, but they’re difficult to manage on a day-to-day basis. A third-party logistics provider (3PL) consolidates the process so you’re working with a single source rather than several.

Solve Yard Congestion with Semi Trailer Movers from DJ Products

Our Electric Yard Dog offers valuable returns in greater efficiency and fewer workplace injuries. Our knowledgeable sales engineers are ready to help you choose the best semi trailer movers for your applications.

Call 800.686.2681 to learn more.

2018 Truckload Market Trends – What to Know

Will you be hauling trailers for autonomous vehicles with your yard trucks in the coming year? Times are rapidly changing for the truckload industry. Here’s what to be on the lookout for in the near future:

2018-2019 Truckload Market Trends:

Hyper-Efficiency Continues
With truckload utilization efficiency of 95%+ since the 2011 pull-up from the recession, the market trend of efficiency in for-hire capacity is expected to continue, albeit at the price of elasticity in the market.

New Trucks Enter the Market
FTR Transportation Intelligence expects 60,000 more trucks than necessary will replace retiring trucks in 2018. Will you need more yard trucks? Whether this is additional/replacement capacity remains unknown.

Labor Issues Remain
Driver availability will continue to pose challenges. An abundance of parked equipment does not matter if hauling personnel remain absent. Several factors will continue to play a role here, including an aging workforce, wage increases, immigration, housing, and a shared labor pool with the oil, gas, and manufacturing industries.

Strengthening Economy Adds to Pressures
As GDP and manufacturing grows and strengthens, the demand for transportation will increase, adding pressure to already flailing fleet growth.

E-Commerce Continues to Change Freight Patterns & Efficiency
Orders shipped from retail, fulfillment, and manufacturing locations continue to alter the historical flow of freight, requiring higher cube for the same goods, and boosting market capacity used.

Fuel Prices Continue to Climb
45% higher compared to a year ago, despite fluctuations, the cost of crude oil is expected to continue its climb.

ELD Mandate Remains In-Question
Electronic logging and closer tracking of driver behaviors may/may not shift HOS behaviors, influencing availability.

Are you prepared to meet the coming years’ varied needs? Ensure success, boosting efficiency and preventing injuries with electric yard trucks from DJ Products today.

Tips on Understanding the Importance of Your Load Dimensions

Our electric terminal tractors can handle a wide range of trailers, but transporting flatbed loads over the road involves a different set of issues. In an effort to reduce risk to both drivers and products, states have instituted a number of regulations for oversized and wide loads that must be followed.

Guidelines for Transporting Oversized and Wide Loads

1. Know the Legal Limits

Here are the standard limits in the United States:

– Maximum height and width is 8’6″ each way

– Maximum length is 48′ to 53′

– Maximum weight is 46,000 pounds

Anything beyond these measurements is considered an oversized or wide load. Dimensions may vary slightly from state to state, so perform due diligence for any state through which your trucks pass.

2. Understand How Measurements Are Calculated

Weight restrictions are determined per-axle. While a load may not exceed total weight limits, it may go beyond per-axle limits, so rearranging the load can remove it from the oversized category.

3. Use Travel Escorts and Special Markings as Necessary

Shipments wider than 12′ often require travel escorts, sometimes referred to as pilot vehicles. Red flags and amber lights are required for the tractor or trailer to improve visibility, and these markings are also necessary for the travel escorts.

4. Factor Oversized Travel Rules into Your Schedule

Most states enforce specific hours of travel for oversized loads. Drivers also require permits for each state that outline the exact route to be traveled.

Battery-Powered Terminal Tractors from DJ Products

Maximize efficiency and improve worker safety with our popular Electric Yard Dog, which lets a single employee safely move trailers up to 100,000 pounds. Our friendly sales engineers are standing by to assist you on our convenient online chat feature.

Tag: Terminal Tractors