Truck Cams Assure Proper Accident Documentation and Reporting

Truck Cams May Soon Be On Your Dashboard
Truck Cams May Soon Be On Your Dashboard

Our powered trailer dolly improves safety in warehouse and distribution center yards. Now you can reduce risk for your drivers when they’re on the road with video intelligence systems.

Capturing Real-Time Data on the Road

Did you know that three-quarters of accidents involving cars and semi-trucks are not the fault of the truck driver? Unfortunately, conventional wisdom tends to blame the truck, especially in the absence of solid evidence.

A Minnesota-based company called PeopleNet is hoping to change that. In 2016, PeopleNet launched their Video Intelligence system, which combines forward-, side- and rear-facing cameras to capture a near-360° view around a truck.

In addition to visual data, Video Intelligence captures real-time information, including truck speed and GPS location, for a comprehensive picture of any road incident. This “testimony” is free of any conscious or subconscious bias that can accompany versions related by the participants.

A Constantly Evolving System

Video Intelligence moves beyond the traditional concept of using driver-facing cameras that record an incomplete story. According to Jim Angel, PeopleNet’s Vice President of Video Intelligence Solutions, the company is continually using customer feedback to update and improve the system.

Here are some of the enhancements added just in the first year:

– Executive Summary Dashboards that provide a high-level overview

– A Snapshot feature that offers real-time views of cameras on a specific truck to back office personnel

– Expanded filtering options to identify driver trends

The Electric Yard Dog from DJ Products

Increase productivity and avoid the expense of outside shunting services with our powered trailer dolly. With the TrailerCaddy, a single employee can easily move trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds.

Visit our website and use the convenient on-line chat system for real-time assistance from our sales engineers.

DJ Products: Tips on Semi Truck Driver Retention

Tips on Semi Truck Driver Retention
Tips on Semi Truck Driver Retention

Respect is its own currency. Truck drivers often jump ship for better pay elsewhere, but high turnover rates may have just as much to do with whether your drivers feel appreciated. One way to start? Respect their time by providing useful equipment like easy-to-use terminal tractors in the shunt yard and dashboard navigation systems for the cab.

Some great tips for truck driver retention from the blog The Road:

– Offer mentorships for closer relationships and career development

– Provide state-of-the-art equipment

– Be proactive about communication

– Listen and engage your drivers

– Offer exercise and nutrition programs

Trucking Can Be Lonely Work

It’s no surprise that drivers can easily feel isolated. Employers should take initiatives to prevent drivers from feeling forgotten. Even the most independent-minded driver needs an adequate amount of interaction with colleagues. Don’t assume drivers will come to you with concerns or complaints before they quit.

Keep Drivers Happy with Better Equipment

Imagine being a driver with an insulated cab, comfortable seats, and even a DVR to watch your favorite shows on breaks. You’re going to be a lot more loyal to your employer than if you were driving an old truck that constantly breaks down.

You can also use equipment to respect drivers’ time at their terminals. Speed things up at the warehouse, and they can make more money with less unnecessary downtime. That’s what our TrailerCaddy terminal tractors can do!

Electric terminal tractors can be operated without a CDL license, so many of your employees can move trailers wherever they need to be. The TrailerCaddy protects workers from injury and improves efficiency—for both you and your drivers.

Contact DJ Products to learn more about our highly affordable yard spotters that cut costs and boost employee morale and retention rates.

Fleet Managers Steer Staff Towards Improving Terminal Efficiency

Fleet Managers Improve Terminal Efficiency
Fleet Managers Improve Terminal Efficiency

Cutting corners in business can improve your profits, but it can also carry a risk of lower quality or even a dangerous workplace. That’s certainly the case at warehouses. How do you improve the semi trailer moving process for better terminal efficiency without putting your workers in a high-stress, injury-prone environment?

Supply chain experts say that driver safety and productivity are right up there with cost-reduction measures for the top challenges in fleet management. Fleet managers need real-time solutions to address situations on the ground.

At DJ Products, we can help improve both safety and efficiency. Our TrailerCaddy shunt yard truck is your low-cost, high-reward solution for semi trailer moving at warehouse terminals.

About the TrailerCaddy Electric Yard Dog

The TrailerCaddy is a compact, heavy-duty dolly that can tow semi trailers and tank trailers up to 100,000 pounds. Running on a 48-volt battery, it lasts the workday and recharges from a normal electrical outlet.

You don’t even need CDL operators, because the TrailerCaddy makes semi trailer moving easy enough for anybody. Just walk alongside and steer it at a comfortable pace, up to 3 mph.

Fleet managers can address the biggest items on their wishlist with the TrailerCaddy:

– Prevent warehouse injuries

– Reduce driver downtime

– Avoid damage to docks and trailers

– Save money (costs much less than a shunt truck)

Does your terminal get slowed down while waiting for a shunt truck? What if any worker could take care of semi trailer moving on the spot, with no waiting?

DJ Products offers a free demo program to help you decide if the TrailerCaddy, our car and truck pushers, or other equipment solutions are right for your team.

Improve terminal efficiency with a safe, user-friendly TrailerCaddy from DJ Products. Contact us today!

Top Tips for Keeping Your Long Haul Drivers Healthy on the Road

In addition to satisfying clients and operating legally, you need to make the health, well-being, and safety of your truckers and other employees your top priorities. Products like the DJ Products powered trailer dolly improve the efficiency of companies and safety of yard personnel. The following tips can help your truckers stay healthy on the road.

A wellness program

Company-sponsored wellness programs are proven to be an effective way of helping employees maintain a healthy overall lifestyle. Truckers are at high risk of obesity due to limited healthy food options on the road and having a job that requires sitting for extended periods of time. Programs can save companies money by improving productivity, reducing the risks of chronic diseases, and keeping employees happy and loyal.

Help them overcome bad habits and addictions

Employers should be mindful of all the risks long-haul drivers face. Many hard-working, knowledgeable, and experienced truckers have picked up bad habits like smoking over the years. Long hours of traveling alone make it easy to pick up and maintain bad habits. Offer truckers non-judgemental programs and help in overcoming bad habits and addictions so they live more fulfilled lives and are more productive drivers.

Help them get plenty of rest

Time and miles are money in the trucking industry. Too often, companies focus solely on getting the most productivity out of their drivers without thinking about the health and safety of the person. Drivers getting ample rest must be just as important as customers getting products on time. Convey that in all communications with drivers.

We can help you save time, maximize manpower, and prevent injuries with products like our powered trailer dolly and heavy truck pusher. Contact DJ Products today for more information and a free demo.

Tips for Long Haul Drivers to Stay Family and Friend Connected While on the Road

Tips for Long Haul Drivers to Stay Family and Friend Connected While on the Road
Tips for Long Haul Drivers to Stay Family and Friend Connected While on the Road

Innovations in technology help to make our lives easier and improve safety as we go about our jobs. Products like the yard dog from DJ Products allow one person to easily, safely, and efficiently move semi-trailers weighing up to 100,000 lbs. This improves efficiency, reduces workplace injuries, and lowers costs for companies. Technology can also help long-haul drivers stay connected with loved ones while on the road, improving their mood and making time away more bearable for everyone.

Social media posts

Long-haul truckers get to see practically every corner of the United States. They see amazing natural wonders, interesting cities and towns, and man-made attractions. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow drivers to show everyone back home how their day is going and get feedback and support. With Facebook, posts can be sent to a wide audience of people or just a selected group of friends.

Face to face communication

Apps like FaceTime, Skype, and Google+ Hangouts allow truckers to have conversations with the entire family all at the same time. Kids can show their report cards or school projects. Being able to see family members during live conversations is one of the best ways to feel connected. Video messaging apps are available for a variety of portable devices like tablets, laptops, and smartphones.

Schedule time for loved ones every day

For long-haul truckers, maintaining a proper work-life balance has additional challenges. Just as trucks and other equipment need ongoing maintenance, relationships must also be maintained.

DJ Products carries a wide selection of low-maintenance, battery-powered products like the yard dog that help companies maximize manpower, reduce damage to docks and other equipment, and reduce risks of injury to workers. Contact one of our sales engineers for more information.

Owner/Operators Brace Themselves for New Hours of Service Regulations

New Regulations to Pass
New Regulations to Pass

For many drivers and distribution firms, technology makes it easier to comply with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations while operating more efficiently and safely. A driver using an electronic logging device can signal his/her ETA to the next stop, where the crew can use semi trailer movers in the shunt yard to clear dock space or prep the next load. Everybody keeps moving, and regulatory compliance is taken care of automatically.

On the other hand, some owner-operators and small fleets struggle with rigid HOS rules and don’t want to be forced to buy ELDs. They’re putting up a last-minute fight.

Congress has been hearing from truckers and industry groups asking for changes to the FMCSA regulations, including the upcoming ELD mandate. Among the hot-button issues:

– Some owner-operators feel that HOS regs force them to drive less safely

– ELDs reduce paperwork but may not bring significant savings

– Certain industries like concrete mixing have short drives followed by on-site work, and currently ELDs do not reflect actual driving time accurately

Semi Trailer Movers Can Help HOS Compliance

While adjustments may yet be made, ultimately the trucking industry must grapple with the new HOS mandates. Efficiency at warehouse yards can be found and will save time for drivers feeling pinched by the clock.

DJ Products developed the TrailerCaddy Electric Yard Dog so that even non-CDL staff can safely move trailers in and out of docks. These forward-facing, battery-powered semi trailer movers offer precise steering and open sight lines for exceptional safety and quick work.

Whether you’re managing a small fleet or a large warehouse, semi trailer movers from DJ Products offer real value for the investment, even boosting profitability with tight driver hours in effect. Explore the TrailerCaddy terminal tractor to learn more.

ELD Enforcement – Some Have Until April 2018 to Be Compliant

ELD's will be enforced in the coming year.
ELD’s will be enforced in the coming year.

On December 18, 2017, the new electronic logging device (ELD) mandate went into effect. However, drivers who are not yet compliant can stop worrying about major penalties being enforced immediately. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced it will not issue out-of-service orders until April 2018.

Now’s the time to get on board with the latest technology. ELDs replace paper logs for drivers, saving precious time and preventing human errors. Warehouse managers also have new tools for convenience, including electric yard trucks that can be operated by any employee.

About the ELD Enforcement Delay

With the new ELD mandate on the books, nobody should delay procuring an ELD. The enforcement delay gives the industry time to adjust. Those who were procrastinating, or perhaps hoping for the mandate to be eliminated, now have a few months to get compliant.

Industry experts point out a few key details not to miss:

– The delay only applies to out-of-service orders

– Law enforcement can still issue citations

– Hours of service violations are still in effect

– Drivers using older AOBRD logging methods have until December 2019 to switch to the new ELDs

Saving Money at the Warehouse

You’re juggling a lot, between the ELD mandate, hours of service regulations, and other changes going on in the industry. There’s one small investment that can save a lot of time around the warehouse—new battery-powered yard trucks and terminal tractors that don’t require a CDL or health card.

Our TrailerCaddy yard trucks are your low-cost solution for getting more done on a tight schedule. For a small fraction of the cost of a shunt truck, your workers can better maneuver trailers at any time of need. Contact DJ Products to request more info about TrailerCaddy electric yard trucks!

Tesla Semi Truck Makes the News and Wal-Mart Places Order

Semi's are Essential for Safely Transporting your Business' Goods
Semi’s are Essential for Safely Transporting your Business’ Goods

For a mere $20,000, you can reserve your place in the future of electric, autonomous trucks. Tesla ended years of rumors by formally announcing that the Tesla Semi will go into production in 2019.

Electric semi trucks appear to be the next evolution in distribution and will become a reality sooner rather than later. With an electric semi trailer mover, warehouses can save money and manpower devoted to moving trailers around the yard—or placing new Tesla semis at their charging centers!

The Next Generation of Trucking

Tesla has not confirmed the full specs, but enough key details have emerged to attract plenty of customers:

– 300-mile and 500-mile variants

– 0–60 mph in 20 seconds with 80,000 lbs.

– Less than 2 kWh per mile

– Estimated fuel savings of $200,000 over 1 million miles

Walmart and J.B. Hunt have already placed orders for what Elon Musk has billed “the safest truck ever.” A low center of gravity, automated traction system, and autopilot features should all make for a smooth transit. The futuristic, aeronautical design includes a center driver’s seat with wrap-around windows.

Upgrade to an Electric Semi Trailer Mover

It will be a few years before the Tesla Semi shows up in your shunt yard. DJ Products has a solution that you can use now to improve efficiency: the electric TrailerCaddy Yard Dog.

Our semi trailer mover runs on 48-volt batteries and moves up to 100,000 pounds. Any yard worker can operate the TrailerCaddy Yard Dog, so you don’t need a CDL driver on the ground. Press a button, walk alongside, and position any trailer precisely at the dock.

No need for a massive deposit; you can contact DJ Products for a free demo of our tank, OTR, and semi trailer mover.

Important Semi Wheel Maintenance Tips

Maintaining your Vehicle Is of the Utmost Importance
Maintaining your Vehicle Is of the Utmost Importance

Through all those highway miles, semi trucks place great demands on the wheels. It takes more than brute force to make sure those wheels are bolted on securely. Use motorized trailer dollies to efficiently shunt trailers around the yard, so you can take a moment for proper semi wheel maintenance.

If you could use a good refresher course, Heavy Duty Trucking provides a thorough walkthrough of what to look for when replacing semi truck wheels. Important maintenance tips include:

– Always check for damage to wheels, studs, and threads

– Clean out the threads if there’s any paint or gunk

– Make sure matching sizes and correct materials are used for threads and nuts

– Replace damaged studs as well as the adjacent ones

– Avoid over-torquing the nuts

– Use a few drops of motor oil when re-installing nuts

The guide also recommends re-torquing the nuts after the truck has driven 50 to 100 miles, to adjust for settling.

Painting and refinishing the wheels are another maintenance point of contention. Experts do not recommend painting steel wheels due to corrosion problems. However, if you must refinish a wheel, then use a spray rather than a brush.

Also, remember that “tighter is not better.” Use 500 ft.-lb. of torque, not more, to avoid weakening the studs.

Make Quick Work of Maintenance with Motorized Trailer Dollies

Spending a little more time on wheel maintenance is worth it. You can make up for it by saving time with motorized trailer dollies. Our TrailerCaddy terminal tractor can be operated by any employee. Move and park trailers up to 100,000 pounds whenever and wherever you need them, all with a safe and user-friendly control system.

Check out our TrailerCaddy terminal tractor and other motorized trailer dollies from DJ Products!

American Truck Association Weighs In on Serious Driver Shortages

Semi Drivers Will Be In Demand
Semi Drivers Will Be In Demand

The trucking industry has been dealing with driver shortages for years. At the recent Trucking Associations’ annual Management Conference & Exhibition, it was again a hot topic for key speakers. The freight market is expected to continue growing and many truckers are nearing retirement age. The industry anticipates needing an additional 1 million drivers and technicians over the coming ten years. Products like DJ Product’s electric terminal tractors can help your warehouse terminal operate more efficiently and safely.

Working with federal and state officials

The American Trucking Association (ATA) is establishing a workforce subcommittee to work with state and federal agencies to address the industry’s driver and technician shortage. Labor Secretary Alex Acosta and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao spoke about the labor shortage and possible ways to address it at the conference.

Secretary Acosta suggested apprenticeships are necessary to meet demands for skilled trucking industry workers. Secretary Chao noted that fewer than 7 percent of commercial truck drivers are female and she believes that more women are probably interested in trucking careers. John Smith is chairman of CRST International and will lead the ATA’s workforce subcommittee.

Changing the federal age requirement

Currently, individuals as young as 18 can obtain a license to operate commercial trucks within a state. However, federal law requires drivers be at least 21 for interstate trucking. Dave Manning, president of TCW Inc., says the industry needs to offer apprenticeships to potential drivers before they have pursued other careers. Manning added that new technology makes it possible for people under 21 to operate the big trucks.

DJ Products specializes in energy-efficient terminal tractors that improve the safety and efficiency of your warehouse terminal by allowing each member of your staff to do more. Contact us today.