christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Five Tips to Improving Your Efficiency as a Fleet Manager

As a fleet manager, it’s up to you to make sure that your team is working as efficiently as possible. That can sometimes be easier said than done. Sometimes adding certain pieces of equipment, such as a semi trailer mover, can make a big difference. But there’s actually a lot more that can be done as well.

Top Tips for Fleet Managers

Keeping everyone safe and keeping your operation running smoothly are your two top priorities. Here are some ways to accomplish both:

– Keep maintainence hassle-free – You expect your drivers to keep up with the maintenance of their vehicles, but it can be easy for them to put it off if you don’t have a good system in place. You may even want to consider using software that gives them timely reminders.

– Create purchasing and disposal plans for vehicles – You don’t want people in other departments to purchase new vehicles on a whim, or keep old ones longer than they should. Make sure you have guidelines in place to help them with these important decisions.

– Set driver performance goals – People tend to do better at their jobs when they know they have goals to reach. Your drivers are no exception to this rule. Don’t be afraid to set standards for them and expect them to reach them. If they don’t, you can then address those areas with them personally.

Being a Proactive Fleet Manager When it Comes to Safety and Efficiency

It’s very important to have the right equipment for your staff. Without it, they can’t do their jobs well. Have you considered adding a semi trailer mover? It might be one of the best decisions you ever made! Contact us at DJ Products to learn how we can help.

What to Know About Inbound vs Outbound Logistics

Logistics is an umbrella term encompassing the process of transporting and storing products. The concept can be broken down into inbound or outbound logistics based on whether items are being received or shipped.

Equipment such as our powered trailer mover can be utilized on both sides, but inbound and outbound logistics also differ in several important ways. Here are factors to consider for optimizing your logistics program in both directions.

Supply Chain Side

Companies develop supply chain partnerships with suppliers on the inbound side and customers on the outbound side. In many cases, companies choose to work with third-party distributors on either or both sides.

Liability

Both inbound and outbound shipments are governed by specific agreements between the relevant parties. Free on Board (FOB) is a commonly-used term in which the inbound recipient covers all shipping costs from when the shipment is loaded on a carrier or when it reaches a particular destination.

Supplies and Equipment

Inbound logistics applies to tools, office equipment and other materials used to operate your business, while outbound logistics refers to inventory only.

Supply Chain Integration

Vertical integration is a strategy in which a company takes control over one or more stages of the supply chain. For example, in the 1920s Ford Motor began manufacturing much of its own steel rather than sourcing from outside suppliers. Implementing vertical integration creates a more cohesive supply chain, thereby increasing productivity and reducing costs.

Improve Yard Efficiency with Our Powered Trailer Mover

Are you frustrated with outside shunting services? Boost productivity and safety with the Electric Yard Dog from DJ Products. Our popular powered trailer mover can handle trailers up to 100,000 pounds and it’s ergonomically designed to help reduce injury risk.

Visit our website for more information.

What’s Trending? Online Rentals and Sales of Dumpsters.

You can buy a lot of junk online – and you can also rent a dumpster online when you have more junk than usual. That’s the idea behind online platforms like Dumpster Market and Budget Dumpster. Local haulers list themselves online, and customers can easily find what they need at a competitive price.

For commercial use, it’s never been easier to get however many roll-off containers you need at a given moment. In fact, you can even rent dumpster moving equipment to tow waste containers around your property.

The Boom in Online Dumpster Rentals

Dumpster Market opened in January 2018 with a mission to make the waste hauling industry more efficient through technology. Renting a dumpster works similarly to apps like Kayak and Uber.

Software designed just for this purpose allows haulers to list availability for various sizes of dumpsters. Users can book a container with local pickup and drop-off with just a few clicks.

Remodeling an apartment complex? Need extra dumpsters for a business with seasonal peaks? Rent online for a low price and skip the phone calls and quote requests.

Dumpster Moving Equipment for Improved Waste Management

At apartments and other multi-family housing, most injuries occur in the trash room. Don’t ask your maintenance crews to push or pull several tons of weight on those rickety wheels.

Dumpster moving equipment allows virtually any worker to safely move and park roll-off containers. The battery-powered motor makes it easy to tow a dumpster on inclines and over rough ground. It’s even easier to steer than a lawnmower.

Check out the WasteCaddy Dumpster Tow from DJ Products if your staff needs to haul dumpsters to the curb or if you regularly rent dumpsters for construction and remodeling projects.

For more info about our dumpster moving equipment, call 800-686-2651 or contact us online.

More Warehouse Robots Added at Walmart and Amazon But Not at a Human Cost – Yet

The move toward automation is affecting the retail industry, but is it a threat to employees yet? Retail giants Amazon and Walmart are adding warehouse robots to handle different tasks. While this might seem like a concern for employees, they can still count on being able to do their jobs using warehouse equipment for now.

Amazon Robots

Amazon first made the company’s interest in robotics known in 2012 with the purchase of Kiva Systems. Since that time, Amazon has set up cashierless stores and put robots to work moving items around inside its warehouses. These robots have allowed Amazon to store more inventory and handle customer orders at a quicker pace. This has led to shorter delivery times, making customers happier overall.

Walmart Robots

Walmart also uses robots in warehouses to take care of some tasks and plans to add more. Newer robots will be moving groceries around warehouses at a grocery distribution center in California in 2020, and a New Hampshire location will have automated carts available for moving items that are part of online grocery orders.

Other plans for robots at Walmart include an unloading system that removes items from trucks and sorts them while bringing them to warehouse shelves.

Effects of Robots on Jobs

Adding automation to warehouses is expected to create some jobs, but it could also lead to job losses for some warehouse workers over time. While warehouse workers don’t have to worry about losing their jobs to robots just yet, they should keep an eye on automation news.

If you need warehouse equipment to keep your business running smoothly, visit DJ Products. We have a wide selection of this equipment available to help your employees handle warehouse tasks more efficiently.

Amazon Warehouse Staff Exercise Their Right to Protest

With Amazon’s far-ranging network of facilities, robust infrastructure and labor force of more than 600,000, it’s not far-fetched to compare the retailing giant to a self-contained country. Amazon has begun using its stature to wield influence among governments both here and abroad.

Continuing the parallel, “citizens” of Amazon are seeking to be heard on topics ranging from warehouse equipment to global warming. What issues are causing employees to raise their voices in protest?

Amazon Becomes a Political Force

Last year, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos enjoyed a private summit with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and it was later announced that Amazon would open a new office in Vancouver employing 3,000 people. In the United States, Amazon caused a frenzy with its search for a city to host its second headquarters.

The “contest” was ultimately won by Washington, D.C. and New York City, although the latter eventually declined. It’s expected that a facility in the nation’s capital will give Amazon a stronghold for increased lobbying as well as efforts to obtain Department of Defense contracts.

Employees Flex Their Muscle

For their part, several Amazon employees are taking an ethical stand against certain products. Workers are joining civil rights groups such as the ACLU in objecting to use of Amazon’s facial recognition software for “authoritarian surveillance.”

In a development that bears watching, some Amazon employees are taking advantage of stock holdings in their compensation packages. As shareholders, they have filed a resolution demanding that Amazon create a plan to deal with climate change.

Warehouse Equipment for All Applications

Your company may not be the size of Amazon, but your employees deserve quality warehouse equipment. Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers about our line of electric tugs, movers and pushers.

How to Encourage a Culture of Safety in Your Warehouse in 2019

Keeping your warehouse safe is always at the top of your mind. Maybe you’ve just gone through dealing with an employee accident, or perhaps you want to prevent it from happening at all. Either way, we have some helpful tips that can make it a lot easier.

Cultivating a Culture of Safety

Your team will only take safety seriously if you do. You need to be their leader because if it’s important to you, they will make it important to them. This is just the beginning of creating a culture of safety in your workplace. There is more that can be done as well.

Employing Observational Safety

Even though safety is really important, trying to convey this to your entire group of employees might not be effective. It’s usually best to start by training a smaller group to observe the practices of the warehouse. They can be your eyes and ears, and if something isn’t right, they can bring it to your attention, or even correct it right then and there.

Opting for Tugger Carts and Other Equipment to Enhance Safety

If you do begin to utilize observational safety practices, you may notice that many of your employees are struggling as they work. A lot of warehouses don’t have the proper equipment to allow their workers to do their jobs and avoid injuries. At DJ Products, we see this all the time, which is why we want to help.

We specialize in tugger carts, dumpster movers and trailer caddys to assist businesses like yours in keeping their workers safe from injuries. If you haven’t considered equipment like this before now, we would love to talk with you about its benefits. Please contact us right away for help.

Why to Invest in a TrailerCaddy for Your Trailer Loading Operation

The TrailerCaddy from DJ Products is just the solution for moving trailers quickly and safely. Operations at the loading dock can be inefficient and unsafe if the wrong equipment is used and loading/unloading is performed by untrained or unprepared individuals. Our electric trailer mover allows your loading dock to be self-sufficient. It is always available to move semi-trailers in and out of the area.

Here are some of the reasons you should consider investing in a TrailerCaddy:

Power movers are available on-demand: There’s no need to wait for a trailer shunting service or a CDL-licensed driver and handler. Your crew can spring to action as soon as a shipment arrives. Whenever trailers need to be moved or orders fulfilled, TrailerCaddy is ready. You save on wasted time and costs of outside services.

Accessibility is improved: A high-end trailer dolly can move trailers that weigh up to 100,000 pounds. Entry models can move 10,000 pounds while 20,000- and 50,000-pound-rated units are also available. Each power dolly has a tight turn radius, making it highly maneuverable. Operators can navigate narrow aisles and avoid hitting equipment, goods, and walls.

Costs are reduced: Traditional terminal tractors and spotter trucks are expensive, as is hiring an outside contractor to manage their delivery and operation. Our trailer movers are a quarter the cost of such equipment, saving your warehouse operation money.

TrailerCaddy is run on batteries: No expensive fuel is needed, and there’s no downtime due to empty fuel tanks and refueling. These battery-powered machines have long run times, so they don’t need to be charged often. Plus, they plug in a standard 110v outlet, kept on standby and implemented whenever needed.

Safety is improved: The power caddies have speed control for safer navigation. Operators also face forward, making navigation easier and enabling them to communicate with their crew members. A trailer dolly is also more stable than a conventional forklift, and it does not require special training or licensing to operate.

Fewer hazards to workers: Injuries are less likely while operating a TrailerCaddy, while the possibility of accidents is lower. This reduces the expenses related to time out of work and potential injury lawsuits. Workers in confined areas are less at risk while using the caddy; this equipment also requires less maintenance, further limiting the risk.

Find Power Dolly Solutions from DJ Products

Warehouse managers and warehouse logistics professionals can now run their facilities and trailer lots more efficiently, thanks to the many benefits of battery operated, easy-to-operate trailer dollies.

Each caddy has a built-in battery system, hydraulics, and caddy brackets. A selection of models is available, ranging from a motorized trailer puller for moving small boats and campers to more heavy-duty models able to move heavy generators, highway equipment, semi-trailers, and more. To learn more about our products—including the TrailerCaddy—and Terminal Tractor or to discuss the best electric trailer dolly for your business, call us at 800-686-2651, submit a request for more information online, or schedule a free onsite demo today.

Dock Damage: Causes and Remedies

Loading docks are dangerous places if they’re not managed properly. Dock damage can occur in an instant and can all but force operations to cease, but it can be prevented. A trailer mover from DJ Products affords a means to streamline your process and avoid hazards that lead to damage to your facility.

Mistakes at the loading dock can lead to all sorts of damage and problems, such as:

Damaged trailers
Broken equipment
Building damage
Ruined goods
Injuries
Deaths

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, there are 85 forklift-related fatalities each year, and 34,900 people are seriously injured by one every year—42% of fatalities are due to crush injuries from tipping vehicles.¹Falling cargo and freight is another hazard that causes many injuries.

Causes of Dock Damage

The leading causes of dock-related damage and injuries include:

Equipment: Improper use of forklifts, pallet jacks, and other equipment often leads to damage. Crews may be in a hurry or not have the proper experience and training. Forklifts are notoriously unstable under heavy loads and moving too quickly can cause a trailer to be rammed into something or dropped. The damage may be immediately evident or repeated abuse may take a toll over time.

Handling: Equipment drivers are often under pressure to get the job done. Working too quickly can have dangerous consequences even if a worker is well-trained. Equipment operators must always use good judgment to ensure the safety of people and their facility. Accidents may also be caused by operating the wrong equipment for the items being handled.

Communication: Even with loads properly restrained and the proper equipment used, all hands must communicate to ensure they’re on the same page. Light signals help but are not enough. You need verbal and physical communication to guide vehicles and loads, as well as warn of potential safety issues.

How to Remedy Dock Damage

Attention to safety and communication and using the right equipment can avoid problems at the loading dock. The equipment you use can also make a big difference when it comes to protecting your workers and facility. For example, a trailer caddy from DJ Products is highly maneuverable and available in models that can transport up to 100,000 pounds. Such an electric trailer mover can handle semi-trailers, ocean shipping containers, and other large objects.

The Yard Dog is a TrailerCaddy Terminal Tractor that can move heavy loads, and which is battery operated. Like other electric trailer caddy models, it can be charged up and is ready to go at any time. It also provides forward facing operation. The operator can, therefore, precisely control the machine and has an unobstructed view, improving safety. Speed control also reduces the risk of dock damage.

A TrailerCaddy requires no training to operate. You easily can get your employees up to speed on properly using the equipment. There’s no need to depend on outside trailer-moving services either, which can create issues caused by unreliable, untimely contractors.

To reduce your chances of dock damage, order a trailer mover from DJ Products or give us a call today.

Source:

https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2013/09/01/Death-by-Forklift-is-Really-the-PITs.aspx

New Military Bomb Designs are Evaluated for 2019

Being able to remove suspected bombs or other explosive devices from airports and other places as safely as possible is crucial. Having a bomb caddy on site provides a safe and effective way to accomplish this. If you work in an environment that faces these types of potential threats, staying updated on the latest munitions news can be helpful. Learn more about recent Air Force news about lethal munitions.

Researchers Call for New Bomb Designs

Air Force researchers have been discussing the need for new and improved munitions for modern battlefields. Being able to face potential adversaries in a war, such as China or Russia, means that the Air Force needs to have munitions that are more powerful and provide better precision.

Up-to-date design features would give our forces the advantage if a war broke out with another nation that has advanced weaponry. Researchers have stated that the Air Force is working on maximizing the effects of new munitions rather than minimizing them, which was one strategy of the past.

Peer-Level Threats

The Air Force researchers who are calling for newer designs are concerned about ensuring that the U.S. is ready to handle peer-level or near peer-level threats in terms of power and weaponry. This means making sure that the Air Force has the most updated munitions designs possible. Researchers are expected to continue pushing for this to happen and have begun looking into newer designs this year.

If you are looking into getting a bomb caddy, visit DJ Products. These products are designed to safely carry bombs or other explosive devices, as well as other kinds of items in public spaces.

Encourage Safety in Your Warehouse with Safety Walkarounds

Use of our electric industrial tugs demonstrates your commitment to employee welfare. Make workplace safety a permanent part of your company culture by conducting regular walkarounds to promote ongoing safety awareness.

What should you focus on during warehouse walkarounds? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends a three-step process for safety inspections.

Before the Inspection

– Never do a “cold” walkaround. Take time beforehand to completely understand warehouse operations and review any previously identified safety issues.

– Talk to managers and supervisors about any specific concerns they may have.

– Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

During the Inspection

– Limit walkaround participants to a handful of people. Larger groups may intimidate workers and prevent open communication.

– Look for hazards such as blocked aisles and doorways, exposed electrical wiring, and sloppy work areas.

– Solicit employee input as much as possible. Reassure workers that your goal is to spot and solve problems, not point fingers.

– As you go, make a list of identified hazards and prioritize them based on risk level.

After the Inspection

– Lack of follow-through dooms many workplace programs. Employees will be more engaged and cooperative when they see you taking action on findings.

– Create a hazard abatement plan specifying a course of action and timeline for addressing each issue discovered on the walkaround.

– Share the plan with both supervisors and employees and provide progress updates.

– If you don’t already have one, form a warehouse safety committee to help further integrate safety education and awareness in daily workplace operations.

Make Industrial Tugs from DJ Products Part of Your Safety Program

Customers say ergonomically designed industrial tugs such as our best-selling CartCaddyShorty are “like having an extra employee.” Our cheerful sales engineers are available to help through our convenient online chat feature.