christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Beyond the Dumpster: Scientists Create Enzyme that Breaks Down Plastic Bottles

Every day life-changing discoveries are made

Scientific findings and technological advancements punctuate the news with creative and environmentally-friendly solutions. Recently, a plastic-decomposing, mutant enzyme was found by scientists. Now, rather than waiting hundreds of years for nature to take its course, the breakdown process of plastics can begin within a few days.

Bold developments such as this work hand-in-hand with problem-solving machinery. Like technological breakthroughs, simple solutions such as incorporating reliable dumpster-moving equipment can change the environment you live in. These revolutionary inventions act as a welcome answer to the complex challenges of waste management.

The Problem with Plastic

Development of this new enzyme is an exciting development. However, mutant enzymes that lead to more efficient trash reduction and plastic independence are still far from being incorporated fully into the mechanisms of our current industries. There are still many other ways to ensure workable systems are in place to facilitate a cleaner, brighter future. Dumpster moving equipment is one type of system that will contribute to a clean and safe environment for years to come.

A Current Solution

Ease your burdens by using what you have at your “disposal” to create a safe, efficient and organized process. Investing in your employees’ well-being by reducing their potential for occupational accidents is one of the many reasons DJ Products are so desirable. With tried and tested dumpster moving equipment, and a goal to develop solutions that are sustainable, you can form a pattern of consistency that improves your business.

If you strive to implement a plan that will clean up your business and preserve good habits in the long-term, there are DJ Products available for you! Start on a path to a cleaner, safer work environment today!

Improve Your Warehouse Picking Productivity

As sales from online retailing continue to grow, optimizing warehouse productivity has become more crucial than ever. Our electric tugger carts let you allocate manpower more efficiently. What methods can you use to help order pickers boost their productivity?

Here are expert tips to streamline operations and maximize efforts of your order pickers.

Use a Team Approach

Your employees are on the front line. They know better than anyone what works and what needs to improve. Create a team that includes yourself along with the appropriate supervisors and one or two order pickers to review operations and discuss solutions.

Establish and Track Goals

Your employees can’t fulfill expectations if they don’t know what those expectations are. Set goals that are realistically ambitious and keep employees informed of their progress. Workers will also be able to see how their accomplishments contribute to the company’s success.

Remove Roadblocks

When confronted with obstacles, frustrated employees often develop workarounds that add time and effort. If you and your team uncover constraints to the order picking process, make it a priority to eliminate them.

Consolidate Fast-Moving Items

Do you have a system for slotting your fast-moving products? Setting up a “hot zone” for these products requires no financial investment and the layout can be adjusted as item velocities change, such as during the holiday season.

Implement Batch Picking

Discrete order picking can result in a lot of unnecessary walking. Analyze your orders to determine if they can be batched to reduce the number of passes a picker has to make.

Reduce Costly Workplace Industries with Tugger Carts from DJ Products

Workplace injuries are one of the biggest drains on productivity. Visit our website to learn how our battery-powered tugger carts improve both safety and efficiency.

UPS Truck Fleet Goes Green

Will your semi trailer movers soon be toting cargo for haul on greener tractor trailer models? United Parcel Service (UPS) is expanding its fleet to include 730 new alternative fuel semis. In efforts to trim fuel costs and reduce emissions, compressed natural gas will now power 19% of the shipping giant’s fleet.

How Much Green is Going Into the Investment?
To cover the cost of the 730 compressed natural gas vehicles, UPS is forking out $130-million. It is also adding 5 compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations to the company’s existing framework of fueling stations to accommodate the addition.

Which Truck Manufacturers are Greening-Up their Product Line?
The company’s purchases include 400 big rigs from Freightliner (Daimler North America) and Kenworth (Paccar), as well as 300 semi trailer movers for toting trailers to their new digs.

Why’s the Company Shifting Gears?
The investment is part of a broad, company-wide effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ground operations 12% by 2025. It comes alongside a $20-billion investment in facilities technology and automation in efforts to adjust to the household e-commerce boom, a sector which tends to be less profitable than business deliveries. Focusing on fuel, historically the biggest expense for transportation companies, UPS is aiming to keep their business in the black.

Will Others Follow?
Many others are exploring alternatives for their delivery vehicles: Anheuser-Busch has reserved hundreds of Nikola Motor Company’s hydrogen-electric trucks; Walmart and J.B. Hunt Transport are in line to test out Tesla’s all-electric big rigs; and Deutsche Post AG’s DHL supply chain and truck-leasing company Ryder are likewise jumping aboard the green vehicle bandwagon.

Looking for new ways to safeguard your bottom line? Save time, manpower, and prevent injuries with semi trailer movers from DJProducts today.

Amazon Warehousing Contractor Pays Out $1.9 Million in Wage Settlement

As your preferred material handling equipment supplier, DJ Products recognizes the importance of providing warehouse employees with good working conditions. Cities and states have specific laws to ensure that workers are treated fairly and honestly.

Unfortunately, such was not the case with a SoCal-based logistics contractor and a group of staffing companies who were faced with allegations of labor law violations. What led to their recent proposed settlement totaling nearly $2 million?

Dodging Regulations to Cut Expenses?

In 2014, a group of workers at a Los Angeles-owned storage facility filed a class action lawsuit against California Cartage Co., which includes Amazon among its clients, as well as several staffing firms. Allegations included:

– Violations of the state’s minimum wage law and L.A.’s “living wage” statute

– Insufficient break periods during times of exceedingly hot weather

– Retaliatory measures against employees who raised objections

While Amazon was not a party to this action, the company has had to answer several lawsuits alleging violations ranging from inadequate safety precautions to non-payment of overtime wages.

Seeking Justice for Wronged Workers

The California Cartage case involved a question of whether workers who filed suit were covered by a policy that applies the “living wage” statute to companies leasing municipal property. In 2016, a judge ruled that the defendant companies were exempt from the policy.

The judge did allow the retaliation suit to move forward, and the defendants were found to have conducted illegal interrogations and threatened employees who took action. A final approval hearing for the $1.9 million settlement is scheduled for October 25.

Eco-Friendly Tugs, Movers and Pushers from DJ Products

Are you looking for a material handling equipment supplier that can provide solutions to your specific productivity and safety needs? Call 800.686.2651 for more information.

Beyond the Dumpster: Plastics Piling Up in Wake of China’s Global Recycling Changes

Businesses everywhere utilize dumpsters on a daily basis. The prompt removal of trash and other potential safety hazards is imperative for sustaining an inviting and exceptional professional setting. China has recently decided to disallow other countries, including the US, to send recyclables to China.

The addition of these new recycling changes could mean even more dumpster foot traffic will occur on site. With a notable uptick in dumpster usage in many companies’ foreseeable futures, durable quality dumpster movers will soon be a necessary addition to avoid excessive labor and safety concerns.

Taking out the Trash

China’s ban is affecting small and large businesses alike. You can’t always predict whether a change will be beneficial or costly to your business. But, a dumpster mover product that will always be a win-win solution for you doesn’t need to depend on ‘what-ifs’ to help you operate successfully. You can keep safety violations and injuries on-the-job to a bare minimum when you invest in products that protect your employees and your best interests.

If your business strives to recycle as much of your materials as possible, DJ products can minimize the effects this newest ban could have on your bottom line. Quality dumpster movers that can carry the weight of up to 5,000 pounds are heavy-duty helpers when you need to ease the burden from your hard-working employees’ shoulders. Battery operated machines help you forge ahead and better your chances at improving the work environment.

Going with the Flow

Do you need consistency in an industry that is fraught with unknowns? Let our DJ Products be your staying power. We understand that when changes happen a reliable source is needed to combat the uncertainty. Our products can be your calm in this newest storm.

Will Your Drivers be Sleeping While Their Self-Driving Trucks Take the Wheel?

The newest technology advancements in the transportation sector have all the hallmarks of either creating revolutionary solutions or causing a plethora of troubling problems. Should the trucking industry get on board?

Semi trailer moving has already been made simple with products like terminal tractors and other battery operated machinery. Are drivers or the world ready to trust their livelihoods to autonomous vehicles?

Analyzing the Angles

Safety on the job is imperative to protect vulnerable drivers from injury. Terminal tractors are complicit with the higher standards set by quality craftsmanship and quality assurance. Both self-driving semis and semi trailer moving machinery seek to ensure exhausted workers get much-needed rest to avoid accidents.

Sadly, the highways and other types of roadways throw an unpredictable cog in the proverbial wheel. It’s called human error. Without safeguard controls put in place, tragedy can occur. Already, DJ products have a proven track record to enable drivers to be diligent without safety hazards. Self-driving semis do not.

Making the Right Decision

Would you be able to sleep if your job, your pay, and your life depended on implicit trust in autonomous vehicles? One article fears that drivers wouldn’t have the assurance they needed to allow self-driving vehicles to deliver them and their cargo to crucial checkpoints without allowing for more human control. So many variables need to be overcome before those in the industry will utilize a computerized system.

One thing drivers don’t fear is what they can see, maintain and maneuver for themselves. At DJ products, we understand that man and machine can work together to create simple solutions to real problems. Unlike self-driving semis, our semi trailer moving premium machinery keeps drivers abreast of the situation and aware while we ease their labor burden!

eTailers Will Soon be Paying State Sales Taxes

According to a recent article, the Supreme Court ruled that Internet retailers will be required to collect a sales tax. The effect of this newest ruling could have a lasting positive or negative impact on profitability for certain companies. For warehouse workers and truck drivers, it could mean an increase in orders from smaller companies who can now compete with their online retailer counterparts.

Alternately, for those involved in the Internet retail industry, this newest development could mean that employees are required to do more tasks to offset profit loss. What can you do to help keep orders flowing smoothly? How do you ensure employees aren’t overworked? Invest in a semi trailer moving machine to keep costs from inclining and work injuries on the decline!

Move it or Lose It

The retail industry is an industry that continually craves new ideas, better solutions, and ingenuity. After applying sales tax to goods, some businesses may be reeling from the implications such a move could make on their bottom line.

Be the first to move forward with a semi trailer moving solution that lowers your cost and increases your earning potential. The answer to any issue doesn’t have to be complex, it can be simple. Utilize premium machinery to cut costs, increase efficiency and remove the burden from your already diligent employee base. You’ll be two moves ahead of the competition!

Trusting Quality

If you are looking for quality solutions, trust DJ Products. We set the bar high. Our numerous battery-operated machines are heavy-duty for a reason. We use technology, common sense and precision to ensure you get the results you need to get orders moving at an effortless pace. Visit DJ Products today and find the solution that suits you best!

Tips for Proactive Accident Prevention in Your Warehouse

Our warehouse equipment is designed to optimize workplace safety, but there are still a number of risk factors that face your employees every day. Take a proactive approach and educate workers about situations that can lead to accidents and injuries.

Here’s a look at some of the more common workplace mishaps and how they can be prevented.

Slips, Trips and Falls

Most workplace accidents take the form of slips, trips or falls.

– Make sure that the warehouse aisles are free of obstructions.

– Promptly clean up spills of liquid or other loose materials.

– Instruct workers to constantly review their immediate area for any stationary or moving hazards.

– All elevated work areas should be protected by guardrails. Use safety harnesses whenever appropriate.

Fires

Fires can spread rapidly, so prevention is vital.

– Replace worn or damaged wires immediately.

– Handle all flammable materials with care.

– Maintain an adequate supply of fire extinguishers as mandated by regulations. Place them in easy-to-access locations.

– Ensure that all entrances and exits are clearly marked and kept free of obstacles.

Compression Accidents

Heavy objects such as machinery and loaded pallets can cause serious bodily harm.

– Employees should be made aware of areas where heavy objects are stored overhead.

– Stack all loads neatly to maintain balance. Avoid stacking items too high.

– Provide training for all warehouse equipment that includes moving parts.

– All employees on the work floor should keep a safe distance from forklifts, conveyor belts and other moving equipment.

Improve Workplace Safety with Warehouse Equipment from DJ Products

Are workplace injuries affecting productivity in your warehouse? Our electric movers, tugs and pushers are ergonomically designed to let a single employee move heavy loads without incurring common repetitive motion injuries.

Call 800.686.2651 for more information.

Beyond the Dumpster: China’s Changes on Recyclables Impacts US Industry

When trash day comes, dumpster moving equipment makes the task more efficient. But how do you handle recyclable materials? Like most properties, you probably have them sorted in bins for curbside pickup.

That could all change due to new, stricter regulations not in the United States but in China, and they may have a serious impact on how, or even if, your recycled materials are processed.

China Refuses “Foreign Garbage”

China has long been a repository for recycled materials, primarily paper and plastic, that were exported from the U.S. In an effort to combat their own pollution problem, China instituted a ban on 24 materials that were previously accepted, effective as of January 1 of this year.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, approximately one-third of the 66 million tons of recycling produced by Americans each year is exported, with most of it going to China. The new guidelines have recycling companies and material recovery facilities (MRFs) scrambling to come up with new options.

Not surprisingly, Western states have been hit hardest. In the Pacific Northwest, Republic Services, one of the country’s largest waste disposal companies, went from dumping almost no paper in 2017 to diverting more than 2,000 tons to landfills so far this year.

Coping with New Regulations

Some municipalities are simply refusing to accept banned materials, while other organizations are adapting some of the following alternatives:

– Exporting recycled materials to India, Vietnam and other Asian countries

– Stockpiling materials while searching for new processors

– Obtaining waivers to send paper and plastic to landfills

Trust Dumpster Moving Equipment from DJ Products

Don’t let trash day disrupt your whole staff. Visit our website and learn how you can save time and money with our battery-powered, ergonomically-designed dumpster moving equipment.

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!