christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Summer Tips to Keep Your Staff Cool in an Un-Air-conditioned Warehouse

Summer is quickly approaching and with it comes rising temperatures. For warehouse employees who are diligently working inside, summer months are something to dread. Spacious work areas are difficult to warm and extremely expensive to cool. So how can employees and their conscientious employers gain some relief from the heat? Check below for a few easy-smart heat-battling tips!

Prepping for the Heat

Extreme heat conditions are trying on the body in any environment, and especially on the job. In buildings that are vulnerable to intense temperatures, your employees often battle exhaustion, dehydration and other trying ailments related to heat. On the business side, difficult working conditions lower productivity and increase the potential for threatening and costly safety issues. Here are some summer heat solutions you can implement to create better on-the-job experiences for your hard-working base:

– Make sure to inspect the insulation. If the warehouse building is properly insulated, heat can’t find its way in quite as easily.

– Add ceiling fans. They are affordable options that allow for good air flow to permeate large areas.

– Fight humidity. By running dehumidifiers, removed moisture often brings instant cooling relief.

– Inform your workers of heat dangers. Knowledge is an elemental factor in preventing dangerous accidents. Self-awareness plays a part in lessening the chances of incurring injury related to high heat levels.

– Purchase durable material handling equipment. High-functioning material handling equipment performs well in various temperatures. Heat wreaks havoc on machines that run too hot. Hot machinery produces excessive heat. The right products simplify worker tasks rather than create more troublesome problems.

Ensure good working conditions continue by employing the proper preventative procedures. And when you utilize quality material handling equipment like those offered by DJ Products, productivity and employee morale will increase!

The Future of the Warehouse – Mobile Robotic Order Pickers

Every year the threat of work-related injuries is disconcerting for the millions of warehouse workers and employers that drive our economy. Tens of billions of dollars are spent by employers annually to address work-related accidents. Technological advances that have been introduced to the business industry are offering life-changing solutions to address mounting safety concerns. It’s easy to open the door to new safer working conditions when robotics plays a key role in bettering your workplace environment and your manufacturing capabilities.

The Best in Material Handling Equipment

Mobile robotic order pickers are quickly becoming the new normal in warehouses. Repetitive motion is a common cause of labor force injuries. Robotic machinery is even now being programmed to organize, pick and move hard-to-reach orders in warehouses across the world. The right robotics can alleviate any excessive strenuous labor your dedicated workforce engages in. At DS Products, we offer the benefits of complex machines to complete tasks that wear on our employees and their physical capacities. Material handling equipment such as these product types below allow enterprising companies to expand production and keep loyal workers from overexertion:

*Industrial Cart Movers

*Bin Pullers

*Aircraft Tow Tugs

*Trailer, Vehicle and Equipment Movers

Running On Robotics

Reaching for packages on high shelves while using ladders or other precarious means can be dangerous. In fact, falls from high places on the job were in the top 10 causes of work injuries. Robotic machinery such as pullers, pushers or various movers is time-saving and allows your employees to expend their energy on more important tasks without the threat of incurring minor or life-altering injuries.

Peruse DJ Products today to find quality material handling equipment that uses technology to counteract safety concerns and unneeded expense.

Small Aircraft Hangars Become Market Investments

Could you need an aircraft caddy sometime in the near future? The subleasing of hangar space is on the rise, and increasingly popular, due to the potential to operate space without the building and management headaches.

Space for Rent
So-called ‘condominium’ hangar space and long-term prepaid hangar leases offer a great return-on-investment. Depreciating (for tax purposes) and resalable, they offer sky-high earnings potential, with areas near airports showcasing a strong demand for space, as these companies attest:

Ribeiro Companies
Ribeiro Companies’ Quail Air Center offers hangar space adjacent to Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport. Outfitted offsite, tenants taxi aircraft though security gates to runways. Buy outright, rent or sublease. Alongside available hangar and office space for rent, Quail offers not-for-profit ground-support services. Tenant-only fuel services offer substantial savings: Enough for some frequent-flyers to pay for hangar space. Also in the works: Two-upcoming projects: Henderson Quail Commercial Aviation Center and Henderson Quail Air Center.

Ascend Development
Ascend’s $100-million, prepaid hangar project, 68-miles north of New York City where the cost of living is low, is second to its already operational SanFran Hayward Air Terminal. It will feature luxury accommodations, optional office space, and long-term 40+ year leases. Area airports will provide all fuel and ground services. With scarce land and fewer airports being erected, demand (and value) are expected to rise.

Premier Jet Facility
This McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California spans 15-acres, including 19-hangars offered on a 30-year, prepaid-lease basis. An FBO, it offers special fuel pricing, sub-leasing opportunities, and the potential to operate your business via office space available at the facility.

Outfitting your hangar? Entice tenants with our terrific tugs. Safely move aircraft, navigate tight spaces, prevent injuries and reduce liability with an aircraft caddy from DJ Products today.

Tips for Moving Your Supply Chain into the World of Digital

Digital technology has touched every part of our lives, so it’s no surprise that supply chain management is embracing this transformation. As consumers continue to demand faster delivery times, technology can streamline every step of the process, from forecasting seasonal demand to managing terminal tractors.

What Is Digital Business?

As explained by IT research and advisory firm Gartner, digital business refers to new business designs that combine the digital and physical worlds. A recent study by Gartner found that digital business is second only to the cloud in terms of top investment areas.

Technology provides the means to gather unprecedented amounts of data. Digital business requires an ability to connect directly with customers and partners in order to access, extract and analyze relevant information.

Benefits of Supply Chain Digitalization

– Real-time updates for inventory and freight are readily available.

– Decision-making is more accurate thanks to a greater understanding of supply and demand.

– Companies have the flexibility to respond immediately to sudden changes or disruptions.

Making the Move to Digital

Digitization involves much more than simply overlaying digital apps over current processes. In order to realize the full power of digital, it’s important to examine core processes in terms of how they support digital and align them accordingly.

According to Gartner, although most C-suite leaders believe digital disruptions are inevitable in the near future, only 25 percent of them have a digital strategy in place. As a result, Gartner recommends that businesses make it a priority to develop short- and long-term plans to incorporate digital into their supply chain.

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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.

Six Tips for Keeping Your Warehouse Clean

No matter how advanced your warehouse equipment is, that’s only part of the equation for improved productivity. A clean warehouse makes work processes more efficient and reduces down time due to workplace injuries.

Here’s a helpful list of the top tips for keeping your warehouse neat and organized.

Set a Consistent Schedule

When you let laundry and dirty dishes pile up at home, you end up with monumental tasks that are tedious and time-consuming. The same is true with warehouse cleaning. Establish a schedule of daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly tasks based on importance to the work flow.

Empty Trash Bins Regularly

The trash room is a hot spot for injuries. Make sure bins are emptied before they become overloaded.

Establish a Clean-As-You-Go Policy

Don’t let employees get in the habit of putting off cleanup until “later,” which never comes. A task or project shouldn’t be considered finished until any mess is tidied up.

Assign Cleaning Zone Responsibilities

Does productivity slow down during shift changes, when oncoming workers have to clean up the mess left behind by the previous group? Give each employee a specific area to be maintained before clocking out every day.

Provide Cleaning Supplies

Employees shouldn’t have to waste valuable time hunting for brooms, paper towels or other supplies. Keep an adequate stock on hand and conveniently available.

Keep Inventory Turning

Outdated stock creates a cluttered appearance and makes warehouse cleaning unnecessarily difficult.

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DJ Products offers a full selection of electric tugs, movers and pushers that make it easy for employees to quickly transport heavy loads and keep aisles and work areas clear. Use our convenient online chat feature and get prompt assistance from our cheerful sales engineers.

Cryptocurrency Payments Coming to Container Shipping; is Trucking Next?

Cryptocurrency is increasing its impact on various industries through the world of finance. Since its inception in 2009, digital financial avenues are beginning to widen. The container shipping industry has now jumped on the cryptocurrency bandwagon.

Certain companies (like those involved in manufacturing) benefit from the cost-effective solutions cryptocurrency provides, directly or indirectly. One logistics business that is considering using digital currency in their day-to-day is the trucking industry. The implementation of cryptocurrency increases time and cost-saving opportunities, much like what quality products provide to trucking companies who incorporate their use in day-to-day operations.

Transporting Solutions

The trucking business touches all aspects of commerce, including manufacturing. From transference of products from place to place to employing yard trucks to make loading simpler, the trucking world is ripe with potential. And their need for sufficient data logging and record-keeping is well-known.

The man-hours required to ensure invoices, arrival dates, load documentation, supply chain info and other valuable data is properly secured and accounted for is astronomical. In the past traditional methods have proven woefully inefficient without utilizing advanced technology to make workloads lighter.

Cryptocurrency is a data safeguard for companies that have an internal and external need for accurate data transfer. Trucking logistics requires keeping accurate ledgers, inputting vital information, and producing proficient timing that works in sync with warehouses and other businesses.

Compiling information that is secured through digitized algorithms and computer coding protects blocks of data from illegal interlopers. Cryptocurrency offers the element of efficiency to an industry that thrives on timing and information security.

Like cryptocurrency, quality machinery by DJ Products through their line of quality yard trucks can move the truck industry towards better efficiency and an altogether less strenuous work environment.

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.

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Waste Valets Come to Multifamily and Condo Units

As people look for ways to add time to their busy days, services such as meal delivery and concierge doctors are becoming popular. Now some multifamily and condo units are trying to make an unpleasant task more convenient with valet waste service.

How Valet Waste Service Works

At most properties, tenants lug their garbage to trash receptacles that are usually outdoors, where employees use dumpster moving tugs to transport waste to collection trucks. Thanks to waste valets, tenants no longer have to face bad weather, risk the mess of broken trash bags or argue with family and roommates about whose turn it is to take out the garbage.

Waste valets are receptacles that sit steps away from a tenant’s front door. These receptacles are disguised as decor items, functional pieces or both, such as a sitting bench. Tenants simply place their trash inside the receptacle and their job is done. The waste is then collected by an employee for final disposal.

Worried about the environment? Most waste valet services accommodate recycling. Some use separate receptacles, while others specify different types of bags to distinguish between recycling and trash.

Valet Waste Service Tips

– Make sure you understand the service fees and whether they’re included in rent or utilities or payable separately.

– Know the collection days for your properties. Some communities have pick-ups each weekday, but not all follow the same schedule.

– Learn and follow the requirements concerning what types of bags should be used and how they should be secured.

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Dumpster moving tugs such as our best-selling WasteCaddyLite let employees transport waste receptacles safely and easily under any conditions. Call 800.686.2651 to learn more.

An Update on Amazon’s Logistics Automation Plan

Shipping with Amazon (SWA), the online giant’s fledgling delivery service, is a self-contained system that covers the entire shipping process from seller to consumer. Eventually, SWA will offer shipping services to other companies in direct competition with UPS and FedEx.

The impact of SWA on the logistics industry cannot be overstated. In addition to utilizing state-of-the-art physical equipment such as an electric yard truck, traditional carriers need to embrace automation to stay competitive in the logistics industry.

Benefits of Logistics Automation

Why should carriers integrate automated logistics?

– Most organizations have a primary goal of scaling their business, a process that’s immeasurably more difficult without automation.

– Automation makes it easier for providers to manage and coordinate the efforts of dissimilar functions, including manufacturing, distribution and transportation.

– Automated delivery management systems include robust functionality for tasks such as truck load mapping and dispatching.

– Productivity improves when less time is spent correcting avoidable errors.

Using a Workflow-Driven Approach

Conventional wisdom holds that automation is more suitable for companies with large fleets, but even those with smaller fleets can reap the advantages of automation with targeted workflows.

With a workflow-driven approach, a simple task such as scanning orders at pick-up and drop-off becomes more efficient with automation. Accuracy increases, which in turn reduces the number of time-consuming disputes.

According to Dan Stoll, technical product manager at Nintex, automation hasn’t been a priority for legacy shipping providers. Stoll believes that “the Amazon effect” will prompt many of these companies to make some long-overdue changes.

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