christopher Harper, Author at DJ Products

Secretary of Defense Mattis States Congress’ Continuing Resolutions Hurt Contracting

Military Defense Contracting is Hurt by Resolutions

In early September, Congress avoided a government shutdown by passing a continuing resolution that stays in effect through December 8. While the action may have temporarily solved one problem, it spells uncertainty for the Department of Defense.

Hard Times Ahead for DoD?

On the same day that President Trump signed the bill, Defense Secretary James Mattis sent a letter to the Senate Armed Services Committee explaining the impact of the CR on DoD operations.

– The CR effectively imposes a freeze on hiring actions, leaving important positions vacant. In addition, training and professional development for existing personnel is delayed.

– DoD is unable to begin new programs or increase production on existing ones. This affects 18 new programs and eight production rate increases planned by the Army for the period of the CR.

– Funds cannot be reallocated to accommodate changing needs.

– Non-critical maintenance is on hold, hurting DoD’s efforts to upgrade military readiness after a loss over the past several years.

CRs Becoming the Rule Rather than the Exception

Over the last eight years, Congress has passed only one budget on time, causing it to rely heavily on CRs. According to Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, this has caused a snowball effect that’s taking a toll on the military.

On the other hand, critics are concerned that, without full accountability the DoD budget is becoming bloated and wasteful.

Industrial Tugs for DoD Contractors from DJ Products

Are you looking for a material handling solution that will handle a broad range of equipment? Contact us to learn more about our full line of industrial tugs for DoD contractors.

Introducing the New ToolCaddy Tool Cart Mover

DJ Products Introduces the Tool Cart Caddy

You can only do the job with the tools at hand if you actually have the tools at hand. With our new ToolCaddy, DJ Products has launched a new tool cart mover to make it easier than ever to transport tool chests and equipment with an ergonomic and battery-powered system.

If your maintenance staff needs to get around the property with a variety of tools and parts, that’s a lot of weight to push around all day. It’s also annoying to suddenly stop or turn a tool cart and wind up with small parts flying around.

The ToolCaddy helps you get around smoothly and comfortably. Instead of manually pushing and putting strain on your shoulders to maneuver the cart in tight spaces or onto an elevator, you can let this tool cart mover do the heavy labor itself.

Highlighting the ToolCaddy tool cart mover specs and features:

Long-lasting battery power
Easy to recharge in any standard 120v outlet
Up to 3 mph in forward or reverse
Dual-tray cart holds up to 300 pounds
Ergonomic design to prevent carpal tunnel, shoulder strain, backache, etc.
Walk beside or behind, or use a ride-along platform step

Perfect for apartment complexes and multi-tenant buildings, the ToolCaddy was designed for all kinds of maintenance staff needs. It runs quietly, makes turns carefully, and virtually stops on a dime.

Use the ToolCaddy to:

Prevent maintenance staff injury
Make one trip to deliver parts, tools, and equipment
Reduce fatigue and get more done every day

Find out how DJ Products, leaders in ergonomic automated equipment, can revolutionize your maintenance services with the battery-powered ToolCaddy tool cart mover.

Gobbled Up by the Conglomerates – Decline of the Owner/Operator Model

Once the Truck Hits the Terminal, Our Semi Trailer Mover Will Make Fast Work Out of Moving Trailers in your Shunting Terminal

For years, independent owner-operators formed the proud backbone of the trucking industry. In the face of growing regulations and shrinking margins, the traditional owner-operator model is on a slow but steady path toward extinction.

Pressure from All Sides

In order to stay competitive, independent truckers are forced to offer increasingly low rates that result in unsustainable margins. Any remaining profit is being eroded by additional expenses for eco-friendly equipment, electronic logging devices and other mandated requirements.

The plight of the independent owner-operator has a trickle-down effect on carriers, whose profitability relies on the model. Hiring drivers as independent contractors lets carriers avoid tax withholding, heath insurance and other expenses attached to direct employees.

What Separates an Owner-Operator from an Employee?

Most owner-operators fiercely value their independent status, but the line is becoming blurred. Over the last year, FedEx has spent nearly $500 million settling lawsuits charging misclassification of company drivers as independent contractors.

Large shippers are not exempt from these questions. Retail giant Macy’s hired drivers as independent contractors through their logistics management company, although the drivers were required to follow a dress code and other company standards. Macy’s ultimately settled a resulting class action suit charging that drivers were deprived of overtime due to misclassification.

Save Time and Money with an Electric Semi Trailer Mover

Time is a valuable commodity in the transportation industry. Maneuver trailers quickly and safely with an electric semi trailer mover from DJ Products. Visit our website and use the convenient online chat feature for immediate assistance from one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales engineers.

Trump Hotels May be Banned from Federal Contracts and Events

Hotels Look to DJ Products for Powered Equipment Solutions

President Trump’s extensive business holdings have been a source of controversy as a possible conflict of interest. A bill recently introduced by Democratic lawmakers would prevent federal officials from incurring any expenses at Trump-owned hotels and properties.

Separating Business from Politics

Sen. Gary Peters, top Democrat on the Senate federal spending oversight subcommittee, is lead sponsor of the Heightened Oversight of Travel, Eating and Lodging (HOTEL) Act. A statement issued by Peters said the bill would prevent top-level officials from exerting “undue pressure” on employees to patronize their businesses.

The HOTEL Act would forbid official business stays by executive branch officials at any properties owned by the president, vice-president and Cabinet secretaries. Family members are included, which would also exclude properties owned or operated by Trump’s children.

A Constitutional Challenge?

Questions had arisen regarding a March meeting of high-level government officials at Mar-a-Lago, a Palm Beach, FL club in which Trump has 99 percent ownership. According to an invoice obtained by the Washington Post, one attendee was charged $1,092 for a two-night stay.

Legal and ethical experts have suggested that the Mar-a-Lago incident could be a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s domestic emoluments clause banning federal or state payments to the president other than his salary. As majority owner of Mar-a-Lago, Trump is free to withdraw funds from the business at any time.

Powered Carts for the Hospitality Industry from DJ Products

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, excellent customer service is key. Visit our website and learn how powered carts for the hospitality industry allow employees to complete housekeeping duties quickly and efficiently.

Training Prevents Overexertion-type Push and Pull Injuries

With So Many Options, You Have to be Sure You Make the Right Choice. We Can Help.

The CDC has estimated that 30% of worker injuries stem from overexertion. Pushing and pulling causes at least 1 in 5 of those injuries. All are preventable if workers have the right tools and training.

The occupational health consultants at Ergonomics Plus stress the importance of a two-pronged approach to preventing overexertion injuries: training employees about proper habits and motions, and empowering them with powered equipment such as our WasteCaddy dumpster mover.

When it’s not an option to use motorized assistive tools, workers should practice the best mechanics for pushing and pulling. Top safety tips to give your team include:

> When possible, push rather than pull

> Ask a coworker to help with heavy loads

> Keeps floors clear and safe

> Avoid sudden, jerking motions

> Stand with feet shoulder-width apart

> Push with hands at chest height

Prevent Workplace Injuries When Moving Dumpsters & Carts

Anywhere that workers need to push or pull heavy carts, they need proper training and tools. This goes for distribution centers and warehouses as well as retail, apartment complexes, and office buildings.

If your staff must move heavy dumpsters, such as transferring from the parking garage to an outside pickup location, a battery-powered trash bin mover can help.

DJ Products makes the revolutionary WasteCaddy dumpster mover and the WasteCaddyLite to partially automate the task of moving dumpsters and waste bins. Workers simply steer, while the 3-mph powered dumpster mover safely maneuvers even on icy, rocky, or inclined ground.

Are you losing maintenance staff or paying workers’ compensation claims related to overexertion? Take a look at the WasteCaddy dumpster mover lineup from DJ Products.

Are You Ready for the December 18th ELD Mandate?

Are You Ready for the New ELD Regulations?

It’s been a long time coming, but after a process that began in 2012, the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate is about to take effect on December 18. Are you prepared to implement this rule that will significantly affect your business along with the entire trucking industry?

Why a Mandate?

The primary moving force behind passage of the ELD law is driver safety. Estimates from the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA) indicate that ELD use can prevent 1,500 accidents, 475 injuries and 22 deaths per year.

In addition to safety benefits, ELD use can provide an unprecedented amount of accurate data, allowing for more efficient operations.

How to Prepare for the ELD Mandate

There are also potential drawbacks to ELD use, including increased shipping costs, smaller truckload capacities and greater need for team drivers. Preparation can help reduce the risk of negative effects.

Maintain open communication about the approaching deadline with your regular carriers and providers. Use the information you gain to adjust plans where necessary.
Notify carriers and providers of your expectations regarding the mandate. Include specific details, such as what date you expect compliance and what documents you’ll accept as proof of ELDs.
Offering support to key carriers and providers can pave the way to stronger relationships and greater levels of trust.

The Trailer Caddy Semi Trailer Mover from DJ Products

How much time and labor is taken up by moving semi trailers around the yard? Visit our website to learn more about our Trailer Caddy, a battery-powered semi trailer mover that lets a single employee move trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds.

The Hospitality Industry Runs via a Robust Immigrant Work Force

Recent controversy about immigration policies in the United States has sounded an alarm among members of the hospitality industry. Potential regulation changes could seriously impact the robust immigrant workforce in restaurants and hotels.

How the Hospitality Industry Relies on Immigrants

According to the National Restaurant Association, nearly one-quarter of restaurant employees nationwide are immigrants. That number is even larger among chefs, where immigrants make up 45 percent of the total.

The ratio is borne out in individual states such as New Mexico, where approximately 22 percent of hospitality workers are immigrants. Numbers are even higher at some individual businesses such as the Inn of the Governors in Santa Fe, where immigrants are one-third of the hotel’s 75 employees.

“The Hardest Workers”

Cynthia Fresquez, general manager of the DoubleTree Hotel in Albuquerque, estimates that 50 percent of housekeeping workforces are comprised of immigrants. Fresquez adds that immigrants are “the hardest workers” who keep the businesses going.

That sentiment is echoed by Sam Gerberding, general manager of the Inn of the Governors. Gerberding says that immigrants are “profoundly important” because they are willing and able to perform jobs that would otherwise go unfilled.

Fernando Olea, owner and chef at Sazon, a Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe, employs a staff that is roughly 30 percent immigrants. Olea admits that he doesn’t know “how restaurants would be able to operate” without the immigrant workforce.

Lighten the Load with Battery-Powered Hotel Carts

As Cynthia Fresquez pointed out, housekeeping is the backbone of hotel operations. Visit our website to learn how you can improve staff efficiency and safety with electric hotel carts from DJ Products.

The Made in America Supply Chain as a Top 2017 Trend

As technology continues to advance at lightning speed, changes in warehousing and logistics reflect new methods and products. What are today’s hot trends in the supply chain?

“Made in America”

Policies of the current administration are likely to result in decreases in trade with China and Mexico. Europe is facing a similar situation, but the slow pace of Brexit negotiations could delay a decline in trade between Great Britain and Europe.

Logistics Is Becoming Increasingly Automated

Driverless vehicles are still on the distant horizon, but robots are decreasing the need for warehouse workers. In a recent survey by ARC, 15 percent of warehouse executives said that autonomous robots are a priority in their three-year plan.

The current threshold is development of robots with arms that can function as order pickers. Once that issue is solved, the loss of warehouse jobs is expected to accelerate.

E-commerce Continues to Revolutionize Shipping

As online shopping became more popular, logistics struggled to keep up with increased volume, culminating in the holiday season of 2013 when an estimated two million packages were delivered late. Large 3PLs like DHL are meeting the opportunity with innovative solutions such as drones and crowdsourcing.

Digital Supply Chain

The Internet of Things has progressed to the more wide-ranging Digital Economy. Next is the concept of a supply chain control tower, where IoT data is turned into actionable tasks.

Warehousing and Logistics Solutions from DJ Products

Are you looking for ways to improve productivity without sacrificing safety? Visit our website and chat with one of our sales engineers for information about the CartCaddyShorty and other electric movers, tugs and pushers.

Hotels Embrace a “YOUniverse” Experience to Woo Bookings

From the lobby to the guest room, people want to feel a connection with the places they stay. What if every aspect, from the decor to experiential moments, felt utterly personalized?

If hoteliers can predict what their guests want rather than waiting for surveys and feedback, it’s much easier to get people’s attention and win their loyalty. Instead of just keeping on trend in terms of shower curtains and healthy food options, a hotel needs to be proactive about delivering the kinds of experiences that guests love, or even share on Instagram.

Data analytics can now go further than ever before to provide this kind of proactive insight. Sabre Hospitality describes the effect in its report on the “Youniverse,” which means the idea of creating a product or service tailored to various individuals’ tastes and preferences. Today’s highly connected world with big data available makes it possible to correctly predict, not guess, what your hotel customers want.

Much the way Amazon can guess what products a consumer wants, hoteliers can predict what amenities will delight a guest and make them feel a brand connection.

Staying Ahead of Hotel Trends

Though your customer demographics may vary, the biggest trends in hospitality right now center on experience, collaborative spaces, and clean design.

DJ Products makes powered carts for hotels to help automate the processes of housekeeping, supply carts, and more. By removing the task of manually pushing carts—a rigorous, repetitive injury-prone part of the day—your employees can improve the guest experience across the board.

Want to streamline services with powered carts for hotels? Browse DJ Products hospitality carts for more info!

Warehouse Dock Maintenance Tips

Do your operations grind to a halt whenever a dock suddenly needs critical maintenance? Many dock problems can be prevented with more proactive care, cutting down greatly on the overall costs of your warehousing and logistics facilities, says Modern Materials Handling.

Gary Forger reports that insufficient maintenance accounts for up to 85% of all dock equipment problems. Planned maintenance can prevent much of that while also reducing the frequency of emergency repairs.

Options for Planned Dock Maintenance

Warehousing and logistics managers have multiple options for better planned maintenance:

• Add or appoint an in-house employee

• Partner with dock equipment suppliers to advise in-house staff

• Outsource to a structured dock maintenance program

Tips for Warehouse Dock Maintenance

The first step is to determine how often various components need recommended inspections and maintenance. Some parts need annual care, others should be maintained every 90 days.

In addition to checking for broken or worn-out parts, workers should test for energy leaks that may be costing a fortune.

Keep hydraulics working efficiently with proper fluid levels and lubricate moving parts regularly to prevent small wear-and-tear from becoming major damage or causing a shutdown.

Finally, consider how dock maintenance can improve worker safety. Dock-related injuries are common, resulting in good workers missing days and leading to claims.

On that note, DJ Products has industrial cart movers for the warehousing and logistics industry that can significantly improve your bottom line—through reduced injury risk as well as better productivity. We also have a line of trailer movers for improved safety around dock doors.

Contact DJ Products for more info about material handling solutions for warehousing and logistics.

Author: christopher Harper