Semi Trailer Moving Archives - Page 2 of 3

In 2018 Intermodal Services between Semi and Rail are Set to Grow

Over 2018-2019, intermodal services between semi and rail are expected to grow between 6-9%. Although these services have potentially positive potential, they are not without challenges. Determining new ways to optimize today’s intermodal services is key.

Idiosyncrasies of Intermodal Services to Watch:

Driver Pay
Though a favored position for drivers who can return home each night, dray pay is lower than other delivery types, and must be carefully evaluated to avoid the loss of superior drivers to shared labor pools with better income opportunities.

Inventory Management
With shippers looking to consistent and reliable delivery in choosing carriers, tighter inventory control measures are necessary to offset the shipping times of reliable, but typically longer, intermodal services.

Higher Rates and Tighter Capacity
Higher rates and tighter capacity are making manpower and efficiency boosters like smart inventory management systems and electronic semi trailer movers more important than ever before. A team outlook, aligning your goals with those of your clients, can offer huge payoffs here, helping you retain your position as a favored shipper in today’s dog eat dog world of freight transportation.

Changing Service Times Due to ELDs
With intermodal services, typically the closer to ramps at pickup and destination, the more reasonable rates will be. Though still true today, electronic logging devices (ELDs) remain a wrench in the works, resulting in some types of fright taking longer to transport than ever before.

Need to add to your labor pool fast? Ensure shipping times with an electric semi trailer mover. With no CDL or health card required for operation, an electric semi trailer mover from DJ Products helps you save time and boost efficiency, while protecting your workforce and shipping schedule. Learn more. Contact us today.

Trucking Firm with the Big Heart Strives to Feed Hungry Children

The nation’s food supply depends on truckers, so it’s fitting that C.R. England is going the extra mile with a food drive for hungry kids. Through its One Initiative, the firm aims to provide a million meals for children throughout the country facing hunger. For every load delivered by a C.R. England driver and every transaction by England Logistics, a meal will automatically be funded.

At DJ Products, we love seeing the distribution industry recognized for its profound contributions. We support the field by offering affordable motorized trailer dollies that make the job easier around the shunt yard while reducing injuries.

C.R. England’s Donations for Childhood Hunger

Known on the road for its coat-of-arms logo, C.R. England started its crusade against hunger to help feed the 13 million children in the U.S. who don’t always know where their next meal will come from.

Everyone is getting involved, too. Truck drivers not only get the satisfaction of helping out, but they also get to choose where each donation will go. C.R. England partnered with 19 food banks around the country, so drivers can send a meal to a child close to home.

C.R. England has donated hundreds of thousands of meals to date, with more fundraising and community efforts planned.

Do More with Distribution

What could your organization accomplish if operations were more streamlined at the distribution center? The TrailerCaddy Electric Yard Dog costs a small fraction of a shunt truck, yet is safer and more maneuverable. Our motorized trailer dollies don’t add to your driving logs, and dock workers can get trailers up to 100,000 pounds towed into prime position, even at tight shipping docks.

Find the right trailer movers for your needs at the DJ Products website.

Tips for Keeping Your Semi Truck Fleet in Top Shape

When trucks aren’t working, your company pays a heavy price in lost productivity and increased expenses. Keep your semi truck fleet in top operating shape by using a semi trailer mover and following these standard maintenance tips.

Semi Truck Fleet Maintenance Checklist

– Check oil levels regularly, especially before the start of long-haul jobs. Lack of oil can trigger extensive damage in the truck’s engine, which is expensive to repair or replace.

– Check the radiator and its overflow bottle. Top off radiator fluid as needed and repair small leaks immediately. It’s no fun getting stopped dead in your tracks thanks to an overheated engine.

– Tires with low pressure can reduce fuel mileage and interfere with steering, while over-inflated tires are vulnerable to punctures and damage from road debris. Check tire pressure weekly, and more often during times of weather changes or extensive highway driving.

– If your trucks have dual fuel tanks, parking sideways on a hill causes fuel to run into the lower tank. Once the engine is started, the fuel uptake system will pull in air instead of fuel. Make it a practice to park front to back rather than side to side on slopes.

– When trucks sit idle for a period of time, insects can build nests that block the fuel vent. Be sure to check the vents on any trucks that haven’t been moved in a few days.

– Have the brakes checked frequently to address problems before they go too far.

Electric Semi Trailer Mover Solutions from DJ Products

Our best-selling Electric Yard Dog lets a single employee safely and easily move trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds. Visit our website and learn more about our battery-powered semi trailer mover from our sales engineers.

FedEx Changes Up Its Specialized Logistics and E-commerce Businesses

As a leading supplier of semi trailer moving options, DJ Products is always on the lookout for the latest news and trends affecting logistics and supply chain. E-commerce continues to have a major impact on the industry, as delivery and logistics titan FedEx Corp. realigns its specialty units to accommodate this fast-growing segment.

Meeting the Demands of a Changing Industry

In January, FedEx announced that its specialized logistics and e-commerce units are now under the umbrella of FedEx Trade Networks, Inc. As the company’s global freight-forwarding service, FedEx Trade Networks allows for a greater range of resources to serve these robust areas.

FedEx units affected by the restructure include:

– Custom Critical, their rush-delivery service

– Cross-Border, which serves global e-commerce

– Supply Chain, a third-party logistics survivor

– Transport & Brokerage, which offers customs clearance services

The move also marks the launch of a new operation called FedEx Forward Depots, which was created to incorporate on-demand services led by 3D printing.

Leveraging the Power of FedEX

The new unit will be headed up by Richard W. Smith, current CEO of FedEx Trade Networks and son of company creator Fred Smith. At the time of the announcement, FedEx President and CEO David J. Bronczek stated that this move would enable the company to “offer customers the full power” of FedEx’s resources in a more convenient fashion.

Safe and Efficient Semi Trailer Moving Solutions from DJ Products

Don’t sacrifice safety for productivity. With our popular Electric Yard Dog, a single employee can move semi trailers weighing up to 100,000 pounds, improving efficiency while reducing injury risk.

Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers to learn more about our full line of battery-powered tugs, movers and pushers.

How to Become a More Efficient Logistics and Terminal Manager

As a logistics and terminal manager, semi trailer moving is just one of your many responsibilities. How do you keep operations moving smoothly and effectively in the face of business growth? Here are valuable tips for improving productivity while reducing expenses.

1. Plan Ahead

The tried-and-true 5 P’s – “Proper planning prevents poor performance” – are still words to live by. In addition to optimizing available time, resources and manpower, planning makes you better equipped to handle any unforeseen circumstances that arise.

2. Embrace Automation

Information is a crucial management tool, and technology provides more extensive and accurate data than what has ever been available before. Automation saves time and eliminates the mistakes that occur during manual data collection.

3. Make Customer Service a Priority

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” has become a cliche because it’s true. Implement regular training classes and workshops that encourage all employees to work at their highest level.

4. Use Appropriate Warehouse Management Methods

Excellent warehouse management involves maximizing utilization of space and manpower in relation to the type of goods. Set specific procedures and goals so that employees understand the importance of their roles in smooth workplace operations.

5. Streamline Transportation

Transportation is one of the largest expenses in logistics and supply chain. Review and upgrade routing, packaging and other factors that affect delivery.

6. Analyze Metrics

The most detailed data in the world is useless on its own. Analyze data to find out what works and what doesn’t, and make appropriate changes.

The Electric Yard Dog from DJ Products

Our popular TrailerCaddy terminal tractor lets employees perform semi trailer moving up to 100,000 pounds safely and efficiently. Visit our website for real-time assistance from our helpful sales engineers.

Trucking Contract Rate Trends for 2018 – Bigger Rate Increases in the Future

What’s in store for the transportation industry over the coming year? Get your semi truck tow dollies ready, because experts are predicting a “trucker’s market” in 2018.

Supply and Demand Continues to Tighten

Trucking analyst John Larkin of Stifel Nicolaus says that growing demand due to economy growth is being stretched by the shortage of drivers. While the lack of skilled blue-collar labor cuts across the entire economy, low pay scales are contributing to the specific difficulty in transportation.

According to Larkin, driver pay rates began to increase in the second half of 2017, but the base was so low that it will take several more raises to move the needle on the driver shortage. In addition, the Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) mandate was fully implemented as of December 17, which could further aggravate the situation.

Truckload Rates on the Rise

Another effect of the ELD mandate could be increases in truckload rates, which have already been rising. Larkin explains that it began with “an inflection” in spot rates during mid-2016, but the normal six-month lag time for contract rates ended up to be just over a year.

Less-than-truckload (LTL) rates have seen more modest increases recently, but that could change in the next 12 months. Between marketing automation, the growth of e-commerce, and overflow freight from truckload carriers, demand for LTL carriers is becoming greater.

Meet the Electric Yard Dog from DJ Products

With this anticipated scenario for 2018, the productivity of your trucking company needs to be on point. Visit our website and chat with our sales engineers to find out how semi truck tow dollies like our Electric Yard Dog are the solution to your efficiency and safety challenges.

Trucking Industry 2018: Tight Capacity and Strong Demand

What adjustments have your trucking firm made to prepare for 2018? Based on expert predictions for the transportation industry in the upcoming year, you’ll need sturdy semi trailer movers to help accommodate the demand.

Business Expansion = Higher Demand

According to Don Ake, trucking industry analyst for FTR Transportation Intelligence, confidence and business conditions are “at their highest level since the Great Recession.” Positive indicators are leading experts to anticipate extended business expansion, both at home and abroad.

This optimism is built on a number of factors:

– Tax reform is expected to create more a favorable regulatory environment for the trucking industry.

– There are signs that Congress and the Trump administration are ready to start considering an eagerly anticipated infrastructure funding proposal.

– Growth in real gross domestic product is expected to continue, climbing from 1.5 percent in 2016 to 2.8 percent in 2018.

Economy’s Impact on the Trucking Industry

A surge in business means a greater need for trucking services. Rachal Snider, vice president of Customer Supply Chain at consulting firm AFN, cites reports predicting an increase in demand of 3.6 percent over the coming year.

With the Great Recession prompting carriers to pare fleets and reduce expenses, the boost in demand will lead to tighter capacity. Other contributing causes include a shortage of drivers and implementation of the ELD (electronic logging devices) mandate, which can reduce capacity by as much as 8 percent.

Keep Trailers Moving with the Yard Dog from DJ Products

Get ready for a successful year with our battery-powered semi trailer movers that improve productivity while reducing risk of workplace injuries. Visit our website or call 800.686.2651 to learn more from our friendly and knowledgeable sales engineers.

Fleet Managers Steer Staff Towards Improving 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!

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.

What Supply Chain Trends are Predicted for 2018 and the Years Beyond Part One

As the U.S. economy continues to improve, business owners and supply chain managers are now facing new challenges. Companies must contend with a shortage of logistics workers and truck drivers. Innovative and efficient warehouse equipment is crucial to maximize manpower and prevent workplace injuries that create even more interruptions to workflow. It is also important that managers understand and prepare for several key supply chain trends coming in 2018 and the years beyond.

Continued innovations in the omnichannel experience

Technology is advancing more rapidly these days than ever before. New improvements in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies reach consumers shortly after being developed and become rapidly integrated into their daily lives. The omnichannel approach to creating a cohesive customer experience is constantly evolving. Companies must keep up while managing revenue in different omnichannel paths.

Service chains take precedence over product chains

Consumers have a lot of options for products. Providing an excellent product is not enough. Companies have to make a personal connection with customers, and those customers have high expectations for post-sale service. People are more likely to share their bad experiences than they are to tell others about good customer service. Companies that consistently deliver top quality customer service will move ahead of those that provide spotty or mediocre service.

SCM will require professional credentials

That comes from SupplyChain247. There are already many universities that offer graduate degrees in supply chain management. Additionally, there are several professional associations. It is likely that professional credentials will soon be required for people working in supply chain management.

We are dedicated to providing material handling and warehouse equipment that saves time, maximizes manpower, and prevents injuries to your team. Contact DJ Products to speak with one of our knowledgeable sales engineers.