Forklifts had proved to be an unacceptable match for boththe product

For years, boxy, unstable forklifts and equally-cumbersome yarddogs were the only available methods of moving trailers, tanks and other heavyequipment. Even when safer, better-designed, less expensive, walk-behindcaddies started coming on the NR Imitate Fleece Suppliers, the hefty purchase price and considerablemaintenance investment forklifts required encouraged their continued use. Ofcourse, until recently, walk-behind caddies did not have the power or designcapacity to lift the extraordinary weights involved in many heavy-equipmentapplications. But with the recent development of heavy-duty, motorized, walk-behindtrailer and heavyequipment caddies capable of lifting 15,000-pound trailer tongues and moving50,000-pound loads has allowed more options for heavy-duty needs.Not only is convenience and price now an important factor inwhy many are selecting these new generation heavy-dutywalk-behind caddies, but improving worker protection has been a concern forwarehouse and yard operation managers. In a job risk rating report, the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked “forklift operator” among high-risk jobs.Forklift operators have a 52% chance of being injured on the job.

Every yearforklift-related accidents kill nearly 100 U.S. workers and seriously injureanother 20,000, according to NIOSH report (themost-recent statistics available). The greatest number of forklift-relatedfatalities is caused by vehicles overturning. Pedestrian workers struck orcrushed by forklifts account for more than a third of forklift deaths and themajority of forklift-related workplace injuries. Given the dangers forklifttrucks pose in the workplace, it is no wonder that heavy equipment andcargo/tank trailer manufacturers, distribution centers, truck and trailermaintenance facilities, defense and government agencies, and other businessesthat maintain large trailer fleets have been seeking safer material handlingalternatives.The solution for many of these facilities is safer, lighter-weight,more compact, more maneuverable and less expensive to purchase, operate andmaintain than their old forklifts.  Thisnew class of ergonomically-designed, heavy-duty, walk-behind caddies, such asthe TrailerCaddyExtreme, offers a superior alternative to forklifts and represents thecleaner, greener, safer, more-efficient future for American industry.DJ Products’ new heavy-duty, walk-behind TrailerCaddyExtreme is attracting attention and earning fans among heavy equipment andtrailer manufacturers, distribution centers, truck and trailer maintenance facilitiesand managers of large equipment trailer fleets. TrailerCaddy Extreme is in useat commercial manufacturing, warehouse, distribution and maintenance operationsas well as at city, county, state, federal and Department of Defensefacilities. The following case studies illustrate how DJ Products’ TrailerCaddyExtreme can be used to solve assembly line, warehouse, and onsite equipment transportissues safely, efficiently and cost-effectively.Case study: The NewYard Truck Trailer Spotter - Meeting the Needs of New IndustriesWhen Wabash National Corp., a leading North Americanmanufacturer of semi-trailers, won an exclusive 5-year contract to produce2,500 frac tanks for a major supplier to the fast-growing hydraulic fracturingindustry; it turned to DJ Products for a safe, effective way to move the28,000-pound bulk liquid storage containers down the production line. Becausethe 21,000-gallon frac tanks are in high demand by oil and gas companiesworking the shale-oil beds in Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Texas, Wabash andits customer wanted to ramp up tank production quickly.Forklifts had proved to be an unacceptable match for boththe product and Wabash’s Lafayette, Indiana manufacturing plant.

Fork truckswere unable to maintain the necessary positive connection between the truck’sforks and the tank’s front end, allowing tanks to disconnect from the forksunexpectedly, creating a dangerous safety hazard. Forklifts were also too heavyto traverse floor grates and so could not be used to maneuver tanks in and outof wash bays. Of more universal concern were the myriad of safety issues raisedby operating an unwieldy forklift in a tight, confined, walled area shared withemployees, vendors, equipment, and product.DJ Products’ TrailerCaddyHD Extreme offered Wabash National a safe, powerful solution.

With aheavy-duty steel frame, powerful 36-volt battery, 2,000-pounddifferential/transaxle, and 2:1 gear reduction with chain-to-drive tires, theTrailerCaddy Extreme is designed to maneuver 48-foot and 53-foot OTR trailers,tanks, lowboy trailers, and heavy commercial equipment trailers weighing up to50,000 pounds. Outfitted with a hydraulic actuator powered lift kit, theTrailerCaddy Extreme is capable of lifting tongue weights between 5,000 and5,000 pounds.Unlike boxy forklifts, the TrailerCaddy Extreme packsmaximum power into a sleek, compact, versatile, walk-behind yard truck/trailerspotter that is ergonomically designed for tight maneuvering of massive objectsin a limited space by a single employee