Wanted: Skilled Truck Drivers!

The trucking industry is booming, with data showing that trucks carried the most cargo out of any transportation method in the U.S. last year by far. With tons of opportunity and new regulations cutting back the hours for many truckers, new drivers are in high demand. More than 300,000 jobs are projected to be available for new truckers in 2014. But not anybody can just climb behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle; they must be trained and skilled in the trade. This is where many new initiatives are coming in to help promote the trucking industry and recruit and train new drivers.

One of these initiatives is the 160 Driving Academy. They are one of the fastest growing truck driving schools and are hosting hiring initiative events. Many large North American transportation companies are even sponsoring the program and paying for the tuition of qualified applicants and guaranteeing them jobs upon graduation at no cost to them. With so many jobs available to skilled drivers, now is the time to get the proper education for the industry. Trucker numbers are dwindling as the need for them is spiking, making the transportation industry a great opportunity for the unemployed.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/11/prweb11323545.htm

Used CV Registrations Jump in 2013

Here is some good news for our industry: used commercial vehicle registrations are up 9.1% for the first half of 2013. New CV registrations are up as well, though not nearly as much. This reflects a strong market for well maintained, clean, used trucks and equipment. A jump in used CV registrations means that instead of adding new trucks to the nation’s fleets, many are choosing to instead refurbish existing vehicles and give them new life in the total vehicle population.

By definition, a commercial vehicle is any motor vehicle used for transporting paid passengers or any type of goods and is titled or registered to a company. According to a Truckinginfo.com article, “new commercial vehicle registrations during the January-June period were basically flat, the demand for used equipment continues to be strong and continues to outperform new registrations, as used transactions accounted for 56.7% of total commercial vehicle transactions during the first half of the year.”

This information shows us that the trucking industry is growing, but cautiously. The demand for well taken care-of used commercial vehicles suggests many need CVs, but aren’t ready to commit to an investment in a brand new model. We happen to recognize this need and specialize in refurbishing existing equipment and vehicles so they continue to be of use to the transportation industry, especially when it may not be possible or practical to purchase a new vehicle.

The Pros and Cons of LED Headlights

You may be hearing a lot about LED lights lately, especially as some car and truck makers are integrating them into their latest models. What exactly is an LED? LED stands for light-emitting diode, which is a semi-conductor light source available across many wavelengths at a very high brightness level. They release energy in the form of photons, called electroluminescence. So, should you opt for new LED headlights in your next vehicle? First, carefully consider the pros and cons:

Pros:

·         LED lights need very little power to operate

·         They are small in size and therefore easy to manipulate into a variety of shapes and applications

·         LEDs have a very high brightness level, making it easy to see on back roads and poorly lit areas

·         They have a longer lifespan than traditional headlight bulbs (lasting up to 3 times longer)

Cons:

·         LED headlights are not yet legal in all areas

·         LEDs do not emit heat when they emit light, so snow and ice will not melt off of your headlights in wintery months

·         However, they DO create heat around the bottom of the emitter which risks damaging connecting cables and adjoining assemblies

·         LEDs can be very expensive, especially if a large size is required (usually around 3 times more expensive than filament headlights)

·         They are very sensitive to heat and may require heat sinks or cooling devices

As you can see, there are obvious advantages and disadvantages to installing LED headlights in your vehicle, it all depends on what you want and need out of your headlights. 

With the Shale Oil Boom Comes Another One Altogether

It’s a trend that’s seeing itself borne out time and again in cities and towns across America where shale oil has impacted the local economy for the better: with the steady output of new oil fields comes not only a corresponding need for new oil workers out at the well themselves, but also a need for energy company office workers in nearby cities. It’s one of the main reasons why the monthly rental cost of office space in cities close to these nearby shale formations is now at a three-year high. Case in point: Pittsburgh, PA, a Rust-Belt city known better in recent years for its steadily declining population, as well as the deterioration of its once all-powerful steel industry. For the first time in decades, the population trend seems to be headed in reverse. Jobs in the energy and technology centers abound in a city like Pittsburgh. But more importantly in terms of D.W. Lift Sales, the monthly rental cost of Pittsburgh-area office space has increased dramatically over the past several years. For the first time since 2000, Pittsburgh energy tenants are paying around $17.68/square foot, and the city has a vacancy rate well below the overall national average of 17.1%.
In short, all things point towards a building boom in regions where oil and gas have driven profits around. Thanks to our new Midwestern energy turnaround, a lot of good folks who’ve been hard-hit these past couple years are getting their lives and businesses back together.

The fact of the matter is, the Marcellus Shale Deposit now ranks as the most significant shale oil-producing formation in the United States, ahead even of the Bakken Shale Deposit in North Dakota. As a direct result, new oil wells have arisen overnight across eastern Ohio and western and central Pennsylvania; and suddenly there’s new office construction in cities like Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Akron, and Erie, where Texas and Oklahoma oil and gas companies have set up shop by the score. All this new infrastructure and building activity is providing fresh jobs for construction companies and crews that have been hard-pressed since the Housing Bubble Crisis and Great Recession came to town in 2007.

It’s nice to say that things are looking up for our friends and regional business partners, and to truly mean it. There are good things afoot going on out there, and we at D.W. Lift Sales are proud to be playing a part in helping out. We offer top-of-the-line trucks and short trailers for hauling construction equipment and materials into these newly-jumping oilfields: Wabashes, Great Danes, and 36’ x 12’ trailers are all brand-leading ways of hauling materials to their new-found worksites. Likewise, we offer some of the foremost-leading trucks and trailers when it comes to regular office construction. Finally, we carry our fair share of tractor equipment – always a good thing when it comes to heavy-duty construction of new oil wells and rig sites. Basically, let us know how we can be of service! Call us or email us today to request a quote and/or additional information on how we can help your company participate in the greatest American oil boom of the past 50 years!

Solid Gains in Residential Construction Reported; More Predicted

The future, of course, remains unwritten. But if the current economic headwinds hold sway, it looks as though 2013 may well see a trend first spotted in 2012: the resurgence and rise of America’s once all-powerful residential construction industry. Despite all that nonsense last month about the fiscal cliff, construction employment nationwide rose by 30,000 new jobs – hardly the birth of a Golden Age, true, but not exactly shabby either. As Ken Simonson, chief economist of the Association of General Contractors of America puts it succinctly, “Resurgent demand for new housing construction and modest growth in private commercial construction are helping create some new construction jobs… Now that the threat of the fiscal cliff has been temporarily relieved, construction employment should continue to slowly rise in 2013.”

For the first time since the big, bad Housing Bubble crisis walloped us back in 2007, residential construction accounts for the largest share of new construction spending in the United States. The message seems obvious enough to be written on the wall, or in this case the blog: Housing is back. That means construction companies across the U.S.A. are going to need to do some solid reassessing and reinvestment when it comes to their workforce and their construction equipment. Luckily, DW Lift Sales is in top gear and ready to meet the new demands of the market. Since our bread-and-butter business is supplying heavy-duty transportation for construction companies and contractors, we have the ways and the means to accommodate pretty much any quote or work order you want to put our way. Both our new and used truck and trailer platforms are waiting for you to simply pick up your set of keys and put them to work. It’s what America needs right now more than anything, is good news. We at DW, for one, are here and ready to insure that good news stays put and remains good news.

Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts Update

While approximately $60 billion in relief aid has been earmarked to help the Tri-State Area recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the fact remains that things on the ground are hectic and harried. The funding that was promised to relieve the Tri-State has been delayed as a result of debates in both Houses of Congress, even as homeowners seek to rebuild and businesses seek to reopen along the flooded ruins of a shoreline. A lot of hard-working volunteers and little-known charity organizations have worked alongside FEMA and the Red Cross in getting people the food, shelter, clothing, and psychological relief they need. But all that’s just a bunch of temporary solutions. What we need is a concerted, multi-stage rebuilding effort on the part of private companies with the means and the skill-set to get things back up and running again.

We’re talking to you, construction industry of America. This tragedy should be a huge battle summons to the fact that our nation needs a heap of repairs and ongoing restoration effort. Already, we’re seeing the signal lights changing: for the first time since the Housing Bubble burst back in 2008, we’re seeing real growth in the construction sector of the U.S. economy. And while Hurricane Sandy proved a nightmare for those who lived through the worst of it, and for those (including insurance companies) who have to pick up the terrible tab in its aftermath, it’s up to somebody to lead the charge. If the government’s going to continue to dither about going full-force in its relief efforts, it’s up to private initiative and entrepreneurial spirit to get things rekindled.

How can we at DW Lift Sales help you out in this undertaking? One word for you: inventory. We have an inventory of 2013 Freightliner M2-106’s rearing to get into the action. Not only these, but we carry a serious number of knuckle booms, cranes, conveyors, and even tractors on our lot. When it comes to industrial-strength freighting, lifting, hauling, and rubble clearing, we have the equipment if you’ve got the drive to get it! Let’s get our East Coast back up and rolling. Contact us today with your quotes and queries.

Flatbeds Help the Real Estate Market Find Its Legs Again

When the Great Recession struck in 2007, there wasn’t an industry in America that took a harder punch than the real estate market. The “Housing Bubble” and its subsequent collapse became – overnight – a household word. It’s been a long several years now since those days of sudden economic collapse, and the nation is still struggling to rekindle its economy, the real estate sector included. But while growth remains slow, signs point towards a gradual improvement for even the housing and commercial real estate markets – and for the flatbed and dry van industry that means a corresponding uptick in business opportunities.

Flatbeds continue to be an integral part of the transportation of construction materials. Without the volume that flatbeds can carry, there would simply have been no cost-effective means of developing the sprawling suburbs and exurbs that surround most North American cities. But the housing market is just the “tip of the opportunity” for truckers and big rig companies. Despite June and July’s slow manufacturing growth (in comparison with the earlier months of this year), manufacturing orders are up considerably from just a year ago. While we’re certainly not out of the woods yet as a country, the numbers show that the growing need for trucking jobs in America attests to an overall spirit of optimism and recovery. Here’s to making it over the mountain. Knock on wood (or asphalt, as the case may be).

Depreciation Bonuses on Trucks, Trailers, and Forklifts: Grab ‘Em before 2013!

We’re a proud, family-run business in the heart of Ohio, and we’re here to give you this bit of advice, one small business to another: 2013 is looking to be another rough year; at least there’s the strong possibility. If the Executive and Legislative branches of government don’t settle their differences and come to some kind of agreement by the end of this year, there are going to be consequences for small business that nobody in his or her right mind – Republican, Democrat, You-Name-It – would want to see.

And you thought 2012 would be a pretty tough act to follow, huh? As it turns out, our nation may well decide to remain undecided on how to reduce its massive national debt by the end of this fiscal year. If that happens, come January 1, 2013, we’ll all wake up in our beds and find we’ve fallen off the so-called “fiscal cliff” everybody keeps talking about. That means mandatory tax increases across the board for American citizens and businesses alike. That means tax deduction policies that have helped businesses such as yours and ours throughout these last, few, trying years will be staunched and stifled.

Some of our nation’s best tax deduction small business incentives – specifically the Bonus and Section 179 depreciation deductions – are going to plummet this next year. And by plummet, we do unfortunately mean it. Currently, as things stand in 2012, the Section 179 deduction gives you up to $139,000 off equipment purchases intended for your business. That’s a pretty good deal by our reckoning, especially since this deduction is still applicable up to a ceiling of $560,000 in needed equipment purchases. That being said, if the worst comes to pass this New Year, that deduction incentive will suddenly find itself reduced to $25,000 – not exactly much in the way of stimulating your business and getting it up and growing, right? Well, what can we say? When you’re right, you’re right.

We have a fleet of trucks, forklifts, and flatbeds that are still available for purchase prior to 2013 – and that still come with 2012 depreciation deductible guidelines if purchased before the New Year. You name the make and model and we most likely have one (or several) on our lot. It’s up to you – the competitive entrepreneur – to seize the moment before it becomes too… bureaucratic. Call us right now, today.

Checking for Wear and Tear When Purchasing Your Truck

At DW Lift Sales, we’re confident that the trucks we supply, both the new ones and the used ones, have been spot-checked meticulously for any blemishes and/or mechanical errors. To put it another way, you know that when you buy trucks, trailers, or forklifts from us, you’re going to be getting your full dollar’s worth in terms of reliability. That being said, it’s always a wise bet when purchasing a truck – particularly a truck that’s already seen some roughage on the highway – to inspect it thoroughly to know what you’re “getting yourself into”. A lot of trucks out there might look nice and shiny on the sales lot, but as is the case with a lot of different things, it’s the inside that counts (i.e. the structural integrity, the driveline, the suspension system, stuff like that) when you’re going about your daily business.

On that note, we want to give you a couple of things to look out for when purchasing a truck (and the same things should also be checked periodically in terms of maintaining your truck):

1. Make sure the cab mount is well compromised with the proper bushings. Insure likewise that the cab is well isolated from the truck engine itself. Ignoring these things can mean you compromise the overall structural integrity of your cab mounts to a dangerous degree: you don’t want the front part of your truck to start grinding against the front tires – let alone get close to the engine.
2. A slight imbalance in the components of the driveline might not seem like a big problem upon first inspection, but don’t kid yourself. Given an especially bad angle, driveline imbalances can lead to impacting the performance of your truck’s transmission, not to mention the possibility of worn-and-torn wheel-ends. Be sure to inspect the assorted components of your driveline and note if they are aligned properly.
3. Here’s a huge one to look for: your truck’s suspension system. Your suspension system should isolate your cab from the main body of your truck, but don’t discount the long-term effects of road vibration or rough, gravelly terrain. If your truck’s been around the highway a few times, you’d best be checking that all components are structurally sound, as well as mounted rigidly. There’s no telling what happens otherwise!
4. Last, but hardly least, comes frame rigidity. You better be certain that the frame assembly (along with all its sundry cross-members) is structurally stiff. Otherwise, your trucking career may come crashing to a halt in a way that anyone would find unpleasant.

Just some helpful tips and guidelines from your friends out here at D.W. Lift Sales. Drop by our website or call us today for more info on the vehicles, platforms, and accessories we carry.

DW’s Heading to the Guardian Building Products Show in Vegas in 2013

It’s one of the biggest distribution materials conferences in America in any given year, and 2013’s Guardian Building Products Show in Las Vegas promises to be no exception. Companies from across North America and the world at large will descend upon the beautiful Paris Las Vegas Hotel to demonstrate their products, promote their services, and showcase the latest in insulation, gypsum, roofing, millwork, windows, doors, sheathing, hardware, plumbing, adhesives, and more: basically anything you’d ever want on your hands if you’re in the construction business. Seeing as the construction business is showing signs of recovery for the real time since 2007, we at DW Lift Sales expect there to be a more celebratory “feel” to the whole meet-up this year.

Basically, we can’t wait. Not only are we heading to beautiful sun-drenched Las Vegas, but being that we’re also significant players in the distribution and transportation of building materials both regionally and nationwide, we expect to meet some friendly faces. We’re looking forward to seeing people we already know and do good business with, as well as meeting up with new potential clients, customers, and forging alliances with strategic business partners.  Here’s to a great business year for 2013. See you there in Vegas! We promise you that we don’t cheat at cards AND that we’re friendly people to boot!

Trucking Expected to Help the Northeast Rebuild after Sandy

Just a few weeks ago, one of the deadliest and most costly storms in American history barnstormed into the Tri-State region of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Whether you want to call it a “hurricane” or a “superstorm” doesn’t really matter: the facts speak for themselves. Well over one hundred American citizens are dead. Whole neighborhoods are gutted with fire, leaving 40,000 homeless. The iconic boardwalk along the Jersey Shore has been ripped to unrecognizable shreds and planks. And for many days, basic services like electric power and mass transit were (in some cases still are) inaccessible to the millions in the New York Metro Region who depend on them daily. Conservative estimates of the total damage amount to upwards of $50 billion.

Obviously, the trucking industry suffered along with the rest of the region. Trucking is vital to supplying the needs of the Five Boroughs, not to mention the endless, sprawling suburbs. In part due to the inability of trucks to reach their proper destinations after Sandy, as well as the massive, region-wide fuel shortage, the 4^th quarter GDP for the trucking industry is expected to decline by as much as 0.6%.

But there’s light at the end of the long tunnel, both for New York and for trucking. As New Jersey Governor Chris Christie put it succinctly the other day, “We will rebuild.”  Construction crews are expected to retrofit, renovate, repair, and yes, rebuild the neighborhoods and towns that have been devastated by the fires and flooding. Needless to say, flatbeds will be in high demand in transporting construction materials to help Greater New York recover from disaster’s aftermath.

We at DW Lift Sales are here to help our fellow Americans at a moment’s notice. We currently have a significant number of 2013 Freightliner trucks in our inventory, as well as many tried-and-true 2006 Moffetts in stock. We have knuckle-booms that can re-set shingles onto roofs, cranes that can reach to high places, and all kinds of equipment that can help restore the lives and spirits of our nation’s largest urban area. When we see a neighbor’s house burning, we aren’t ones to shy away from helping put out the flames. We’re here to help our friends in New York – whatever it takes. Just give us a call or send a quote today.

Companies Seek to Attract New Truckers by Offering New Perks

The fact of the matter is that 2/3rds of all freight traffic in the U.S.A. gets handled by way of big-rig trucks. Around 3 million interstate truckers make their livelihood by delivering the foodstuffs, manufactured goods, and miscellaneous essentials that keep this country up and running year after year. It’s hard to see any other form of transportation – whether rail or aerial – that’s ever going to supersede the need for freight haulers.

But let’s face it: the life of a trucker can be rough. Extended days and weeks on the road without seeing family and friends can take its toll on anybody. Currently, there’s an estimated shortage of 100,000 truckers in North America, and if the economy gradually (and inevitably) picks up steam again, and more interstate traffic begins to flow, that number for new truckers could explode to upwards of 250,000. That’s a heck of a lot of jobs for the taking. The problem is, many folks don’t visualize themselves in a big-rig cabin running coast-to-coast down Interstate 80 or Interstate 10. Still, it’s a good, solid way to make one’s living, and to add onto that, trucking companies and truck-stop chains across America are piling on incentives to make the trucker lifestyle more appealing.

With all the added shower facilities and movie theaters available at today’s truck-stops, it’s hard these days to tell some interstate rest stops apart from motels or multiplexes. Gyms, basketball courts, gourmet food options, and health clinics are also all becoming par for the course. At night, truckers sleep in cabins that feature plush cushioning and ample room for stretching out. New truck models are beginning to sport amenities such as GPS, Sirius-XM satellite radio, DVD players, and even satellite television dishes: in short, many (if not all) the comforts of home.

With unemployment running at just over 8%, it’s a good thing to know there are a lot of solid, steady jobs available for those who are willing to take on the challenge. It’s just a question now of letting job-seekers know that the jobs are out there – and that they come with their benefits as much as they come with their rigors.

Unregulated Forklifts: Buy Them While You Can

Over the course of the last decade, there has been a growing stream of laws enacted on the forklift industry that limits the level of gas emissions coming from their motors. These various regulations stem from every level of government, from the local to the federal. The wisdom of these regulations is nothing we wish to touch upon in this blog. The practical issue at hand is one that is a lot more important to the everyday forklift operator: cost benefit. Simply put, as emissions standards increase, vehicle and forklift manufacturers are forced to invest in R & D in order to comply with those standards. As a result, the price of the product spirals upwards for the everyday consumer.

Come January 1, 2013, another emissions cap is set to be put into law.  Namely, Tier 4 non-road diesel emissions standards for engines generating up to 560kW will be increased. These kinds of engines (commonly found on forklifts) will now be required to emit a mere 5.0 in terms of carbon monoxide (CO) – with an ideal target of 3.7 for emissions. The price to get your engine certified will be costly enough, but spending money on newer, costlier engines that already comply with these emissions standards is enough to make some people want to go out a buy one for themselves before the law comes into full effect.

On that note, DW Lift Sales offers a wide variety of heavy-duty, tough-performing forklift models that are a bargain deal – especially when considering what’s coming your way 2013. Don’t let new price increases spoil your New Year’s. Get in on purchasing our gear before more regulations hit the (engine) fan.

How to Keep Your Truck Truckin’: Some Long-Term Strategies and Tips

Whether you drive a local delivery truck that operates within the jurisdiction of a few counties, or whether you’re an interstate trucker who rides it for the long-haul, the fact is that you’re going to be burning through a lot of mileage in no time at all. Additionally, if you’ve had the commonsense to buy or to rent a cost-effective truck that’s still operable, but that’s got a good chunk of miles to its name already, then proper maintenance of your truck’s engine is – if anything – even more important.  What’s the point in investing in something as critical as a freight truck if you aren’t able to maintain it properly? On that note, we at DW Lift Sales would like to impart to you a few accumulated bits of truck maintenance wisdom we’ve picked up over the years.

Rule 1: Don’t Over-Rev

Revving your engine beyond the RPM limits prescribed by your engine parameters is a sure recipe for adding to engine wear-and-tear. If anything, invrease your engine torque ratings while you drive. This will not only help keep your engine from overheating in the long-run, but it will improve on fuel efficiency as well.

Rule 2: Don’t Speed

We know that life on the road can get a little dull sometimes, and there’s the added fact that you’ve got a destination and a deadline to meet. But don’t overdo it on the speeding. Driving at around 60 mph leaves your truck operating at 40% of its horsepower capacity, which is a great long-term, preventative strategy for keeping your engine running smoothly and efficiently.

Rule 3: Pre-Trip Inspection

Don’t ever find yourself in a position where you’re on the road when you first notice a problem in your engine. Most if not all problems can be spotted prior to hitting the highway. It may take around 30 minutes to examine all the necessary details, but you need to check for proper engine oil and coolant levels, make sure the air brake tank is fully drained, and the brakes are checked for the right level of pressurization.

Rule 4: Follow the Proper Maintenance Schedule

Unlike keeping clear of chocolates, or following your New Year’s resolution all the way through to December 31st, truck maintenance schedules aren’t things to be taken lightly. Make certain your rig gets inspected at the exact, scheduled time – so technicians can make sure that no nasty surprises have cropped up since last you had a check-up. Every year you have to go into your doctor for a physical. The same thing goes for your truck, albeit the physical exam almost always happens (a lot) more than just once a year!

Rule 5: Special Rule for Diesel Trucks

In the case of diesel-powered big rigs, prepare to adapt to a different style of engine and a different style of “playing”. Beyond the fact that diesel fuel costs considerably more than good old petroleum, you’re going to have to make sure to carry bottles of diesel treatment with you in your cab. At each filling, be sure to add a full bottle of this diesel treatment into the mix, so that the overall muckiness of diesel oil doesn’t infiltrate your engine in any harmful way. Diesel additive keeps things nice and pure and on the level.

Just a few, friendly 101 tips from the folks at DW Lift Sales! 

Delivering – and Maintaining – Effective Forklift Safety

Let’s face it: the daily and nightly grind inside a lot of warehouses in America – and across the world – can be punishing. The work-shifts can run late, the shift boss might not be your favorite pal on Earth, and the finesse required to maneuver among stacks of crates, boxes, and pallets can be more than a little bit aggravating and tiresome. But a job’s a job, right? When it comes right down to it, you’ve got to make sure you’re doing it well, and that brings up the important issue of proper safety. Two of the most important areas involved in the safe operation of a forklift include following proper procedures during loading and unloading operations, and unnecessary speeding.

To the expert fork lifter, loading and unloading operations may feel like second-nature, but to those just starting out at a new warehouse, there’s oftentimes a lot to be mastered. Raising or lowering the forks while a forklift is moving, or trying to take on a load that’s too heavy or bulky, or carrying a particularly heavy item on a down-ramp or up-ramp – all of these contribute to the kinds of accidents that occur in a typical warehouse, and all of them can result in the overturning of forklifts. According to OSHA, 25% of all warehouse deaths in North America can be traced to forklifts overturning. It’s a serious business you’re helping to run, and it can’t be stressed enough that paying close attention to details is an essential.

Another factor that leads to all kinds of forklift accidents is the problem of speeding. Speeding on a forklift through a tight-packed warehouse is a different animal entirely than speeding along an empty, open highway. While both might be illegal (and dangerous), one of them carries far more potential for harm than the other. Drive slowly and carefully when operating in a warehouse, making sure you have a clear line of vision while driving, and be sure to slow down at cross aisles and sound the horn to alert other traffic that you’re coming through the intersection. Be sure to wear a seatbelt if such is provided, and never let someone else ride on your forklift if an actual seat isn’t provided for them to sit on.

We know it’s a tough job, but hey, if you’re a fork lifter, you’re probably a pretty tough guy or gal yourself. We’re just making sure you keep safe in there, same as anyone who had respect for the profession.

Flatbeds Help the Real Estate Market Find Its Legs Again

When the Great Recession struck in 2007, there wasn’t an industry in America (besides big banks) that took a harder punch than the real estate market. The “Housing Bubble” became – overnight – a household word. It’s been a long several years now since those days of sudden economic collapse, and the nation is still struggling to rekindle its economy, the real estate sector included. But while growth remains slow, the signs point towards a gradual improvement for even the housing and commercial real estate market – and for the flatbed and dry van industry that means a corresponding uptick in business opportunities.

Flatbeds continue to be an integral part of the transportation of construction materials. Without the volume that flatbeds can carry, there would simply have been no cost-effective means of developing the sprawling suburbs and exurbs that surround most North American cities. But the housing market is just the “tip of the opportunity” for truckers and big rig companies. Despite June and July’s slow manufacturing growth (in comparison with the earlier months of this year), manufacturing orders are up considerably from just a year ago. While we’re certainly not out of the woods yet as a country, the numbers show that the growing need for trucking jobs in America attests to an overall spirit of optimism and recovery. Here’s to making it over the mountain.

Breaking Our Dependence on Middle East Oil

Even a few years back, a headline like this would have just been wishful thinking. There’s been talk since at least the OPEC Oil Crisis of 1973 about freeing America from its addiction to foreign fossil fuels. But it hasn’t been an issue that any administration – including the current one – has been willing to fully dedicate itself to. The funny thing is, the problem of curbing our foreign oil consumption may no longer be merely a political issue with a political solution. With the ongoing development of technologies such as hydraulic fracturing, deepwater oil drilling, natural gas, and even photovoltaic energy fuel cells, our automotive and trucking industries – and all other such industries dependent on exports from the Persian Gulf and the like – may very well have a strategy that allows us to eliminate our dependency on foreign oil altogether. Politics may have very little to do with it any longer.

Examples abound of oil deposits that are to be found nowhere near the volatile Middle East. The Bakken Shale Oil Deposit in North Dakota is perhaps the most obvious example of a new American oil renaissance. Since the large-scale discovery of shale oil in North Dakota, the state’s unemployment rate has dropped to 5%, the smallest in the nation. In fact, there’s an ongoing and desperate need for new jobs in the small towns dotting the western North Dakotan plains. The counter-workers at a local McDonald’s in the heart of shale oil country work are paid $20/hour; the counter itself is maintained 24 hours/day.

This is only the most obvious, domestic solution to foreign oil dependency. Huge offshore oil fields have been discovered not only in the Gulf of Mexico, but off the Brazilian coastline as well. With companies already in a much-contested bidding war for these resources, it seems likely that the stakes are high and the profits will indeed be profitable. Likewise, the tar sands of Alberta, Canada are another strong source of “local” oil that will undermine Arab efforts at cornering the oil market. Finally, the proliferation of natural gas and bio-fuels (recently legislation has been passed throughout North America that makes natural gas a viable and regulated source of energy for cars and trucks), as well as the slow but steady development of photovoltaic fuel cells attest to an ultimate break from our long-time dependency.

Estimates indicate that the US will halve its reliance on Middle East oil by as early as 2025. If the new energy policies bear full fruit, that 2025 number can be expected to become reduced to almost 0% by 2035. In terms of history, that’s basically just around the corner from today’s times. Let’s hope that cheaper fuel prices come as a result!

Trucking: About as All-American as It Gets

There’s that old quip from Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” Surely that must have in part been the logic behind the tiny town of Walcott, IA and its building of what many call “The World’s Largest Truck-Stop” along Interstate Highway 80. During the truck stop’s decades of operation, this otherwise unremarkable farming town in the American Heartland has become something of a pilgrimage place for dedicated overland truckers. Recently, the Iowa 80 Truckstop celebrated 33 years of being in business – and the locals of eastern Iowa showed up in droves to share in the excitement. As can be seen in this photo-essay by Kari Collins, the “33rd Annual Truckers’ Jamboree,” a festival celebrating the American industry that keeps other American industries up and running, there’s something about the Iowa 80 Truckstop that resonates deeply for an American.

What started out humbly as a rest-stop along Interstate 80 has developed into a travel center that supports all the services a trucker most needs. Beyond the usual gas/food/lodging, a dentist has set up shop there. There’s a movie theater which shows mainstream blockbuster movies. There’s a showering facility for those who aren’t planning on spending the night in Walcott, but nevertheless want a breather from the open road. And – of course – there’s the iconic Truckers’ Jamboree itself, where all things trucker are held up to the light and celebrated. In a country that doesn’t fully understand or appreciate the long, thankless hours it takes to be a trucker, or to run a successful trucking company, it’s nice to see some unabashed “big rig spirit.”

Coming Soon: New Princeton Forklifts at D.W. Lift Sales!

In an industry where ruggedness and sheer hydraulic strength are the norm and not the exception, Princeton forklifts are frequently considered to go above and beyond in those categories. Industry experts agree that Princeton’s forklift models are conducive to outdoor materials handling jobs, largely on account of their combination of brute strength and versatile maneuverability. Often seen in use at rubble-strewn construction sites, mining pits, or in lumber camps in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia, these tough-driving monsters know little in the way of terrain they can’t navigate.

While D.W. Lift Sales frequently boasts its fair share of Princetons, we are happy to announce that very soon, we will be featuring even more. We have entered into an agreement with a company that currently leases them (they have their own contract where they use them on behalf of a larger company). Once the company’s lease ends, these forklifts will end up in D.W. Sales lots throughout the country. We anticipate nine to ten different models, available as early as mid-April.

Easily lifted onto a flatbed truck, a Princeton forklift is the ideal platform for getting a tough job done efficiently and without unnecessary strain. Heavy construction, mining, and lumber are all tough acts to follow, let alone thrive in. Princeton forklifts almost make it look easy.

A New Fleet of Compactor Trucks Is Coming Down the Pipeline

Not only is D.W. Lift Sales in the business of selling trucks, trailers, and forklifts, we also have a strong inventory as far as trash compactor trucks. Here’s the scoop: a well-known company is leasing a sizable fleet of Mack and Volvo compactor trucks for its own clean-up and maintenance purposes. As the contract stipulates, once the lease on these trucks runs out, D.W. Lift Sales is slated to buy the whole lot of them. We envision these compactor trucks as being perfect for mom-and-pop compaction operations, as well as company and/or university facility maintenance throughout the Midwest and beyond.

As we mentioned before, the sorts of compactor trucks we offer are Mack and Volvo trucks. The Mack compactor trucks are Mack MR 688S models. Currently we field three of them, but we anticipate 20-30 more of them coming our way, several at a time, in the coming years. We also currently stock a single 2000 Volvo WX 64 compactor truck. Known for their endurance against wear-and-tear and rough weather conditions, these cost-effective workhorses could well be the make-or-break addition to anyone’s maintenance fleet. Have yourself a look on our website, and bring one (or three) of them back to your heavy equipment garage today.