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Is Your Business Missing These 3 Material Handling SOPs?

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As any business grows, it’s necessary to add new standard operating procedures along the way.  In warehousing, delivery, logistics, or any business that uses material handling tools, SOPs that define best practices for using those tools can help keep employees safe and productive. As your business expands and your team continues to rely on dolly carts and hand trucks, here are a few material handling SOPs to consider. Schedule Regular Equipment Inspections Even the most durable, well-built material handling tools are subject to wear and tear. This equipment is used every day, so its condition can affect employee safety and efficiency. Routine inspection SOPs help keep equipment in working order. Put together an inspection checklist for each piece of equipment. It can include everything from checking bolts to brakes. Comply with the Load Limits of Each Material Handling Tool  All material handling tools have load limits. Exceeding this limit can result in pote...

How Can White-Glove Delivery Teams Deal with Awkward Entry Points?

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When it comes to protecting delivery items and providing clients with an authentic white-glove experience, awkward entry points can be a problem. These entry points can hinder a smooth delivery and make even experienced delivery professionals look less prepared. Thankfully, there are ways to address these awkward entry points, including using material handling tools like a powered stair climbing dolly . Here’s what you need to know. Moving Up or Down Stairs Even the most experienced delivery professionals dread stairs. Whether it’s a white-glove delivery to a third-floor apartment or down to a basement business, stairs can pose a real challenge.  A powered stair climbing dolly can change that, helping your delivery driver move loads up and down stairs with more control. All they need to do is load the item, activate the stair-climbing action, and stay in an ergonomic position.  Turning Into Tight Corners Tight corners can make it difficult to deliver large item...

3 Things to Review Before Ordering New Material Handling Tools

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Is it time to update your material handling fleet? From the tools your delivery drivers use on their routes to the equipment your warehouse workers rely on to keep inventory organized, there are a few things you need to review. Would an upgraded aluminum hand truck dolly impact operations, or are workflow optimizations needed? Here are a few things to consider.  Equipment Wear and Tear First, check for wear and tear. Worn equipment can slow employees down and make daily tasks less efficient. Is there sufficient damage or wear and tear to justify replacing a tool entirely? A high-quality, durable collapsible hand cart will last for years with proper maintenance, making it a worthwhile investment. If your tools have seen better days and are hindering your team’s workflows, it’s worth upgrading your fleet.  Is It Better to Repair? Maybe the tool isn’t completely worn out and needs some repairs. Even so, some equipment is easier to repair than others. Equipping your...

Can Better Equipment Help Reduce Employee Wear and Tear?

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Material handling is a physically demanding industry. Everything from warehousing to last-mile delivery can take a toll on the personnel involved. However, teams can reduce physical wear and tear by using better equipment. This can help support lower turnover rates and higher productivity. What is “better”equipment? It’s equipment purpose-built for common material handling jobs and scenarios, like durable, versatile dolly carts for industrial use . It’s equipment that’s well-balanced and designed with safety, efficiency, and ergonomics in mind.  Here are a few reasons it’s worth investing in more specialized, capable material handling equipment.  Repetitive Tasks Are Less Tiring Material handling jobs of any kind can lead to daily and cumulative strain. Certain repetitive tasks that involve lifting, twisting, and reaching are common culprits. There are a number of tools that make repetitive tasks easier on the body, including hand dolly models with key ergonomi...

Why Are Magliner Hand Trucks Synonymous with Quality?

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For more than 75 years, Magliner tools have been synonymous with quality. If you get a Magliner 2 wheel dolly, you know it will do the job, do it well, and stick with you for years to come. But why has this brand earned that reputation? Here are a few reasons why material handling professionals choose Magliner hand trucks and why you should too. Equip your employees with Magliner material handling tools at https://www.magliner.com/ Contact Magliner at (866) 329-4737 Made to Last Magliner material handling equipment is built to last. When you equip your employees with Magliner dolly carts for industrial use , you get durable workhorses that they can count on day in and day out. Whether it’s a warehouse loading dock on a rainy day or a final mile delivery in the snow, a Magliner hand truck will keep going. Tackle a Variety of Tasks Across the entire lineup, versatility is in the DNA of Magliner material handling tools. From deliveries to warehouse work, even the class...

3 Small Workflow Changes That Contribute to Warehouse Efficiency

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Making minor changes to warehouse workflow can have a major impact on efficiency. It comes down to identifying areas for improvement. Are the slowdowns due to suboptimal traffic flow? Do teams have the right material handling tools for specific jobs? These kinds of issues often require simple fixes that improve efficiency across the board. For example, a team may be using the wrong material handling tool because the correct one isn’t on site. Investing in a heavy duty hand cart may solve the issue. If you want to improve the efficiency of your warehouse team, consider making these three small workflow changes. Implement a One-Way System to Improve Warehouse Traffic Flow One of the most common sources of warehouse slowdowns is inconsistent traffic flow. One team may be getting in the way of another. This can lead to wasted time and backups in different areas of the warehouse. A simple solution is to switch to a one-way, looped system. This solution requires little to no ch...

How Appliance Hand Trucks Help Crews Move Bulky Items with More Control

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There are a number of 2 wheel moving dolly options on the market suited to various purposes, including beverage and parcel transport. But when you’re moving larger, bulkier items, namely appliances, a heavy duty hand truck makes a major difference. Dedicated appliance hand trucks give crews greater control when moving large items such as stoves, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. That control can result in a safer and more efficient user experience and a more positive customer experience. If you manage, move, or deliver appliances, here’s a closer look at why appliance hand trucks are worth the investment. Appliance Hand Trucks with Fourth Wheel Options Offer More Stability Under the umbrella of “appliance hand trucks,” there’s a subcategory that comes with a fourth wheel attachment. This attachment gives the heavy duty hand truck trolley two primary configurations: two-wheel mode and four-wheel mode. This attachment is neatly stored behind the dolly's frame, above...

How Better Material Handling Tools Support Smaller, Cross-Trained Teams

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When you have a small, cross-trained team handling the day-to-day operations of your third-party logistics firm, last-mile delivery company, or similar business, you do what you can to support their productivity. It can mean investing in cost-effective tools, such as adaptable, high-quality dolly carts , rather than adding personnel, since hiring and training are significant expenses for small businesses. The right material handling tools can help small teams handle tasks more efficiently on their own, avoiding the productivity bottlenecks that come with team-based moves. How can the right material handling tools support your small team? Here are a few things to know. Adaptable Material Handling Tools Make a Difference Many professionals are familiar with traditional dollies. With two wheels, a straight frame, and a weight capacity of 500 pounds, they can handle a variety of tasks. However, sometimes a more specialized, adaptable tool is necessary. Adaptable tools, such ...

How the Right Hand Trucks Can Improve All-Day Stamina

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Long delivery days are taxing. Your team needs to deliver dozens of packages or items, and the back-and-forth between the truck and the delivery location can be exhausting. However, the work needs to be done, and the more efficient your team is, the better it is for your business. It might be time to shop hand truck carts that can improve safety and preserve team stamina. Keep Your Team Moving Carrying heavy boxes all day can be exhausting. Your crew’s delivery tasks can be made much easier, faster, and less tiring with the right tools. Stack items on a hand truck, and your crew can quickly move them into position without the physical wear of carrying loads by hand. If storage is a concern, consider equipping your team with a collapsible hand cart that can be easily stowed in tight spaces in the delivery vehicle. Get the Job Done in Fewer Trips Repeat trips to and from the delivery vehicle can be inefficient and physically taxing. Instead of carrying a single box by hand, ...

How Can You Create a More Professional Delivery Experience?

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When your employees make a delivery, especially white-glove deliveries, you want them to present a professional appearance. Whether they’re using a lightweight 2 wheel dolly for smoother movements or eliminating awkward team lifts, looking the part is often about making the job appear easy, clean, and effortless. Here are a few tips to elevate the delivery experience for both your crew and customers. Improve Movements Carrying a box by hand can be awkward and look unprofessional. It’s not efficient and introduces unnecessary risk. Instead, utilize a hand truck, even if your crew member thinks they can carry the item by hand. Before entering the home, ensure the route to the final delivery area is clear. If necessary, put down a carpet or floor protector. After that, stack multiple boxes on an aluminum hand truck dolly and quickly wheel them into place. Eliminate Awkward Team Lifts In a similar vein, team lifts can often come across as unprofessional. They can be awkwa...

How to Address the “Middle Moves” Slowing Down Your Business

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Plenty of tasks stand between the dock and the shelf. Whether it’s unloading, staging, or finally getting the items from the backroom to the store floor, there are hidden delays to contend with. The right hand truck carts can help your team cut those delays at every stage. By eliminating these bottlenecks, your team will be more productive and efficient, which can impact your bottom line. More Efficient Unloading Unloading a truck and moving items into the backroom one at a time is slow and ties up labor. Equipping your team with an aluminum hand dolly can make the job much faster. Your team can stack items on the hand truck and wheel them straight from the truck into the backroom for storage until it is time to move products to the shelves. Using hand trucks speeds up the process and frees up labor. Establish where items are going and give your team clear routes so they aren't crossing paths. Unloading moves faster when the workflow is mapped out. Setting Up Planogr...

How Can You Customize a Magliner Hand Truck?

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Are you looking for custom tools to fit your team’s needs? With Magliner hand trucks, you can customize your fleet of material handling tools to perfectly match your team’s daily work. Whether you choose to Design Your Own Magliner from the ground up or you swap out certain parts on a pre-built model, here’s how material handling teams choose to customize their Magliner hand trucks. Start customizing your own Magliner hand truck at https://www.magliner.com/ Get in touch with the team at 1-866-329-4737 Create the Right Customized Tool for Your Team How do your employees use hand trucks ? Do they use them for commercial deliveries? Do they move items around a warehouse? Are they white-glove delivery personnel? There are countless ways to customize a Magliner, and you can swap everything from the handle to the wheels. Plus, with options like the carton pusher kit, keg hook, and extractor handle, you can design a Magliner that perfectly fits your team’s needs. A vertical lo...

3 Effective Ways to Reduce Material Handling Strain

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Manual material handling is physically demanding. In many situations, from warehouse work to last-mile delivery, lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, and twisting are all part of the job. There are practical ways to reduce potential strain in manual handling situations. For a lot of businesses, it’s as simple as finding the right hand truck cart online to meet the physical demands of the job. Here are a few examples of how to reduce strain in material handling. Rely on a Hand Truck Purpose Built for Stairs Stairs are a common obstacle in material handling. Carrying a bulky or heavy load with an ordinary hand truck can be risky and may strain the operator as they maneuver up or down and respond to shifts in the load. A powered stair climbing dolly is purpose-built for these situations. A model with integrated motorized stair climbers keeps the process more controlled and predictable. Plus, this type of hand truck can be used as a standard two-wheel dolly. Incorporate a ...