The Dallas Cowboys has teamed up with Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas (Logisnext) and Darr Equipment, the Official Lift Truck Provider of the Dallas Cowboys since 2009, to continue to transform its material handling processes at the AT&T Stadium, The Star in Frisco and Merchandising Distribution and Sales Center. Currently there are over 50 Cat® ...

They say variety is the spice of life - and that's certainly true when it comes to material handling forklifts and forklift attachments. Although the basics of a lift truck are pretty similar across the board, since the material we handle varies quite a bit, the forklift attachments do, as well. For example, someone who moves a bale of hay isn't go...

Darr Equipment & Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas, manufacturer of Cat® Lift Trucks, announced that they will collectively will again return as the Official Lift Truck provider for the 2023 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™.

The joint effort marks the 19^th consecutive year, Darr Equipment Co and Cat® Lift Truck will help play a critical role in the production of the world largest rodeo and livestock exhibition. We would like to thank all of our Darr team members for their continued commitment and hard work in making this event a success every year as noted in Material Handling Wholesaler:Read the full article

Driven to provide an exceptional customer experience, Darr Equipment Co is once again the proud recipient of the Mitsubishi Logisnext Americas’ Dealers of Excellence Award for 2023.

More than a sales award, the Dealer of Excellence encompasses a dedication to go above and beyond in equipment expertise and customer satisfaction. We would like to thank all the Darr team for their commitment to delivering excellence and being recognized by trade publications such as Modern Material Handling:

Read the full article

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s only appropriate that we introduce you to our “heart of line” forklifts. To us, our heart of line material handling forklifts include the products that we stand behind - and beside. We’ve been around the material handling and distribution center warehouse industry for a minute - actually more than 65 years of minutes to be more exact. And in that time, we’ve come to know a few things about the industry equipment that we handle - and some that we don’t handle. But our customers understand that we won’t be partnering with any company that we don’t proudly support. So, without further ado, here are the lines of equipment that have our hearts - now that’s a Valentine’s Day gift!

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America

Based in Houston, Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America (MCFA) is the leading manufacturer and distributor of one of our favorite forklift brands, CAT lift trucks. In 1992, heavy-hitters Mitsubishi and Caterpillar joined forces, which resulted in the powerhouse known as MCFA. MCFA puts out three brands: Mitsubishi, CAT and another of our favorites, Junheinrich (more on that later).

CAT lift trucks have a long and storied history. The company has been manufacturing top-of-the-line forklifts since a man named Lester Sears in Cleveland decided to adapt a farm tractor to handle industrial tasks more than 80 years ago. Turns out he was a pretty smart guy, since many of his adaptations are still in use today in the material handling forklift business. Caterpillar acquired Sears’ company in 1965 and they’ve never looked back.

The CAT name is synonymous with quality material handling products. If you’re looking for an internal combustion or electric forklift, there’s one in the CAT line with your name on it.

Applications: Manufacturing, distribution, warehousing, material handling, food and beverage

Welcome to 2023! If you are like us, you always go into a new year with a refreshed outlook on personal and professional goals. Maybe you were not able to accomplish everything you planned for 2022, but now there’s a chance to incorporate those unfinished goals into a new plan for 2023. The question is: Where to start?

As we approach this year’s holiday season, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our family, friends, partners and customers for another great year. 

As we reflect on the year that is passing and make plans for the one approaching, we’d like to remind everyone reading this that our hearts are full, our gratitude to God and our community is immense and that you are all considered family. It’s true that we are a big team, but the way we approach our business and our philanthropy goes beyond the word “team” and encompasses all of you as family.

 

The Darr Name and Promise

As many of you know, Darr Equipment Co was born on January 1, 1954 - the dream of our founder Hal S. Darr. Hal envisioned providing a comfortable living to his employees while making meaningful contributions to his community and his industry. We think we’ve done that in so many ways, but we also know that we can never quit striving to improve. We won’t ever be finished when it comes to finding new - and proven - ways to build up our family of employees and customers.

At this time, we are on our fourth generation of leadership committed to delivering innovative equipment, advanced material handling systems and unparalleled customer service. We continue to celebrate our mission:

Is anybody in the material handling and distribution center warehouse industry looking for a brand new forklift under the tree this holiday season? Are you busy making your “wish list” for new (or new-to-you) material handling equipment for the new year’s budget? Let’s take a look at one of the options that made the manager’s list for equipment that boosts efficiency and productivity in your operations.

This year, we are looking at the Jungheinrich Class 2, or electric motor narrow aisle trucks, as the machine we want to see with a big bow on it this holiday season! Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to find your warehouse maximum operating potential, what we call MaxOP, you are no doubt utilizing narrow aisles. After all, taking material handling and Distribution Center warehouse space to its highest possible use means taking advantage of all available answers, including narrow aisle solutions. The Jungheinrich Class 2 forklift is designed to help you optimize your narrow aisle warehouse space.

Let’s get started!

What is Warehouse Narrow Aisle Optimization?

With the growth in e-commerce came a need for many material handling and DC warehouse companies to find more space to store products and goods. At the same time, it seems, property values shot up all around the country, so not only was it more expensive to purchase or lease new warehouse space, in many cases, it simply wasn’t available even if we could afford it. With that new reality in the fulfillment center industry, we began casting about for new ways to make use of available storage. In many cases, this meant going vertical and reducing the sizes of aisles to maximize the space we had.

In so doing, those in the material handling world started incorporating new ways to organize the warehouse, including:

• Innovative floor and racking storage
• Racking in single or multi-position systems
• Narrow aisle specific equipment, including pickers, stackers and more

These solutions are meant to allow us to utilize vertical space, create new space and lift throughput to new levels. Much of this can be accomplished without a huge initial investment and the ROI can be phenomenal.

How Jungheinrich Class 2 Can Help

A leading company in the intralogistics industry, Jungheinrich has been innovating solutions for material handling warehouses since 1953. Besides designing equipment and services to help give your company the competitive edge, Jungheinrich is the supplier of some great narrow aisle solutions.

It’s probably safe to say that all businesses focused on growing profits want to save money any way they can. In the material handling and distribution center warehouse industry, we face huge expenditures on upgrading our forklifts and other equipment, labor costs, new technology and finding affordable fulfillment solutions. What if there was one simple way we could save some money on our taxes every year?

Using the words “simple” and “taxes” in the same sentence may seem like an oxymoron, but let’s take a look at a tax situation we may be able to take advantage of to save some money. As with all things taxes, Section 179 has some pros and some cons. Most of us understand that when Uncle Sam offers a “tax break”, there’s usually a caveat in the system somewhere. However, using Section 179 in the material handling and DC warehouse industry can help some of us purchase needed equipment.

Let’s take a look.

What is Section 179?

Section 179 is a part of the IRS tax code. Basically, it allows businesses of a certain size to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying items in one tax year, rather than deducting smaller amounts for depreciation over the number of years that item has usefulness.

Section 179 is designed to stimulate the economy by encouraging businesses to purchase qualified depreciable assets. These assets are supposed to help a business grow by giving them the tools necessary to keep up with their competition - and even surpass them. On the other side of the coin, manufacturers and retailers benefit when their goods and wares are purchased. Win-win, right?

It would certainly seem so since Section 179 was introduced in 2002 as an economic stimulant and hasn’t gone away - yet. In fact, in 2017 and again in 2021, significant changes were made to Section 179 which still apply to this day. These changes opened the door for more businesses to qualify for the tax break, as well as increased the amount we could spend to qualify.

Although Section 179 is still available for tax year 2022, we never know from year to year if it will still be in effect for the next year.

What are the Rules of Section 179?

As with anything given to us by the federal government, there are rules to Section 179. There are probably more rules in tiny print and legalese that only a tax attorney can understand, but here are the basics:

• Companies who purchase or lease less than $2 million in business equipment can use Section 179.
• Eligible equipment includes most equipment a qualifying company uses to do business, including new and used machinery, computers and software, furniture, property improvements and more.
• The total amount that can be deducted is $1,080,000.
• Eligible equipment can be new or used and can be purchased, leased or financed.
• Eligible items must be in use before Dec. 31, 2022.
• Eligible items must be used at least 50% of the time for the company.
• Companies cannot deduct more than their net taxable company income.

Here are some of the items that are not allowed under Section 179:

• Real property
• Property used outside the U.S.
• Gifts or inheritance equipment

These are just a few. There are most likely more. As with any tax-related issue, you should always consult with a business tax professional.

So far, so good. Easy, right? For those of us who are not tax accountants, what exactly does all this mean and what are the benefits of expensing a new or used item rather than counting the depreciation year after year?

In many respects, the material handling and distribution center warehouse industry is all about moving goods and products from one place to another. We use a variety of personnel, vehicles and equipment to accomplish that task. And inside our warehouses and yards, we use the appropriate means for efficiently carrying different items from one place to another. Whether you have a large warehouse or a smaller operation, making use of the right kind of utility vehicle is often the answer to saving money and time.

Typically, we talk to the material handling and DC warehouse industry, but utility vehicles find a place in a large variety of applications, so we’ll touch on a few of those, too. Utility vehicles are a versatile and economical way to solve challenges involving moving people and things from one place to another.

Some of the benefits that utility vehicles bring to the table include:

• Being the original electric vehicles - most utility vehicles were running on electric power before electric was cool, so they are a green (and cheap) method of transport.
• Saving time - utility vehicles will move that cargo much faster than your picker or forklift and for many items such as drums, other than carrying, it’s the best and quickest way to get from one place to another.
• Saving workers - speaking of moving that drum from one end of the warehouse to the other, your workers will thank you if they can load it on a burden carrier rather than become the burden carrier themselves.
• Moving items over rough terrain - if you don’t need a rough terrain forklift for the job, some utility vehicles can easily handle moving items (and people) over rough terrain.

These are just a few of the ways that utility vehicles can help answer challenges. There are a wide variety of applications that can make use of these helpers.

Utility Vehicle Applications

Most industries can find a use for utility vehicles. They are a cost-effective and green way to answer many of the demands of moving people and items from one place to another.

Material Handling and DC Warehouse

Sometimes it’s hard enough for warehouse and manufacturing employees to just find what they need to do a job. Depending on the accuracy and conscientiousness of the worker who put it away, a worker may walk around a large warehouse looking for something for a good while. Having a utility vehicle to move that worker from place to place will cut down on the time they spend searching. And depending on the size of the item, he or she will get it to where it needs to go much faster if they can load it on a burden carrier.

Large Buildings with People, such as Convention Center and Educational Sites

This category comprises convention centers, universities and other places that include a large amount of ground to be covered and people that need to cover it. Utility vehicles also include people movers, so you can take a group from one place to another much quicker. It’s especially handy if there are numerous groups that need to cover some ground, since you can make multiple trips on one battery charge.

Construction and Agriculture

Whether you have a crew on an apartment building construction site or you are a farmer that needs to feed the cattle, a utility vehicle can move in and out of places much faster and cheaper than a traditional pickup truck. Utility vehicles come in a variety of capacities and strengths, some are built to handle more rugged conditions.

Aviation and Other Ground Support

Whether moving around an airport tarmac or moving people through an airport terminal, utility vehicles are designed to cover a lot of ground quickly and quietly. Carrying supplies in a crowded and congested situation becomes much more efficient when you can maneuver in and out of gridlocked areas.

These are just a few of the examples of industries where the utility vehicle can save money and time, while optimizing efficiency. As mentioned, there are utility vehicles for just about every application.

A Look at the Taylor-Dunn Lineup 

Taylor-Dunn has been an expert in the utility vehicle industry for more than 70 years. With the ability to offer a lineup of vehicles for a large number of industries, Taylor-Dunn also has the capability to customize when it's necessary. At Darr Equipment, we are proud to partner with Taylor-Dunn. Here is a sampling of what we have to offer.

In the material handling and distribution center warehouse industry, it isn’t strange that we are constantly thinking in terms of “up”. We live in a world of “lift” trucks. We need to have reach trucks and stackers. Our storage units generally go “up” in the form of racking and when we look for more space, we sometimes find it in a vertical mindset. And there are occasions when we need equipment that will reach high points in the warehouse or go even further. And that’s when we turn to specialized equipment. When our material handling job means we must reach places inaccessible to most equipment, that’s when we bring out the aerial lift equipment, in the form of scissor lifts, boom lifts and aerial work platforms.

What exactly is aerial lift equipment? The term means anything that has the capability of lifting some sort of platform for workers in the air. Let’s examine some types of aerial lift equipment.

Scissor Lifts 

Got beautiful floor to ceiling windows in your new car dealership? A scissor lift is the perfect solution to clean those windows near the ceiling. Since scissor lifts only move vertically, the uses are limited. However, the stability and work platform make the scissor lift a good choice for interior work, regular cleaning and repairing of exteriors and some construction operations. The scissor lift is a stable and safer choice for many applications. There are three types of scissor lifts, including:

• Slab Scissor Lift - Capable of extending up to 46-ft and holding up to 1,200-lbs, this equipment operates best on a flat and stable surface.
• Rough Terrain Scissor Lift - Capable of operating in less optimum conditions, this equipment can extend to 59-ft and hold up to 1,500 lbs.
• Single Man - Like it says, this equipment is light and extremely portable, perfect for the handyman working around schools and churches, with a reach of up to 46-ft and load of up to 500 lbs.

Boom Lifts 

Boom lifts are able to reach up to 170-ft and unlike the scissor lift, can go up and around or over obstacles. Similar to the scissor in that the purpose is to put a worker or work crew to a height, the platform on the boom lift may not be as spacious as the scissor, since workers must be aware of the tipping danger. You’ll find this equipment attached to a grounded base or extending from a truck or van. There are two types of boom lifts, including:

• Straight (Telescopic) Boom Lift - When you need to reach the highest of highs, the straight boom is the equipment for the job. Considered more stable than a boom that moves out, over and around, this boom only goes straight up. Due to its stable nature, it can reach heights of 185-ft, the highest of all aerial lift equipment. If your job calls for putting workers high up and holding them there, your straight boom is the equipment you need.
• Articulating Boom Lift - Articulating booms won’t go quite as high as the straight boom, but sometimes you need agility and maneuverability at heights and that’s where the articulating boom comes in. Excellent for moving over and around obstacles, this equipment can reach up to 140-ft and carry a payload of up to 1,000-lbs.

Telehandlers

When you need to combine your material handling forklift with your telescopic boom, you are describing the telehandler. These versatile pieces of equipment can take a load from inside a trailer and raise it up, as well as letting the operator place it precisely where it needs to go. Flexibility with the ability to work in a rugged environment make this equipment perfect for heavy-duty operations. There are two types of telehandlers, including:

• Telescopic Telehandler - When you need to go up and down and in and out, this will be your choice. Rated for up to 55-ft and 12,000 lbs, this equipment puts the productivity of a crane, a forklift and a boom in your hands.
• Rotating Telehandler - Just as the name promises, you’ll get all the capabilities of the regular telescopic but with the ability to move 360 degrees for wider area servicing.

Let’s take a closer look at where we might find people using aerial lift equipment in the material handling industry.

Aerial Lift Equipment in Industries

Just as in other forms of material handling and DC warehouse equipment, such as forklifts, there is a wide variety of aerial lift equipment available to answer specific challenges in an assortment of industries and applications.

Aerial work platforms come in an assortment of sizes and weights. The lightest of aerial work platforms can be brought in and set up by one person, meaning your all-around handyman can use this piece of equipment to go places where ladders cannot. With scissor lifts, boom lifts and mast lifts in the aerial work platform space, there is a piece of equipment for every application. This includes:

• Warehouses - You wouldn’t think changing a light bulb would be any big deal. But when that lightbulb is 36-ft in the air, your typical ladder isn’t going to do. A scissor lift could get your man that high, but what if the bulb is located over a racking set-up? Since a scissor lift only goes vertically, you’ll need something that can go up and then out - or over - or around, such as an articulating boom.
• Construction - There are just as many places where aerial lift equipment shines in construction as there are types of things being constructed. Airport and highway construction teams need a variety of telescoping and articulating booms, while the interior of an apartment building can use a scissor lift for painting and other applications. Some construction sites call for rugged equipment, such as a rough terrain scissor lift or a diesel-powered boom.
• Agriculture - Agriculture calls for a variety of aerial lift equipment usages, especially lifting heavy loads up and into a precise placement, perfect for the telehandlers.
• Energy - Whether servicing a power station or a downed power line, checking on a malfunctioning wind turbine or working at an oil refinery, aerial lift equipment, including booms and telehandlers, has a place in the energy industry.

There are many more industries that employ this specialized aerial lift equipment. Due to its nature, aerial lift equipment calls for specialized safety training and ongoing work safety checks.

Going Up? Darr Equipment Can Help

At Darr Equipment, we partner with JLG and Genie aerial lift equipment, two names with stellar reputations in the material handling industry. Contact us today for help with your aerial lift equipment needs.

Most of you have probably been inside a warehouse that made you want to take a shower after leaving. The dust in the air - coming from outside and from old boxes sitting on sagging warehouse shelves - the dirt and oil stains on the floor and maybe an old push broom in the corner. Grimy paper logs and old coffee rings. You can see the dust motes and you can feel the mold. It’s enough to send anyone into a sneezing fit.

Most of us in the material handling and DC warehouse space have learned a couple of things since those days. A dirty, grimy warehouse leads to many negative scenarios, including:

• The increased possibility of a workplace accident or workplace injury
• The increased breakdowns of expensive equipment
• The increased problems with new (and expensive) technology

Why do these things happen in a dirty warehouse? Let’s take a look at how dirt and grime can affect your operations in a negative way - and how best practices for commercial floor cleaning can help.

Increased Accidents & Other Employee Hazards

Because it’s the most important impact a dirty warehouse has on operations, let’s talk about the effect on your employees first. How does keeping things clean affect workplace safety in your material handling or DC warehouse? You’ve heard of slips, trips and falls, right? How about upper respiratory infections? How are these menaces optimized by a messy, dirty situation? It’s not hard to visualize.

If your floors are oily and/or greasy from forklift leaks and exhaust, they can become slippery. If there is dust buildup on your floors, that can also be slippery. If there are things left in the aisles, people can trip. A small pool of water can cause a slip.

With the acquisition of S&L Liftmasters in 2020, Darr Equipment Company successfully extended their family-owned and long-running material handling equipment dealership into South Texas. S&L Liftmasters was a perfect fit for the Dallas-based Darr Equipment, since both companies have stellar reputations in the material handling industry in their respective areas, as well as both being family-run enterprises with decades of service in their communities.

With this acquisition, Darr extended its service territory into the South Texas market. Because both companies operated with similar tenets - to offer only the highest of standards of excellence - the merge was smooth and existing customers did not experience any disruption of the service they’ve come to know and depend on in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

Darr Equipment is offering the same level of quality material handling equipment and service in South Texas as the company has been known for in the North Texas and Oklahoma market for years.

Commitment to Satisfaction

Darr Equipment offers all the same material handling and distribution center warehouse needs as customers in South Texas are used to - and more. With equipment and services designed to answer challenges across many industries, Darr Equipment offers solutions to many different applications, including:

• Distribution Center Warehouse
• Construction
• Shipping
• Manufacturing
• Agriculture
• Dockyards
• Recycling
• Many more!

After more than 65 years of serving the industry, Darr Equipment has the experience to offer customer solutions that won’t break the bank.

For the ninth year in a row, the International Truck Association (ITA) will mark National Forklift Safety Day. This year, the event will be on June 14 - in person at the National Press Club in Washington, DC and virtually. Many of those in the material handling industry will be marking the important date, as well. Forklift safety has to be of primary importance to the operations of all material handling and distribution center warehouses. If we aren’t part of the solution of improving safety in all of our equipment applications, then we are part of the problem.

Grim Safety Statistics

As part of the US Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the governmental agency in charge of setting safety standards and laws for all industries that employ forklifts.

The ITA estimates there are roughly 856,000 forklifts in the US and OSHA puts the number of forklift fatalities in any given year at around 85, the number of serious injuries at 35,000 and non-serious injuries at 62,000. That works out to 11 percent of all forklifts will be involved in at least one type of accident in a year.

Most forklift accidents can be attributed to crushing when a forklift rolls over, crushing when a worker gets in between two pieces of equipment and struck or run over by a forklift. With today’s improved forklift training, as well as new forklift safety features, forklift fatalities and injuries may one day be a thing of the past.

There’s nothing quite like a shiny new piece of expensive material handling equipment. After all, brand new forklifts have all the latest bells and whistles. But there’s something to be said for finding a good used forklift, too. If you take the necessary steps to make sure you’re getting a forklift that’s been treated right, you won’t be disappointed. And for a lot less money, you’ll get a forklift that’s new to you and can give you plenty of time in the material handling warehouse before you have to go shopping again.

Just like with buying anything used, it’s a good thing to do your due diligence. You’ll want to make sure you are trading with a material handling dealer that you know and trust. Although you may be able to trust a friend - or even a friend of a friend, buying an expensive piece of equipment, such as a forklift, from a total stranger is asking for trouble.

If possible, shop local. In most cases, your local market will have some used forklifts available. Hopefully, you’ve already cultivated those relationships to some degree, but if not, looking for a used forklift is a great way to strike up a new friendship and partnership. Plus, you’ll most likely be paying some delivery fees for your “new” forklift, so choosing to buy from someone close can save you a ton of money.

If possible, you’ll want to have a trusted mechanic take a look at the inner workings, especially if you are buying from someone other than a trusted dealership. There are some visuals you can do yourself (more on that later), but it doesn’t hurt to bring a technician with you.

Understanding the material handling and distribution center warehouse industry at its deepest level is what enables a solid equipment and solutions distributor to stay at the top of the game. At Darr Equipment Co, we like to say this “ain’t our first rodeo” when it comes to providing equipment assessments and recommendations to our clients. After all, we’ve been doing this since 1954.

In today’s world, it’s hard to keep up with the rapid and changing pace of business in an ever-growing e-commerce arena. But that’s what you are good at and why your material handling and DC warehouse is not only still competing, but winning. Surrounding yourself with the right people goes a long way.

It’s also hard to keep up with all of the changes and innovations happening in material handling equipment technology. That’s why it’s just as important to surround yourself with a team of equipment solutions experts who can monitor that for you and make recommendations for pain point relief in your warehouse.

Those who tend to succeed in their endeavors are those who know how to delegate. When it comes to finding solutions to your application challenges, turn to those who make it their business to understand what’s out there and exactly how it helps modern material handling and DC warehouse operations.

Everybody is Different

You might be in the same business as plenty of competitors, but your operation is unique to you. There will be areas where things are similar and we all share some of the same challenges, like workforce shortages. But even with those similarities, your material handling and DC warehouse concern is still going to have different issues than your neighbor’s warehouse. You need to find a solutions provider that knows how to listen, comprehend and then make suggestions for your specific work flow.