CHICAGO, March 3, 2009 – Ford further expands its ‘smart’ features for truck customers with a collection of industry-exclusive technologies for F-Series trucks and commercial E-Series vans that will help make business owners more productive and successful.

Ford Work Solutions™ delivers four innovative features:

-An in-dash computer developed with Magneti Marelli and powered by Microsoft Auto that provides full high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network, Bluetooth-enabled Hands Free Calling and navigation by Garmin. It is the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production. This system allows customers to print invoices, check inventories and access documents stored on their home or office computer networks – right on the job site.

-Tool Link, a Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system developed in partnership with DeWALT™, the industry leader in professional power tools, and ThingMagic, the industry expert on embedded RFID technology. This technology enables customers to maintain a detailed real-time inventory of the tools or equipment stored in the pickup box.
Crew Chief, a fleet telematics and diagnostics system, allows small fleet owners to efficiently manage their vehicles, quickly dispatch workers to job sites, monitor driver performance and keep detailed vehicle maintenance records.

-Cable Lock security system developed in partnership with Master Lock®, the industry-leading lock manufacturer, to discourage theft of expensive tools too large to fit in the cab.

“Our truck customers are smart and they work hard,” said Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas. “Ford Work Solutions provides truck customers new technologies and tools to help them work even smarter and further boost their productivity.”

F-Series has been the best-selling truck in America for 32 years. Two out of every five commercial trucks sold in the U.S. wear a Ford oval.

For years, truck capability has been measured in maximum towing and payload ratings. The new 2009 Ford F-150 builds on that kind of industry-leading capability, offering the most ‘smart’ features that make towing and hauling more flexible, easier and safer. Ford Work Solutions adds still another dimension of capability for commercial truck owners through partners like DeWALT, Microsoft, Garmin, Master Lock®, Magneti Marelli and Sprint.

“Ford Work Solutions takes productivity to a new level by bringing the office to the job site in an integrated, seamless way that only Ford could deliver – with a strong network of industry-leading partners,” said John Felice, general marketing manager, Ford Division.

Ford Work Solutions features were developed through hands-on research with contractors and skilled tradespeople in multiple markets around the country.

All four Ford Work Solutions technologies are available on the new 2009 Ford F-150 XL, STX, XLT trucks; F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks; and all 2009 E-Series vans. The 2010 Transit Connect van joins the lineup in mid-2009, and will be available with Ford Work Solutions in-dash offerings. Several of the features will be available at a later date for dealer installation to upgrade Ford Trucks already in service.

Online on the Job Site
Ford is delivering fully integrated mobile office functionality into Ford commercial trucks on the job site – an industry first.

An in-dash computer, developed with Magneti Marelli, transforms the new 2009 F-150 or F-Series Super Duty into true mobile offices, capable of linking into the business owner’s main office computer network or a home computer via a cellular broadband connection.

Users can access existing files on an office computer miles from the job site, open a word processing document, a spread sheet or their business accounting program, make updates and print them in the truck on an available Ford-certified, on-board, Bluetooth-enabled, battery-powered inkjet printer.

Powered by Microsoft Auto, the system provides high-speed Internet access via the Sprint Mobile Broadband Network. It works with Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, offering hands-free calling with push-to-talk voice recognition, access to user phonebooks and the ability to receive text messages.

The in-dash computer also includes navigation by Garmin, which comes standard with features like re-routing due to construction or traffic congestion and points of interest including local gas stations and their fuel prices, restaurants, Ford dealerships and Quick Lane Tire & Auto Centers.

The computer is integrated into the vehicle’s center stack, filling the same space normally occupied by the standard radio. It is equipped with a 6.5-inch, high-resolution touch screen, four gigabytes of memory, a secure digital slot for added memory, a USB port and a wireless keyboard and mouse. A stylus, stored next to the CD slot, is included for use on the touch screen.

Tracking Tools
Ford F-Series trucks offer customers the most flexible, most accessible pickup boxes in the industry, thanks to class-leading hauling capability, industry-exclusive features like tailgate
and box side steps – as well as a unique technology like Ford Work Solutions Tool Link.

Developed with DeWALT and ThingMagic, Tool Link offers owners the capability to mark and scan high-value tools, safety equipment, material inventories and other important assets using RFID tags. When the vehicle is running, a pair of RFID antennas, mounted in corrosion- and impact-resistant housings on the inside of the pickup box, scan the box for the items on a pre-programmed inventory list.

The data is transmitted to a reader mounted inside the cab and displayed on the in-dash computer screen, alerting the driver if any inventoried tools are not loaded on the truck.

“Tool Link increases productivity and saves money,” said William Frykman, Ford Work Solutions product and business development manager. “It helps contractors and tradespeople guarantee they show up at the job site with the right tools for each job, and that they don’t leave equipment behind.”

Tool Link comes pre-loaded with several standard tool lists that are easily edited to reflect specific job types. The system uses industry standard second-generation RFID tags that can be fastened to tools or other items and can read and catalogue hundreds of tools or assets in just seconds.

Manage the Crew
Fleet owners and managers often need to dispatch vehicles quickly for service calls. Ford Work Solutions Crew Chief provides them a telematics and diagnostics system that delivers real-time vehicle location and maintenance tracking, allowing them to quickly respond to calls and optimally deploy their fleets.

The data is linked to a web-based application, which can be used by a fleet administrator in an office or anywhere there is Internet access – including a Ford Work Solutions in-dash computer. As an added benefit, Crew Chief interfaces with the vehicle’s electrical architecture and can monitor numerous diagnostic functions, including tire pressure or check engine light codes. It also can be programmed to identify user-set alerts, such as unauthorized use of a vehicle or excessive idling.

The system also will provide fuel calculations and fuel tax reporting, helping fleet managers and business owners manage costs more effectively.

Master Lock Keeps Cargo Secure
“Secure, lockable storage is important for all customers,” said Frykman. “That’s why we worked with Master Lock to deliver the Cable Lock, a convenient way to secure items such as toolboxes, air compressors, generators or large power tools that may need to be in the pickup box when the vehicle is parked.”

The strong, eight-foot, 10-millimeter steel cable is wrapped in a protective plastic sheathing and is easily woven around toolbox handles or through and around items and then locked to the truck with a cuff-style clasp.

The clasp can be attached to any of the items in the box, any of the tie-down cleats, or simply clamped back onto the cable itself. The self-retractable cable is stored in a corrosion- and impact-resistant housing mounted to the inside wall at the rear of the pickup box. The unit is spring-loaded and uses a friction mechanism that will gently retract the cable when not in use. Cable Lock is easily installed on virtually any Ford pickup truck.

 

Awesome! Can't wait to buy a new Ford once college and bills are all done and paid for...

 

I have to tell you, this system is incredibly slick. After seeing it at the 2009 Ride & Drive event in Dearborn, I was absolutely sold. While it's not a system that, in my opinion, is for everyone, a general contractor or someone who is in and out of their box frequently with multiple 'high dollar' tools, this is a shoe-in. In fact, it's a no-brainer.

The option wasn't all that expensive when you consider the cost of leaving a couple of Makita drills behind on a jobsite -- or a circular saw -- or... well, you get the picture.

One push of a button and everything that has the RFID tag registered with the system and you assess everything that is in your box before you go to the site. Once there, you work. Once you're complete with your job, you hop back in your truck again, push the same button, and it'll tell you what is back there now and will compare to the start of the day. So, you left that $400 Dewalt case of tools behind at your site, you can jump out and go get them...

BTW, there was some word about FoMoCo offering this system as an aftermarket item. Still a bit early to see if it'll come through but, it may be a great item for someone who wants the feature but doesn't want to splurge on a 2009.

Also, the crew manager feature is kind of slick if you're managing a small fleet of trucks as you can track them, see fuel consumption, and keep track of who is where and how long. It was VERY simplistic and VERY smart for someone like a small business owner who has 8 or 10 trucks.

 

I have no need for it but if I did I would be all over it. I think its a brilliant idea.

 

Same for me. It's such a simple idea that it's amazing that no one has come out with such a system prior to this. The RFID tags are around a buck a piece and can be attached to anything from a $5000 kit of tools (or every individual tool in the kit if you're so inclined) down to a $1 hand trowel (and everything in between).

The way that it was demonstrated to me at the Ride & Drive was to hop in the truck, they pulled up a pre-set list for 'drywall tools'. That list was a pre-set but could easily be edited.

Once pulled up, the guy showed us how simple it was to make sure that you had all the tools associated with a 'drywall' job by simply pushing a couple of buttons. The system assessed what was in the bed and told the user what was missing (to be used BEFORE you leave the shop in the morning for the jobsite).

Then, once it was all pulled up, he asked one of us to go grab anything that we wanted out of the back of the truck and set it off to the side. A guy grabbed a Dewalt circular saw and sat it out. He then, again, pushed the button and - presto - the Circular saw came up as missing from the box on the screen in the cab of the truck.

Here's a picture of the RFID tags that were utilized at the ride & drive (very similar). They were laminated and appeared to likely be waterproof. As cheap as they are, you really didn't have to worry about them getting beat up as you could replace them very simplistically (I believe they just had them zip-tied to the tools -- or taped on the handles of hand tools).




Very cool stuff... so simple too.

 

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