Ford trucks ready to work harder and smarter than ever
Friday, April 11th, 2008
Ford trucks are about to start working smarter on the jobsite. Through innovative thinking and industry-first partnerships, customers of the brands popular work-trucks and work-vans will be able to experience enhanced connectivity and security on the go with the newly-announced Work Solutions.
It’s a name given to an umbrella of helpful features intended to help owners better run key aspects of their business. Ford says that four key technologies have been developed to meet the goal.
The first is an in-dash computer system that’s powered by Microsoft Auto and allows high-speed internet access right from the dashboard, using the Sprint Mobile network. Navigation is included with this feature- and it’s the first broadband-capable in-dash computer in production.
Customers can use it to access the internet virtually anywhere, as well as to print or store important information. There’s an SD card slot, a built-in stylus, and full Bluetooth connectivity.
The in-car computer puts a sensitive touch-screen to work in a tough environment that’s commonly filled with dirt and dust, but Ford promises that the system is held to the same standards as the rest of their truck.
The Tool Link system is available under Ford Work Solutions too. It uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags embedded within tools to display a real-time inventory of equipment that’s stored on board. RFID tags are very small and require no power source, as they’re “energized” by an external reader before emitting a signal. This allows a scanner to determine how many of the ‘tags’ are present in a given area without actually seeing or touching them. For Ford’s application, the system was developed with DEWALT tools and ThingMagic- an expert on embedded RFID technology.
“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.”
From keeping track of tools to keeping track of an entire fleet of vehicles is Crew Chief- a telematics and diagnostic system that allows owners to manage their machines more easily.
The system is tied into the vehicle electronics and can warn of undesirable situations like excessive idling or the presence of a check-engine light. Using a web-based application, owners can dispatch workers to job sites quickly while keeping detailed maintenance records on all of the trucks. Crew Chief can also help calculate fuel expenses and even alert the office if a truck is in an unauthorized area- and for how long. It’s a triumph of technology over excessive coffee-breaks.
Finally, a Cable Lock security system was developed with Master Lock and aims to discourage theft of expensive tools that are too large to fit in the cab of a truck.
A heavy-duty, ten-millimeter sheathed metal cable can be woven though large equipment that may have to stay in the vehicle’s box when it’s parked- like a tool-box or generator.
The cable can then be attached to anything else in the trucks box, the tie-down cleats, or even to itself, making sure that the larger items stay just where they were left.
According to Ford, these smart new features add a new dimension to the concept of a work-truck above and beyond payload ratings and maximum towing capacities. “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.”
