5/31/19

2019 Ford Ranger: Tough Tested for Adventure | Ranger | Ford


Before making its U.S. comeback, the 2019 Ranger is being thoroughly tested in true Built Ford Tough fashion. Battling through extreme heat, frigid cold, and brutal terrain, the Ranger is always ready for an adventure.

5/29/19

DECKED Presents | Ultimate Storage, Maximum Function




DECKED designs and manufactures fully engineered, 100% American Made truck bed storage systems with a true 2000 lb payload and a steel subframe. The DECKED system will keep your tools and gear dry, secure and organized. #worksmarterplayharder For more info on DECKED visit https://decked.com/

5/27/19

Venco Venturo Industries, LLC Electric-Hydraulic Cranes 2019 NTEA




ET6K ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC CRANE Max. Capacity 2,000 lb - Crane Rating 6,000 ft-lb - Max. Reach 10 ft Min. Truck Size Needed (GVWR) Class 2 (8,000 lb)

 The Venturo ET6K service crane is a 6,000 ft.-lbs. crane with 2,000 lb. lifting capacity featuring electric winch, power rotation and hydraulic boom elevation with a single, manual extension up to 10 ft.

ET12KXP ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC CRANE Max. Capacity 3,500 lb, Crane Rating 12,000 ft-lb, Max. Reach 16 ft Min. Truck Size Needed (GVWR) Class 2 (8,800 lbs GVWR)

With a 12,000 FT-LB rating and a 3,500 LB maximum capacity, the ET12KXP can be installed on trucks with a minimum Class 2 (8,800 lbs GVWR). The ET12KXP features proportional control, single-stage full-hydraulic extension and a one-piece hexagonal boom for increased strength. This new crane features a 9′ – 16′ reach.

 ET12K(X) ELECTRIC-HYDRAULIC CRANE Max. Capacity 3,500 lb - Crane Rating 12,000 ft-lb - Max. Reach 15 ft Min. Truck Size Needed (GVWR) Class 2 (8,800 lb)

The Venturo ET12KX service crane is a versatile application that is neither too large or too small for a majority of lifting jobs. This crane has been utilized heavily in municipal/public works industry lifting anything from service equipment to fire hydrants throughout the United States.

 With a 12,000 FT-LB rating and a 3,500 LB maximum capacity, the ET12KX can be installed on trucks with a minimum 8,800 GVWR.

The ET12K(X) comes in two configurations; the ET12K offers two-stage manual boom extension, and the ET12KX offers single-stage hydraulic extension with a secondary manual boom extension.

5/25/19

Modular Van Interiors From Harbor Truck Body & Van



Warren with Harbor Truck Body and Van shows off the modular van interiors bin packages available for all types of commercial vans. See more at http://www.harbortruck.com

5/23/19

Transfer Flow 50 Gallon Replacement Tanks 2019 NTEA


REPLACEMENT FUEL TANKS Eliminate half your fuel stops and increase your driving range by replacing the stock fuel tank with a high-capacity Transfer Flow midship replacement fuel tank system that doesn’t sacrifice bed space or ground clearance.

5/21/19

SWITCH-N-GO 2019 NTEA



Switch-N-Go® is our detachable truck body system that can be installed on Class 4 – 7 medium-duty work trucks (11,000-26,000 GVW).

 We stock five unique body styles including Dump, Platform, Storage, Drop and Chipper boxes providing a fleet of job opportunities from a single truck.

 Body Interchangeability allows you to drop a box at one job site and drive to another job with equipment or materials maximizing your truck and labor investments. Also, the ground-level loading and unloading allows for faster and safer work! Loading a Fixed body truck takes longer and back related injuries are much more likely to occur.

5/19/19

Autonomy: Partnerships of sky and ground

What is likely to happen on the road to autonomous vehicles is partnerships between truck makers and tech companies.   

autonomous trucks

Sticking with the theme of disruption and transformation, nothing has the potential to be more disruption in the trucking industry than autonomous vehicles.

At a recent NationaLease meeting, guest speaker John Paul MacDuffie, professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, said that autonomy requires new hardware components and lots of AI software. Engineering talent will be one of the keys to its success along with the ability to get the system integration piece of the equation right. MacDuffie does not see technology firms jumping in to manufacture vehicles but rather, working on developing operating systems for autonomous vehicles.

We are already seeing incremental moves toward autonomy with some of the advanced driver assistance features that are available on trucks today. This includes things like collision mitigation and lane departure systems.

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has defined six levels of autonomy from zero (no automation) to 5 (full automation). MacDuffie believes there is a big leap in getting from Level 2 autonomy to Level 3.

Level 2, or partial automation, allows steering and acceleration and deceleration to be automated “using information about the driving environment…with the exception that the human driver perform all remaining aspects of the dynamic driving task,” according to the SAE definition. The human driver is tasked with monitoring the driving environment.

In Level 3, or conditional automation, the system monitors the driving environment while the driver will respond appropriately to a request by the system to intervene.

“Level 3 automation is particularly tricky,” MacDuffie said. How to safely transfer control from the computer to the driver, particularly in emergency situations, needs to be worked out. “[There has to be a] balancing act of providing drivers with the benefits of autonomy — like not having to pay attention — while ensuring they are ready to grab the wheel if the [vehicle] encounters something it can’t handle.”

What is likely to happen on the road to autonomous vehicles, according to MacDuffie, is partnerships between truck makers and tech companies — what he calls “partnerships of ‘sky’ and ‘ground.’”
He added, “The winning combination will succeed not just in meeting customer needs/wants, but also societal goals and expectations.”

SOURCE:  https://www.fleetowner.com/ideaxchange/autonomy-partnerships-sky-and-ground?NL=FO-02&Issue=FO-02_20190516_FO-02_185&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_4&utm_rid=CPENT000004488230&utm_campaign=24750&utm_medium=email&elq2=f9e997d742a94887aa813eec4c80d2e2

5/17/19

Kargo Master Demonstrates Aluminum Drawer Units – NTEA Show


David demonstrated Kargo Master’s Aluminum Drawer Units. They’re 52 inches deep, light and right weighted, easy to assemble and easy to install. They yield a lower installed cost to the dealer. Innovative plastic tote holders finish this impressive set of store-all drawers. There is also an integrated wing kit which is a big-time saver as opposed to a bolt-on kit and is used by major rental truck fleets.

5/15/19

Gas vs. Diesel: Which To Spec

Gas vs. Diesel Blog

Today’s comprehensive selection of commercial vehicle engines offers many benefits to customers.

A myriad of choices enable customers to select the engine that best fits their application without sacrificing torque, fuel efficiency, horsepower and more.

While the vast engine choices create additional value, it can also create a dilemma when it comes to properly spec’ing the engine for the intended application of the vehicle. Purchasers may be overwhelmed by the selection and consequently choose an engine that doesn’t best fit the requirements. Over spec’ing and under spec’ing are common mistakes, leading to lost efficiency, productivity or a longer return on investment period.

Within the last few years, commercial vehicle manufacturers have vastly increased engine choices. The most notable additions have been diesel engines within several Class 1 light duty pickups and gasoline engines within Class 6 and Class 7 medium duty trucks. While gasoline engines still dominate Class 1 and diesel engines make up the majority of Class 6 and Class 7, these new engine choices make the decision much more analytical than ever before.

So how do you know which engine is right for the job? There are many factors to consider as it pertains to the engine when in the market for a new commercial vehicle.

Cost
Commercial vehicles would all be perfect if cost didn’t need to be factored into the equation.

Unfortunately, the real world operates on financial constraints so unlimited funding for your next work truck just isn’t feasible. That being said, cost is a major influencer on the selection of the commercial vehicle, especially as it relates to the engine.

Acquisition costs can be substantially higher with diesel engines, stretching from $8,000 more in light duty commercial vehicles up to $12,000* in heavy duty commercial trucks. Gasoline engines offer the advantage with significantly lower acquisition costs.

Horsepower & Torque
Selecting an engine with enough horsepower and torque is vital for success with many commercial vehicles. The most common application considered for ample horsepower and torque is pulling a trailer, regardless of size. The more weight on the trailer, the more important horsepower and torque becomes. Other applications, including hauling bulk material, should also pay close attention to the horsepower and torque ratings of an engine as these vehicles are consistently hauling the maximum available payload.

While gasoline and diesel engines have similar horsepower ratings, they are vastly different with torque. Looking at a class 3 pickup, the diesel has a slight advantage in horsepower rating yet boasts a torque rating two times that of the gas engine**. Point being, if you are towing heavy loads or your application relies upon torque to get you moving a diesel will be the better fit for you.


Fuel Efficiency
Federal regulations have forced commercial vehicle manufacturers to maximize fuel efficiency within new vehicles, regardless if they contain diesel or gasoline engines. This has caused the gap of fuel efficiency between gasoline and diesel engines to shrink. Historically, diesel engines have held the advantage of fuel efficiency over gasoline engines. Today, you can expect a slight difference between most gasoline and diesel engine choices. For instance, with a light duty Class 1 pickup you can expect to see a combined fuel efficiency rating of 20 mpg with the gasoline engine and a combined fuel efficiency rating of 23 mpg with the diesel engine***.

Commercial vehicle customers should compare the price per gallon of diesel and unleaded fuel and factor in projected annual mileage to determine overall fuel costs.

PTO Provisions
Snowplows, dumps, cranes, many different applications require a power-take-off (PTO). To avoid potential compatibility issues, ensure the engine (and transmission) you select will allow for PTO installation. Many truck manufacturers offer a “PTO prep” option, making the installation of the PTO unit more seamless for the upfitter.

At one time, your only choice for PTO compatible engines were diesels. Today, many manufacturers offer gas engines that can easily accommodate a PTO unit for auxiliary equipment.

Idle Frequency
Engine idling is common within many vocations that employ commercial vehicles to get the job done. Today, many local and state regulations are in place to discourage companies from engine idling. This has led to many product developments, including stand-alone, mobile power systems that mount on the commercial vehicle. For companies that are still allowed to idle their engines on the job, there are obvious benefits associated with diesel engines.

Diesel engines idle at a lower speed and are engineered for severe duty cycles, making them the more popular choice within high-idle applications.

Maintenance
The longer the life cycle of the vehicle, the more vital engine maintenance will become. There are many considerations to be made as it pertains to maintenance including cost of replacement parts, preventative maintenance intervals, qualified technicians, warranty coverage and more.

While diesels have longer maintenance intervals and warranty coverage, there are additional components and requirements (DEF fluid) that aren’t found on gasoline engines. Diesel replacement parts tend to be more expensive and finding qualified diesel mechanics can be a challenge in certain geographic areas.

Cost leans heavily towards gasoline while torque, engine life, fuel efficiency and idle frequency favors diesel. PTO provisions and maintenance are heavily reliant upon the application. As always, be sure to have a clear understanding of the intended application of the vehicle to help ensure you make the best selection for the job at hand.

*Comparing 2016 Ford F-250 gas(6.2L) and diesel (6.7L) pickup for light duty and 2017 Ford F-750 gas (6.8L) and diesel (6.7L) cab chassis for heavy duty, prices are MSRP from ford.com.
**Comparing 2016 3500HD pickup with Vortec 6.0L V8 gas engine rated at 360 horsepower and 380 ft-lb. of torque and Duramax 6.6L V8 diesel engine rated at 397 horsepower and 765 ft-lb. of torque
***Comparing 2016 Ram 1500 2wd with a 3.6L gas engine with 2016 Ram 1500 2wd with a 3.0L diesel engine, both models with 8 speed automatic transmission. Data obtained from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov).

 Source:  https://www.knapheide.com/news/blog/2016/08/gas-vs-diesel-which-to-spec?utm_source=eloqua&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nurture&utm_content=tof-2&elqTrackId=cf5c9a60cb55496db9b8a0e6320093c3&elq=b7b12e3bfdc7462185b997ff4aa710e4&elqaid=1067&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=518

5/13/19

Auto Crane


Manufacturing Marvels segment aired on Fox Business Channel ©2015 about the Auto Crane Company

5/11/19

FORD SHARPENS FOCUS ON CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE; EXPANDED INVESTMENT, PROGRAMS SAVE TIME AND MONEY, REWARD LOYALTY


  • Loyal customers benefit from new, industry-exclusive FordPass Rewards program that offers complimentary vehicle maintenance when members purchase or lease a new Ford vehicle; in addition, customers earn points on service spending at Ford dealerships 
  • All-new customer contact center dedicated to assisting truck owners nationwide opens next week in Houston, bringing more than 500 jobs to the community; is the model for Ford call centers globally 
  • Ford piloting mobile service, which brings vehicle maintenance and light service to customers at home or work 
DEARBORN, Mich., May 2, 2019 – From simplifying the vehicle leasing process to saving customers time on maintenance to rewarding their loyalty, Ford Motor Company is aiming to make each part of its ownership experience easier and worry-free, building customer ranks and revenues over time.

“The customer experience is the most important area we can invest in to become the world’s most trusted company,” said Elena Ford, the company’s chief customer experience officer. “The real measure of our success as a company is keeping customers’ loyalty over time.

” This year, Ford already has doubled its investment in customer experiences, aiming to increase loyalty to Ford by further improving customer advocacy through programs that show appreciation to its long-term customer base. This follows benchmarking and learning from the world’s top travel, technology and hospitality companies.

 “If we truly want to be serious about customer experience, we have to resource it like we do F-150,” Elena Ford said. “It’s time we do.”

FordPass Rewards 
FordPass, which already elevated the Ford customer experience by creating a single mobile platform where owners can monitor their vehicles, find parking spaces or make service appointments, is expanding with a new customer loyalty program called FordPass Rewards.

The program began rolling out in April and officially launches today with 1 million active members. FordPass Rewards provides the most comprehensive loyalty rewards program in the industry. With this program, customers who purchase or lease a new Ford vehicle will receive points they can use toward complimentary maintenance*, parts, service or a new vehicle at participating Ford dealerships.

“The flexibility we provide customers through FordPass Rewards is a unique relationship-building tool with our customers and dealers,” Elena Ford said. “Only Ford offers complimentary maintenance, rewards, roadside assistance and puts control in your hand.”

New Call Center 
Model Ford is opening a new nationwide contact center in Houston that specializes in a new customer-centered approach. The center opens Monday, bringing more than 500 jobs to the community. Located in the heart of the world’s largest truck market, the center has a group of specialized agents solely dedicated to serving truck owners – Ford’s largest, most loyal and demanding customer groups – across the United States.

This contact center, which will be the prototype for all Ford call centers globally, works on an “own the call” model. Knowledgeable agents stay with the customer from first contact until every service and experience matter is resolved, rather than passing the customer to other departments. The process is a best practice learned through The Lincoln Motor Company’s contact centers. In addition, phone trees are replaced by voice-activated calling, helping owners reach customer-service experts more quickly.

“Customers in today’s increasingly connected world expect better and more personalized treatment from companies. They want solutions that make them feel productive, cared for and special,” Elena Ford said. “That’s why we’re reimagining every single part of a customer’s ownership journey. Everything we’re doing is to empower customers and make their complicated lives simpler and worry-free.”

Ford Mobile Service Pilot 
Ford also is expanding a new U.S.-based mobile service pilot, which brings vehicle maintenance and light service to customers at home, at work or just about anywhere a customer wants.

Ford research shows customers like the idea of vehicle service coming to them. It also appeals to competitive brand owners who would consider Ford solely based on mobile service. Others said they would be interested in using mobile service for their current non-Ford vehicle. The pilot currently runs in California and will expand in May to dealers in Texas, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. Based on results, Ford will decide later whether to expand it.

In the UK, Ford has operated mobile service for commercial fleet customers since 2017. The UK program operates more than 100 Ford Transit Vans equipped to carry out routine service and maintenance, vehicle and warranty repairs, along with recall repairs like software updates. Some dealers already have begun to expand mobile service to their retail customers. Plans are underway to continue to increase the UK network.

Easy Lease Renewal 
Ford Credit has developed two pilot programs designed to make lease renewals worry-free.

These two programs were created after the credit team studied the market, the process and its customer base, reviewing the leasing journey from start to finish. The team sifted through hundreds of customer comments, creating:
  • Personal Lease Assistant: Personal lease assistants will help about 1,000 customers of select dealers in Philadelphia and New York navigate the lease renewal process. 
  • Drive New. Now: By knowing the customer, Ford Credit can provide personalized vehicle offers – making sure customers are provided with the right vehicle at the right time. 
Testing New Global Retail Experiences 
During the past four years, more than 1,000 U.S. dealers have invested a total of $2 billion to upgrade their facilities to enhance the customer experience. With dealer and customer input, Ford is further evolving the customer experience with Ford Signature, a new retail look and experience that provides greater transparency in the sales and service journey.

Ford Signature includes replacing traditional deal desks with purchase rooms with shared screens; monitors with service prices and video feeds of the service garage; and celebration areas for new-vehicle delivery. Ford has 70 Ford Signature stores around the world. It will expand to 300 globally by year’s end, with thousands slated for completion in coming years.

In addition to the growth of Ford Signature dealerships, Ford is working with dealers to test new global retail formats based on the changing ways people are shopping today – from urban markets to rural to dedicated commercial point-of-sale stores.

One of the new global retail formats is Ford Smart Labs, the first of which is opening in Brussels, Belgium. Ford Smart Labs are small retail point in a high-traffic area surrounded by shops, food and entertainment, where customers can experience Ford products in an engaging and no-pressure environment.

The Brussels store is modeled after a successful retail mall concept developed by Ford dealers in Turin, Italy. Ford plans to roll out five additional Smart Lab designs by the end of 2019, including one in Germany and another in Canada.

“Our goal is to create an environment that reinforces trust and transparency,” Elena Ford said. “We’re aiming to do this in our retail outlets – as well as every touch point in our customers’ ownership journey.”

 # # # 

 *Modem must be activated within 60 days of purchase through the FordPass app on a smartphone and remain active for at least 6 months after activation or the bonus is subject to forfeiture. Buyers of non-equipped modem vehicles will also receive the welcome Reward after FordPass Rewards enrollment. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 196,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

5/09/19

FORD COLLABORATION WITH GRAVITY SKETCH INTRODUCES CO-CREATION FEATURE, ALLOWING DESIGNERS ACROSS GLOBE TO WORK IN SAME VIRTUAL REALITY SPACE

  • Ford is the first automaker to work with Gravity Sketch – a 3D VR tool that enables designers to come up with more human-centric designs
  • Co-Creation feature in Gravity Sketch gives global designers at Ford the ability to use the same 3D virtual reality design space, improving collaborative efforts and real time decision-making when designing vehicles.
  • Co-Creation has the ability to save designers time and reduce the requirement for global travel during the development process of creating new vehicles

DEARBORN, Mich., May 6, 2019 – A designer from Shanghai and another from Dearborn step into a virtual design space together to make changes to a global vehicle design. Both walk around the 3D design, review it and make changes on the fly. Once finished, the two remove their VR headsets and return to their separate workspaces -- thousands of miles apart.

Thanks to Co-Creation, a feature developed by Gravity Sketch in collaboration with Ford, designers across the globe can create, collaborate and evaluate vehicle designs with one another in real time without leaving their physical workspace.

Ford is the first automaker to work with Gravity Sketch – a 3D virtual reality tool that enables designers to create more human-centric vehicle design. Designers trade in their sketchpads for a headset and controllers to become immersed in virtual reality, imitating gestural interactions through motion tracking that replicates sketching with pen and paper. Designers can draw, rotate, expand and compress a 3D sketch. The Co-Creation feature allows multiple designers to engage in content creation, while making these real-time adjustments.

Consumer purchasing trends differ in each global region, meaning an attractive design in one region may not be as appealing in another. Co-Creation gives designers from different regions the opportunity to come together in one space and review a 3D sketch to make important decisions earlier in the design process.

”The Co-Creation feature adds more voices to the conversation in a virtual environment, which results in more efficient design work that may help accelerate a vehicle program’s development,” says Ford Design Manager Michael Smith.

Gravity Sketch allows designers to speed the process from weeks to hours, skipping the 2D stage and working with a 3D model from the beginning. Through Co-Creation, a designer can transfer to another designer’s point of view within virtual reality to see from his or her perspective. This is especially helpful when training other designers in Gravity Sketch.

Across five global Ford design studios, dozens of interior and exterior designers are now experimenting with Gravity Sketch for workflow feasibility and its capability for real-time co-creation and collaboration. Shifting to a model that designs and evaluates in virtual reality could revolutionize the entire process by drastically reducing development time and allowing for more 3D representations in the evaluation stage.

“Our collaboration with Ford designers has enabled us to get immersed in their creative process and discover ways to help fine-tune this application to better suit their needs so they can build the best possible vehicles for their customers,” said Oluwaseyi Sosanya, Gravity Sketch CEO & Co-founder.

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 196,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com

5/05/19

Harbor Truck Bodies -An Unusual Company




We confess. Our truck bodies are terrific looking. They have unusually good curb appeal! Why? Because we pay enormous attention to detail. It’s firmly rooted in our DNA to make sure that our paint finishes are and welds are without flaws and show no burn marks…even on our stainless steel lids. The curve of the taper in our rack legs matches the curve in truck roof line (called tumblehome). The wheel panel and body height match the truck frame height so precisely that you can’t look through the wheel well and see light from the other side of the body.  In fact, customers describe Harbor as “Building Beautiful Bodies”.  

But, in some respects, our California curb appeal belies an underlying quality.  In the only quality survey ever in our industry history, Harbor ranked number one (#1) in manufacturing quality and quality processes.* Maybe that’s why Harbor consistently ranks among the top volume commercial “pool” manufacturers for Ford, GM and Ram…and was ranked #1 in several years. Or why Harbor was chosen over all other US manufacturers to export US-made commercial truck bodies to the Toyota Motor Company for use by its Forklift Dealers in Japan. 

About Harbor, some competitors in our industry might claim, “Beauty’s only skin deep” or “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” We prefer, “A Picture Paints a Thousand Words.” That’s why it’s not a Harbor until we say it’s a Harbor…accomplished through blood, sweat and sheet metal.

* based on a GMC study performed by an independent automotive engineering firm.

5/03/19

Reading Classic II work truck walk around



The Aluminum Classic II offers an unbeatable combination of standard features, useful options, and the know-how of over 25 years of refinement. This service body is designed for efficiency today, and built to last for tomorrow

5/01/19

Cab To Axle Quick Guide

Cab To Axle



There are many important factors to ensure compatibility between a body and a chassis. Gross vehicle weight rating, gross axle weight rating, payload, wheelbase, fuel and DEF tank location are just a few to consider. Utilizing an experienced and professional upfitter will ensure your next purchase won’t yield an incompatible body and chassis. Regardless if you lean on your truck equipment distributor to do it all from spec’ing to installation or if you prefer to dream up your own upfit, you should always understand how the cab to axle measurement comes into play.

Use this quick guide to determine what body will fit with your next chassis.

* List contains common cab to axle measurements of Ford, GM & Ram cab chassis and standard Knapheide product body lengths.
** Always use an experienced truck equipment upfitter to help determine what chassis, body and equipment are compatible and comply with all federal, state and local commercial vehicle regulations.
*** Body lengths in table are nominal length, please refer to Knapheide specification pages for exact body lengths.

        Cab To Axle
    Service/Utility
    Platform
Gooseneck
Dump
36" 7' 7' 7'
40" 7' 7' 7'
42" 7' 7' 7'
56" 8' 8' 8'
60" 9' 9' 9' 9'
84" 11' 10' | 11' | 12' 11' 11'
108" 13' 13' | 14' | 16'

120" 14' 14' | 16' | 18'

Source: Knapheide.com