Ford Pro™ offers the right tools, software and services designed to keep your business on track and your crews on the road.
11/30/23
11/28/23
Fleet Financing with Jolly Roofing | Customer Interview | Ford Pro™ FinSimple™
Busy commercial roofing contractor Jolly Roofing describes how working with Ford Pro FinSimple and Ford Pro Telematics helps manage their growing fleet. Watch as they detail how working with a Ford Pro Commercial Business Development Manager makes the setup process seamless.
SUBSCRIBE: https://ford.to/SubscribeFordPro
11/26/23
Every Ford Truck at SEMA 2023! | New 2024 F150, Lightning, SuperDuty and Rangers!
SEMA 2023 provided us an endless amount of impressive Ford Trucks this year! Justin shows you every F150, SuperDuty, Ranger and Lightning he could find from this year’s show!
11/22/23
The All-In-One Solution for Business Growth | Customer Interview | Ford Pro™ FinSimple™
Motive Companies shares how Ford Pro FinSimple has helped the company to expand their business from regional to national. Watch as they detail how our Commercial Line of Credit helps them add vehicles to their fleet at any Ford Pro dealership across the country.
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#FordPro #CustomerInterview
11/20/23
The world's first public two-car electric crash test by Mercedes-Benz
Demonstrating safety in an unprecedented crash test: Mercedes-Benz is the world’s first automaker to publicly conduct a frontal offset crash of two electric vehicles that simulates a real-life accident scenario common on rural roads.
Take a look behind the scenes of this extraordinary undertaking that not only confirms occupant protection in the EQA and EQS SUV but also illustrates the aspirations of our real-life safety philosophy: To build cars that can withstand not only crash test scenarios, but also real-life accidents.
After all, safety is not a question of drive system, but one of our core commitments to all road users we’ve taken on.
[Mercedes-Benz EQA 300 4MATIC | WLTP: Stromverbrauch kombiniert: 18,7‒17,4 kWh/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 0 g/km]*
[Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 4MATIC SUV | WLTP: Stromverbrauch kombiniert: 24,3‒19,9 kWh/100 km | CO₂-Emissionen kombiniert: 0 g/km]*
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► Experience the world of Mercedes-Benz: http://benz.me/international
11/18/23
Ford Pro™ Telematics with Dashcam is Here | Ford Pro™
Get even more out of Ford Pro™ Telematics with a dashcam for fleet vehicles that captures everything inside the cab and on the road. See how more visibility can help protect your business and your drivers. Find out more at http://www.fordpro.com/en-us/telemati....
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#FordPro #Telematics
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Website: http://www.fordpro.com/
About Ford Pro: Ford Pro™ is a productivity accelerator designed to help drive business forward, delivering solutions to commercial customers of all sizes. We offer the right tools, software and services designed to keep your business on track and your crew on the road.
Ford Pro™ Telematics with Dashcam is Here | Ford Pro™
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyPg...
11/16/23
8 TIPS FOR WINTERIZING YOUR WORK TRUCK
Winter weather will be here before you know it. If you’re caught unprepared, the sub-zero temperatures, snow and ice will wreak havoc on your work vehicle and its systems.
And we know it’s important that, whether your business operates one or one hundred work vehicles, you keep them all up-and-running. So, be proactive this year, and think ahead about what your vehicle(s) will need this winter.
Check out our list below to get started.
BATTERY
No one wants to be left stranded with a dead battery. So, regularly check battery cables to ensure they are securely connected and clean of corrosion. You’ll also want to perform a voltage test ahead of time. If the battery reads at the lower end of its acceptable voltage, consider taking preventative action and replacing it.
TIRES
Snowy and icy roads can be difficult to navigate safely. And worn or improperly inflated tires will only exacerbate the issue, increasing the risk of an accident. Ensure the tires have ample tread, a minimum of 4/32", and are properly inflated. To do so, you’ll need to regularly check your tire pressure, as cold temperatures make air denser, thus reducing the pressure.
And don’t forget the tire chains! This is especially important if your area receives heavy snowfall and ice or you’re travelling to an area that requires them.
WIPER BLADES AND WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
It’s paramount, in all seasons, that you’re able to see out your vehicle’s windows, especially the windshield. And when snow, ice, sludge and salt find their way there, will your windshield wipers and washer fluid come through for you or will you be left with a streaky, or still covered, mess?
Before winter arrives, check your windshield wiper blades for cracks or loose rubber. You’ll want to opt for durable blades that will be able to handle the frequent use and heavy weight of wet snow.
The blades aren’t the only thing you’ll need to check though. Take a look under the hood at your washer fluid levels. If you’re low, or only need topped off, make sure the fluid you’re using is rated to withstand the temperatures you’ll have in your area. Otherwise, your fluid may freeze when you need it most, leaving you with low visibility and increased chances of an accident.
ENGINE/OIL HEATERS
When you park overnight and the temperature drops, your engine and oil temperatures do too. If you operate in the north, you may already have an engine/oil heater installed, either as a factory option or as an add-on accessory. Be sure to plug it in a few hours before you need to drive to help your engine start and reduce the stress on your vehicle’s systems.
If you don’t already have an engine/oil heater, but think you might need one or want to learn more, read the Rainbow Muffler & Brake’s post: Engine Block Heaters: What Are They and Do You Need One?
ENGINE OIL
Most common engine oils will perform great during spring, summer and fall. But as temperatures dip, your standard 15W or 10W oil will struggle to properly flow. With fall upon us, consider switching your normal engine oil to 5W (or 0W oil for extreme cold) to ensure your engine is properly lubricated.
FOUR-WHEEL OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
For regions that receive heavy snowfall, four-wheel or all-wheel drive is less of a luxury and more of a necessity. After all, you don’t want to be getting stuck on the jobsite, or traveling to and from.
Before snow hits, test your system to ensure the differentials, hubs, bearings and other components are in top-working condition.
PAINT AND FINISH
Today’s work vehicles receive top-notch corrosion protection through their paint and undercoating. This is especially important in the winter, as harmful salts and chemicals are deployed on the roads to melt snow and ice. Eventually, these treatments find their way onto vehicles and expedite corrosion and rust, if not addressed. To keep your vehicle looking its best and structurally sound, regularly wash it, including the undercarriage, to prevent a build-up of salts and chemicals.
COLD WEATHER KIT
A cold weather kit can literally be a lifesaver if you get stuck and cannot get help immediately. In this kit, you should pack a thermal blanket, flashlight with additional batteries, matches, bottled water, jumper cables or a jumper box, windshield scraper and brush, tow straps or chains, roadside flares and a first aid kit.
MAINTAINING YOUR WORK VEHICLE YEAR-ROUND
Curious what preventative maintenance you should be doing regularly to keep your work truck or van working hard? Check out our blog post here.
11/14/23
Top 5 Work Truck Safety & Security Trends
By James Muiter, Product Line Manager, Reading Truck Group
With a pulse on the customer needs and innovation in the work truck sector, James Muiter, Product Line Manager at Reading Truck Group, shares his top five industry trends on safety and security.
- Operator safety. Employers are carefully considering how to keep their operators injury-free, so avoiding accidents around the truck is just as important as on the road. Proactive measures on a work truck can include installing safety steps and grips so that the operator can maintain “three points of contact” at all times when entering and exiting the vehicle. At Reading, we’ve begun to see these concerns migrate from the very largest fleet operators and governments, into corporations and vocational fleet buyers.
- Visibility. Keeping the truck and its surroundings well-lit and visible helps protect workers from accidents on the side of the road and keeps crews productive when they’re working after sundown, especially in the winter months.
- 360° coverage. Chassis OEMs are bringing safety innovations like 360° cameras, and accident-avoidance technologies like collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control and blindspot monitoring, which used to be only on luxury cars, into the commercial truck segment. For example, every Ford Transit is now shipping with lane-departure warning and forward-collision warning camera systems.
- Securing tools and gear. A typical work truck now provides at least two layers of ‘locking’ protection. Compartment doors will use power locks or three-point locking for additional points of contact and pry-proofing. And these measures can be augmented with a “bar lock” or master locking feature, where a single padlock can secure all of the compartment doors to keep tools and equipment safe. Additionally, Reading’s remote keyless entry locking system, called Latch-Matic, can now be integrated with the power locks on the chassis. A driver can now lock and unlock both the body and chassis with a single key-fob. Using just the chassis fob, for example on a Ford Super Duty or Ford Transit, gives our customers the convenience they have been asking for.
- Ergonomics. For better ergonomics, handles and steps are no longer considered a special add-in, they’re becoming a standard offering across the board. As an example, fixed steps that don’t have to be manually unfolded by the operator will help meet evolving safety requirements and might even lower insurance costs.
By James Muiter, Product Line Manager, Reading Truck Group as published in Fordpros magazine
11/12/23
Weight Distribution Hitches Explained - How They Work, Why You Need One
Today we delve into the black magic that is the weight distributing hitch, also called "load leveling hitch" or "weight distribution hitch." This is the ultimate trifecta of poorly understood, infrequently used, and absolutely essential...
11/10/23
SpitzLift Cranes - Many Applications
SPTIZLIFT SPECS:
- Meets ASME and OSHA standards
- Components manufactured according to ISO compliance
- Made in USA
- Load capacity: 650 - 900 lbs.
- Crane weight: 36- 45 lbs.
- Lifting speed 22 ft. per/minute
- 2” strap is UV resistant and abrasion resistant
SAFETY FEATURES OF ELECTRIC CRANES:
- Safety release auxiliary handle
- Circuit breaker system for overload protection
- Dynamic and disc brake dual load control system
Learn more about SpitzLift: ABOUT US
SpitzLift Product Catalog
11/08/23
New Crash Tests Show Modest Speed Increases Can Have Deadly Consequences - IIHS News
Drivers want to save time, and local transportation agencies want to improve traffic flow, but at what cost? With posted speed limits increasing on roadways around the country, a vehicle’s ability to protect drivers in crashes is in doubt.
Small speed increases can have huge effects on crash outcomes, as shown in new crash tests by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and Humanetics. The safety organizations conducted crashes at three different impact speeds (40, 50 and 56 mph). They found the slightly higher speeds were enough to increase the driver's risk of severe injury or death.
11/06/23
WINTERIZING YOUR WORK TRUCK
Winter weather can wreak havoc on work trucks if they are not properly prepared to handle the conditions. Sub-zero temperatures, substantial snowfall, and icy roads are normal operating environments for many throughout the winter months. Regardless of the weather, the work must go on.
Use this checklist to help you prepare your work truck for the winter season.
ANTIFREEZE
A 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water is typically fine for three months out of the year (spring, summer, fall) for most. Come winter, many need to consider a higher concentrated mix of antifreeze to water. The lower the temperate, the more concentrated it should be. Always check temperature ratings on the container of the antifreeze and never exceed a 70/30 antifreeze to water concentration.
BATTERY
Batteries are put through the greatest operating strain during consistent cold temperatures. Due to this, batteries tend to fail more often in winter months potentially leaving you stranded. Regularly check battery cables to ensure they are securely connected and clean any corrosion from the terminals. To prevent battery failure during winter, perform a voltage test during the fall. If the battery reads at the lower end of acceptable voltage, be preventative and replace it.
TIRES
Snowy and icy roads can be difficult to safely navigate. Tires that are worn or improperly inflated can compound this safety issue and increase the risk of an accident. Ensure your tires have ample tread, 4/32″ or more. Cold temperatures can also lower tire pressure, so regularly read your tire pressure to avoid under-inflation. If your area receives heavy snowfall and ice, consider investing in tire chains to increase traction.
WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID
Windshield washer fluid is often overlooked during the winterizing process. Since you utilize your windshield washer fluid much more often in winter, you need to ensure the fluid is rated to withstand the temperatures in your area. Many times, the fluid freezes and the issue is not discovered until your windshield needs cleaned while you are driving down the road with drastically reduced visibility, an accident waiting to happen.
ENGINE OIL
Much like antifreeze, most common engine oils perform great during the spring, summer and fall. As cold temperature descend during winter, your standard 15W or 10W oil struggles to properly flow. As fall arrives, plan on switching out your normal engine oil with 5W (or even 0W oil for extremely cold conditions) to ensure your engine receives the proper lubrication throughout the winter.
ENGINE/OIL HEATERS
When you park your work truck overnight and the temperatures drop, your engine and oil temperature do too. Many work trucks operating in Northern climates have block or oil pan heaters installed, either as a factory option or add-on accessory. Be sure to plug in these components overnight during cold temperatures to ensure your engine has an easier time starting in the morning.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
Four wheel drive is a necessity in regions that receive heavy snowfall. Getting stuck on a jobsite can present a safety concern and decreases productivity. Before your next snow, test your four wheel drive system to ensure the differentials, hubs, bearings and other components are in top working condition.
PAINT & FINISH
Today’s work trucks receive top-notch corrosion protection with the paint and undercoating. During winter, harmful salt and chemicals are deployed to the roads in attempt to melt snow and ice. These road treatments eventually find their way to your work truck, expediting the corrosion and rust process if not addressed. Regularly wash your work truck during winter months, including the undercarriage to prevent build-up of salt and chemicals.
COLD WEATHER KIT
A cold weather kit can be a lifesaver in the event that you get your work truck stuck and help cannot come immediately. In your cold weather kit you should pack a thermal blanket, flashlight with additional batteries, matches, bottled water, jumper cables or a jump box, windshield scraper and brush, tow straps or chains, and roadside flares.
Source: https://www.knapheide.com/blog/winterizing-your-work-truck
11/04/23
From the Floor of Kentucky Truck Plant | Delivering Quality Through Teamwork | Ford
Meet Austyn Sailings, a team leader at Kentucky Truck Plant. In this video, he talks about how teamwork is essential for delivering quality to our customers. He’s a role model for his team, keeping everyone motivated and making sure they have everything they need to do their job. Across all our Ford plants, there are passionate employees, just like Austyn, who bring out the best in their teams.
Learn more about Ford here: https://ford.to/3PyS1dh
11/02/23
Reading Truck Body // Aluminum Classic Service Van Body Walkaround
Walkaround video for Reading Truck Body's Aluminum Classic Service Van Body. Watch the recording of Reading Truck's Driving What's Next webinar which featured the Aluminum Classic Service Van Body to learn more. Watch here: http://webinar.readingbody.com/Alumin...
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