Category: FordPros

WATCH+LISTEN: DRIVING SOLUTIONS – CBT News + Work Truck Solutions

WATCH AND READ MORE HERE The automotive industry has experienced notable shifts in car buying behavior over the last five years, even in the commercial vehicle segment. Since 2022, fleet customers have been a primary source of sales for manufacturers, with many owing their unexpectedly fast post-pandemic recoveries to business clients. On this episode of Driving Solutions, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by Kathryn Schifferle, founder and chief visionary officer at Work Truck Solutions. Schifferle has extensive knowledge of the commercial vehicle sector and the car buying behavior...

Work Truck Week® 2024 schedule released, registration open

Includes Work Truck Show, Green Truck Summit, Ride & Drive, NTEA Annual Meeting FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (Oct. 25, 2023) — NTEA – The Work Truck Association™ has released the full Work Truck Week® 2024 schedule and opened registration and housing for North America’s largest work truck event. It runs March 5–8, 2024, at Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Register at worktruckweek.com/register.             Work Truck Week is More Than a Trade Show™, providing commercial vehicle industry professionals with unmatched opportunities to explore the latest trucks, equipment and trends; learn new ideas and solutions...

The “Safe” in SafeFleet – Jared’s Story

Jared Pridmore and his wife, Amanda are the proud owners of Precision Auto Glass in Conway, Arkansas. Their Safe Fleet story begins when they bought a new van for their growing company. Amanda, always vigilant about safety, researched the importance of having a partition behind the van’s seats. Jared, after 20 years of driving a van without a partition, felt he didn’t need one. “We are going to order this partition, install it, and THEN you can drive the van,” Amanda declared. “Of course, I...

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: HOW FAR WE’VE COME

Let me take you back to a time before cell phones. If you remember phones that were attached to a wall and had a cord, you probably know what I’m talking about. Or how about the era before the Internet was a “thing”? Some of you may be thinking, “What? Hasn’t the Internet always been part of our lives?” While it may be shocking, the answer is no. You may even remember when some dealers scoffed at having a website, thinking it just wasn’t a...

DEALERSHIP SUCCESS: SURVIVING & THRIVING IN THE TECH JUNGLE

It’s not just handwriting on the wall, there’s miles of graffiti, gallons of virtual ink, a tsunami of information engulfing the commercial industry; and it’s all about tech. Everywhere we turn, the unrelenting tide of emerging technology is crashing onto the shores of our business world. Am I being a bit overly drama-poetic? Probably, but I don’t think it’s possible to overstate the evolutionary impact that technology is having on the way commercial vehicle professionals do business. In fact, I would argue that technology is...

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS COMING TO A WORK TRUCK NEAR YOU

By Bill Vander Plaats, Scelzi Inc. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic in technology today. Some believe it will change many things in our lives, including how we do business. But how might it affect the work truck industry? For Fleet Owners and Drivers, AI appears ready to accelerate changes in several areas, including: For Truck Body Manufacturers like Scelzi Enterprises, the impact of AI is harder to estimate. But here is what we might see coming soon: UNTIL AI IS READY TO DELIVER...

THE TOOLBOX NEWS: READING TRUCK 24TH ANNUAL CUSTOMER APPRECIATION EVENT

READING TRUCK 24TH ANNUAL CUSTOMER APPRECIATION EVENT Reading Truck was in full SWING on Tuesday, October 3rd for their 24th Annual Customer Appreciation Golf Outing and Product Showcase. The local event took place on a beautiful day at Foxchase Golf Club in Stevens, PA. Customers, vendors and team members were greeted with a showcase of products from Reading Truck, as well as representatives from Leer and Masterack before being sent off to enjoy an afternoon to hone their golf skills. After dinner, they recognized those...

Before You Lose Them: Customize Your Lead Response for Commercial

Your First Irrelevant Communication to a Commercial Customer is The Last You’ll Get By Alicia Von Bokel – Performance Manager – Maritz Automotive The “One Size Fits All” Method If you are like most stores, you likely have a specific Internet/BDC department to handle your website, 3rd party and all Internet leads.  Whether you have a specific BDC department that turns over leads to the sales team, or you have a “cradle-to-grave” approach to closing leads, your store has a process for that. What your...

Adrian Steel Unveils Groundbreaking Truck Upfit Products Based on Their Best-Selling Van Lines

September 29, 2023 – Adrian Steel, a pioneer in innovative vehicle upfit solutions, is thrilled to introduce its newest product line tailored specifically for hardworking tradespeople who depend on their trucks every day. This strategic move aims to bring the same efficiency-enhancing benefits of their famed van upfits, now to truck owners. “Our mission has always been to create products that make the lives of professionals easier and safer,” said George Bernwanger, Chief Engineer at Adrian Steel. “Understanding the growing use of trucks in the...

END-USER SPOTLIGHT: TRUCK CRANE PROVIDES SECURITY FOR MOVING PROPANE TANKS

FERRELLGAS PROPANE Ferrellgas is a propane provider and trusted partner for approximately 1 million customers across the United States. Their service technicians pick up and deliver propane tanks in various sizes to customer locations across a wide geographic area. THE CHALLENGETy Tucker, service technician with Ferrellgas, operates a ser¬vice truck to load and unload propane tanks for residential use.Tucker needed a reliable, easy-to-use crane to keep his deliv¬eries on track. The crane had to be able to withstand different weather conditions and job sites, while...