Category: FordPros

COACH KEN: THE EXTRA MILE

A phrase I have learned to despise is “good enough.” We live in an age of “good enough” versus “the best.” Good enough means average. Good enough means you cut corners, get by, or do enough to get a “C” on a project or paper.  Imagine for a moment that a firefighter, police officer, paramedic, brain surgeon or professional athlete lived by the phrase “good enough?” Here is a quote to remember and live by: “The road to the extra mile is never crowded.” The...

FALL 2023 COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SUMMIT

Growth…when it comes to our commercial vehicle businesses, we all want it. But, simply having a desire to grow your business is only the first step to actually achieving (and potentially exceeding) the goals you’ve set. There are many other pieces involved, starting with examining where you are today, and how you got there, to making a plan, to putting that plan in motion. Our Fall 2023 Commercial Vehicle Business Summit will arm you with insights, metrics, ideas, and tools to push your business forward....

BMW, FORD AND HONDA AGREE TO CREATE CHARGESCAPE, A NEW COMPANY FOCUSED ON OPTIMIZING ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRID SERVICES

TORRANCE, Calif., Sept. 12, 2023 – BMW Group, Ford Motor Company and American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today announced that they have entered into an agreement to create ChargeScape, LLC, a new equally-owned company that will create a single, cost-effective platform connecting electric utilities, automakers and interested electric vehicle customers. Benefiting both EV customers and the electric utility industry in the U.S. and Canada, ChargeScape will unlock entirely new value that EVs can provide to the electric grid, while enabling EV customers to earn financial benefits...

Commercial EVs: What You Need to Know

First published at COMVOY.COM Electric vehicles (EVs) have been around for quite a while. In fact, the dawn of EVs is simultaneous with that of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with both electric and ICE vehicles showing up in the late 1800s and both modes being commercially produced in the early 1900s. Commercial applications began as early as 1897 when New York City built its fleet of electric taxi cabs,  and UPS had an EV delivery fleet by 1935. Fast forward to the 21st Century, and EVs...

Note from the Editor: Opportunities Abound

As we all know, opportunities come in many shapes and sizes. Looking back over the last couple of years, there were many opportunities to talk to your customers, although many of those conversations weren’t quite what you – or your customers – likely wanted. Much of the time, the discussion centered around work trucks and vans you simply didn’t have / couldn’t get (at least not quickly) for them. Rather, you had to talk about the options for ordering, and the time that would take,...

VENCO VENTURO ANNOUNCES NEW HEAVY-DUTY SERVICE CRANE

High weight capacity and innovative safety features help heavy-duty hydraulic service crane fit applications in several industries Cincinnati, Ohio, August, 2023 – Venco Venturo, an industry leader in the engineering, service and sales of work-ready service cranes, truck bodies, hoists and accessories since 1952, is underscoring the importance of safety and power in heavy-duty crane technology with the HT60KX. “We are excited to roll out the HT60KX crane,” Venco Venturo Vice President, Sales and Marketing Ian Lahmer said. “This crane gives operators a perfect balance...

ALTFUEL: Can Your Company Help Solve the Charging Infrastructure Puzzle With V2G?

As the global transition towards electric vehicles (EVs) gains momentum, the need for efficient and accessible charging solutions emerges as a critical challenge. The development of a robust and flexible charging infrastructure is of special concern for widespread adoption within the commercial EV arena, and is going to require the employment of more innovative thinking than what we have seen thus far. One intriguing idea suggests that company EV fleets could play a pivotal role in addressing this challenge, by leveraging Vehicle-to-Grid uni-directional smart charging...

Dealership Success: Rev Up Shopper Engagement

How do you unleash the full potential of your commercial dealership and outmaneuver the relentless competition? Well, in today’s world, that doesn’t necessarily mean having a vast on-lot inventory for shoppers to choose from. Those days may never return. There are ways to attract commercial prospects other than maintaining a Yellowstone Park-sized herd of work trucks. Instead, look for growth by encouraging shoppers to engage with your product online.Your ability to attract, engage, and ultimately convert fleeting prospects into loyal customers should be a top...

Cup O Joe: Seize the Problem – Opportunity in Full Disguise!

This very day, I got a call from an agency in New York(!) that I supplied an F150 with a food delivery system that  arrived this week. He (John) had a problem that could be solved if I and my dealership could react quickly (before the  MSO was assigned). Sounds simple enough, but the paperwork said they were “Meals on Wheels…so-and-so  town, Inc.” So, what’s the problem? The MSO, to satisfy the good people in New York DOL, AND the insurer of  Meals, MUST include...