Ford offers tools for a 'smart' truck

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By Tim Spell MOTOR MATTERS

"Work truck" has a deeper meaning for Ford than merely a grunt machine that can tow and haul. Ford trucks can be transformed into sophisticated mobile offices, run by a computer brain that keeps precise tabs on fleet vehicles, driver performance and tools.

These advantages come with the Ford Work Solutions system, featuring four basic technologies called Computer, Crew Chief, Tool Link and Cable Lock. Consumers can purchase them a la carte.

Ford Work Solutions is optional for F-150 and Super Duty pickups, as well as for E-series vans and the new-to-showrooms Transit Connect wagon.

In-dash Computer

Priced at $1,195 ($1,395 on the Transit Connect), the 4-gigabyte In-dash Computer - integrated into the center stack - has a 6.5-inch, high-resolution touch screen.

Using a high-speed Sprint cellular broadband connection, the computer system can link to a main office computer network or to a home computer. The user can access files from miles away and make updates to a spreadsheet, word-processing document or accounting program.

Navigation with Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling is another benefit of the system. This Garmin system also features real-time weather, fuel pricing and traffic updates. It can reroute the driver to a destination, bypassing traffic congestion or construction slowdowns.

Crew Chief

Crew Chief is a telematics system, providing a far more sophisticated approach than walkie-talkies and cell phones - or maybe a dispatcher at the office - to manage fleet vehicles, according to Paul Russell, Ford division field operations manager for commercial truck sales and marketing.

The location of a truck fitted with such a factory-installed "black box" - and an incredible amount of other data - can be accessed by a fleet manager via the Microlise Web site from any Internet-connected computer, including the In-dash Computer.