Bob Rosadini

A Cargo??

True about Jac. Also remember he bought a bunch of "salvage yards" aka junk yards, and the rationale was they could study vehicles to analyze "parts failures", or words to that effect...actually said that to a Boston Globe reporter. As for his comment on making more money on interest, I assume that statement was based on the significant dollars spent for the new HN-80 trucks- "how to lie with numbers".

Hmnn? I assume you mean that....."more return on racing" is associated with increased sales because of the publicity/coverage that racing gets?..the old "race on Sunday, sell on Monday"? I think when you look at what these racing programs cost, at best it is a break even. In particular when you look beyond Nascar. Ask 10 random people who the leading Formula 1 driver is and I'll bet you don't even get a name. Cart.."Alex Rossi"? "Isn't he that chef on H & G TV"? As for everyone "ignores or hates trucks because they are fucking up traffic" my guess is most people recognize trucks are a fact of life. Oh and I do watch Nascar and IMSA because there are Fords running. Nascar "Ford" trucks without Ford engines? Not so much.

Well I went to the Ford website and using my zip code did a search for "Commercial Dealers"...there is no choice for "Pro"-only "Commercial". 10 came up and of the 10 one was a Class 8 dealer in the "old days". That dealer started as a Pete dealer then was sold and it became a Ford dealer until the end. It now handles International and Fords at that location. We are 27 years out since Ford pulled the plug, so how many old guys-like me- with a memory from those days are around. It is a new market. I still say Ford could continue in that market for class 6 and 7 with very few costly spec additions. I guess though that Bill Ford will have to intervene for that to happen because Farley doesn't see the potential and would rather spend huge dollars on Formula 1, IMSA, and the Dakar rally.🤔

Not a chance in this day and age as far as class 8 goes. But class 6 and 7, I still say could do well-at least a lot better than they do now. On a cost basis, the 650/750 remains a low cost alternative as I've said before, where the truck is not the primary source of revenue for the business but is needed to SUPPORT the primary business as needed. Case in point I have two friends that are competitors in the dump truck business. One concentrates on supporting the paving/ aggregate production customers, the other does that as well but does a lot of work for utilities. On those jobs, his trucks sit on a job site all day to either accept spoil from an excavation or remain on site with say bedding or backfill material that goes back in the excavation. All hourly work without pounding his equipment running mileage all day. Which operation do you think makes the most money?? I won't say another word about air brakes on a gas powered 650/750 😎 Then again another dealer in my area spent a lot of money on an exclusive commercial truck service buildings. 14' overhead doors with appropriate ceiling heights. Can't imagine this big dealer would spend that kind of money without some knowledge/assurance that they will need that kind of capability in the future.

Wonder what this means as far as Fiat Powertrain or whatever they call the engine business. And what does this mean to Ford Otosan??

But at what cost? And to how many people? The big winner if it happened? Probably MultiMatic😎

Well an article last week in WSJ was entitled; "Detroit Quickly Pivots as America Rediscovers Love for Gas Guzzlers". In that article Mr. Farley goes on to say..."This is a multibillion dollar opportunity over the next couple of years". The article goes on to say Farley said to analysts...Ford was scaling back EV plans and looking to leverage demand for its big SUVs and commercial trucks. Really? And in the last day or two I've heard/read of his new plans to consider an off road supertruck! Not being content to pour money into Formula One, Mr Farley looks like he has another-at least in my opinion- desire for speed by dumping money into another pet project- or rabbit hole! All this while claiming commercial vehicles are a priority. Or does Mr. Farley think "commercial trucks" is limited to Transits?? If so Mr Farley, please spend a few bucks to engineer an air compressor into gas powered 650/750 so you can continue to sell some medium duties on the west coast, as well as offering buyers in the rest of the country, the lowest cost medium duty conventional truck with gasoline/LPG capability with air brakes. Now to beat others to the punch, no, such a Ford may be less attractive to an International or a Paccar in the same weight classes, but to a large number of buyers where the truck is a necessary vehicle to their primary business as opposed to it being the primary reason for their business, such a Ford would own that portion of the market IMO.

Plus I do believe there are hundreds of them in storage someplace-or so it seems I saw a video of that. Now if the intent is to have a vehicle to run around in duty at base or non-combat roles but seems like a total non combat mission.

For sure, but I would think an F-600 would be a better choice..22,000 GVW versus a 19,500 F-550. And I think the difference between the two is spring and tire ratings??

Huh? This is an apples and oranges comparison. And first and foremost in my mind, if this "pick up truck" is only 80 grand cheaper than a Humvee, GM has to be making a killing. The only thing that comes to my mind is the "technicals" that so many 3rd world armies use..a toyota pick up with a pedestal mounted automatic weapon of some sort in the bed.🤔

,Well I don't want to be banned but first thought was two stars for DEI..Female and of color. Second thought a clueless top side job hopping "Leader". some facts; In terms of education....BS in Chem Engineering, Northwestern, MS Engineering Science, RPI-one top engineering schools! MBA Indiana. She was first female plant mgr. at GM Had a lot of "people type" roles at GM Executive VP of Global Manufacturing at GM.. have to believe a huge job. then a couple of jobs at Amazon..system type issues I would say. Currently at Alto Pharmacy, a 1200 employee co. Sounds to me like she needed a break from pressures of high level of corporate life. I think of Ford Pro as a side of Ford that is heavy into the commercial logistics world. As key as that business is to Ford's profitablity, I would like to see someone who had a lot of relevant experience in that world but I guess Mr Farley subscribes to ..."a manager is a manager, forget about the details." Hopefully she will do well.

Any Automotive News subscribers out there with the story? KSC?

Guys, Back to the Ford with snorkel, check You Tube.. Ch1-Chicago Fire Dept & the Snorkel (circ 1965) All about the Chicago chief who started the use of "snorkels." You will see several shots of F models with snorkels and for sure one clearly shows an F-model "Super Duty"-850 or 950...also a lot of others. Interesting this chief borrowed a bucket truck from a tree outfit and experimented with it with a hose in the bucket. That was the start. Safe to say, looks like telescopic ladders have taken place of "snorkels" as we know them?????

On another note I did another Google earth of Avon Lake to see if there were any notable inventory changes. One thing I noted- a lot of what appeared to be complete cabs sitting in "finished" parking. Again, just cabs, no chassis. First thought was they were going to specialty builders like guys who do Airport vans but then again you would think they would get a complete chassis. Any opinions??

Correct...can't see the hood if it has an air scoop but for sure an F-800 or a Super Duty-850 or 950..would have thought it would have had a heavier front axle though. Chicago FD was another big city department that used C-modelsa too.

Wow..if suppliers were allowed to sub out, that is a huge problem. I would hope Ford did due diligence when it came to picking a vendor..."what you see should be what you get". But good procedures costs money..for a supplier to cut corners unknown to Ford, unbelievable IMO.

If my memory serves me right, didn't Mulally have weekly meetings with key staff and status of prior meeting issues were reviewed? "What gets measured gets done" to use a worn out slogan. Anyone have an opinion of the recall history during his regime? Also my opinion, the difference when a guy with operations/engineering roots runs the show vs. a guy who got the job because he was a marketing "genius". Human nature IMO, a guy tends to concentrate on his area of expertise..no doubt Mulally and Farley came up via very different paths.

Bad enough that they want to expand this to PV's. I assume the Ford Pro guy is speaking to his responsibilities with commercial vehicles, even worse. My biggest fear, accident avoidance is not a black and white situation. I think I mentioned previously...a couple of people on the curb and a fire hydrant 5' away. Vehicle headed for me..avoidance says to me pick the hydrant as best I can. What does the automated vehicle select???

Could it be that the Escalade is a better looking vehicle-at least in my opinion.

Probably true as only trim is falling off an NOT the doors😎

And I thought "well these are mostly software issues". I guess this sets the record straight on that point. I wonder just what is the metric is that the board uses to set Mr. Farley's annual earnings???

thx-never thought of it from a manufacturing perspective. Got it..just thinking from an economy of scale I'm thinking those 4 bangers are a big number when you look at all the Fords using them-unlike my reference to the Yamaha in the SHO.