Second attempt to respond to "From the Road" post..I had backed out to open another message and when I did my original post was gone. Guess you can't do that anymore?
In any case, thanks for "From the Road" link. I checked it out and went to Ford Pro, and shocker, while the narrative refers to Ford's leadership in class 1 to 7 commercial trucks, the Ford Pro site features Transits and Super Duty with no mention/reference to 650/750.
This takes me back to a post I made on 8/21.."Jim Farley's Priorities" and his apparent definition of "commercial trucks". This prompted many posts justifying Ford's lack of interest in..."semi trucks"..."large big rig style trucks" etc, as well as the need for concentration on "best ROI".
These all miss the point as to what market in which Ford has an opportunity to compete.
As I've said previously, trucks of any class can be the reason a business exists, such as for hire trucking, be it dry or liquid freight or dump trucking or a class 8 chassis is needed as a crane carrier, redi-mix concrete etc.
But in most cases, the lower classes- in particular class 6 or 7, the truck is a vehicle in support of the primary business. It is NOT a matter of ROI for these customers, it is a matter of need to support the smooth operation of the business. I don't think Ford (Brian Rathsburg commercial marketing mgr) understands this.
This past weekend I went by the yard of a large contractor that does highway and marine projects..the full range of civil work. The low boy trailers were loaded for dispatch Monday morning and one had a 650/750 water tanker that by its very clean appearance was relatively new. A good example of a limited use truck that is needed for the application of water in a paving project or for providing water as needed for soil compaction. A chassis used to carry attenuator equipment is another good example- the truck sits to maintain a safe work zone. If a contractor is cost conscious, you wont see a Pete or KW in this application. The 650/750 is a good product for such duty.
Likewise many other businesses need a truck as a matter of convenience to have on sight as needed. Building contractors are a good example. If they have a class 6 or 7 truck(s), they often sit ideal..until the lumber yard failed to deliver a full order or the job requires a quick load of mason or bedding sand etc.
Utility contractors are another good example. I would imagine 7m3 gets my point at least as around here, National Grid employs class 7 dump trucks-some of which are Fords, and what do they do, they often sit parked to contain material being excavated and then used to provide clean fill.
In any case it would not take much IMO to keep 650/750 a very good low cost alternative to satisfy a large percentage of the the class 6/7 market
Excellent quarter for EVs, though Farley expects next month may be much different.
September overall growth data looks even better than Q3 according to one report.