In today’s business world — where networking, collaboration, and influence are all valued — there seems to be an association for just about every profession you can imagine. So it should be no surprise there exists an established group of industry professionals who share a common bond when it comes to Ford Motor Company trucks.
First created in March 2006 during the National Truck Equipment Association’s Work Truck Show in Atlanta, the National Ford Truck Club is a collaborative effort of various Ford regional clubs throughout the United States. The national club’s mission is simple: to increase the effectiveness of members through education, the exchange of ideas between peers, and exposure to resources and procedures used by other Ford professionals.
Service truck body makers and accessory manufacturers have a prominent role in the club, if postings on its website are any indication. Instructional video segments from NTFC sponsors — such as The Knapheide Manufacturing Company, Reading Truck Body, Palfinger, Vanair, Caseco, Adrian Steel, Telogis, and Rousch CleanTech — share information about new products, for example.
Club came together nine years ago
Regional clubs dedicated to all things Ford — some more than 50 years old — have long been spread across the country. However, some of the industry’s leaders also realized something even bigger was needed, which is why and how the national club was conceived nine years ago.
“There was a realization that the majority of fleet and commercial sales professionals were located too far away to travel to any club and benefit from what they had to offer,” explains Joe Hughes, the National Ford Truck Club’s current president and one of the organizers of the first gathering of regional club representatives back in 2006.
Building camaraderie, discussing challenges and insights on new developments related to customer satisfaction, and sharing information on industry trends and changes in body types are among the aims of the national club, says Hughes, who is also the director of Alt Fuels Partners, a national supplier of alternative fuel-powered Fords to members of the National Joint Powers Alliance.
“We (the NFTC) help professionals understand the products available and the best uses for those products so they can better meet the needs of their customers,” Hughes says. “By seeking to help our peers — some of whom are our competitors — become the best they can be we all get better. The old saying ‘A rising tide raises all ships’ is something we believe to be true.”
Ford seen as a leader in service segment
According to Hughes, the NFTC also helps members locate, or up-fit vehicles suited to the various professions that use Ford trucks and vans. This includes all types of service-oriented needs, which makes sense given Ford’s leadership in the service truck marketplace.
“Ford has earned a market share of approximately 50 percent of the work truck business in classes 2 through 7 over a period of decades,” Hughes says. “So our emphasis is on ‘keeping the edges hot’ and continuing to show the value of the Ford line to all users and all vocations.”
Needless to say, Hughes is a big proponent of Ford and what it offers in the service truck category. But he knows the customer landscape has also changed quite a bit over the years, which has required Ford to re-think how it markets and sells its products.
“Fifty years ago, people took sides and were a ‘one brand’ person, almost as if it were a badge of honor. People in business today, though, want vehicles that are reliable, affordable and suited to their specific use,” says Hughes, while promoting the value of Ford trucks today.
Online portal offers news and reviews
If your job involves selling and/or using Ford trucks, you might find the resources of the NFTC’s online portal useful. For example, product reviews and links to related trade groups are available online, as are numerous posts regarding the latest in industry, truck club, and sponsor news.
Since 2007, the organization has also produced FordPros, a free quarterly publication available in print and digital formats. You can sign-up online to receive the publication, but PDFs of all the back issues are posted on the NFTC website and are easily accessible for anyone interested.
“We consider a member to be any sales professional at a Ford dealership, who focuses energy on the business or commercial aspect of vehicle usage,” Hughes explains. “Our publications, as well as our website, are dedicated to help every member to be involved in continued self-improvement and product awareness, including the various enhancements that make the vehicle best-suited for customers, thanks to the great products of our sponsors.”
For more information regarding the NFTC, including contacts for other Ford regional clubs, visit www.nationalfordtruckclub.com.
Mark Yontz is a freelance writer from Urbandale, Iowa.