Ford has introduced a line of accessory packages for their trucks that they claim can turn a truck into a mobile office. Some of the features could prove to be useful in fire vehicles.
Ford calls it:
Ford Work Solutions™ — a technology-based product line of optional tools —In-Dash Computer, Tool Link™, Crew Chief™ and Cable Lock™ — designed with feedback from people like you who are out on the job, day after day, earning a living with their trucks.
The In-Dash computer has a built-into-the-dash 6.5″ screen with a wireless keyboard and printer. It uses the Sprint cell phone system to make it possible to access the Internet or a computer at your home office. I have tried using a 5″ screen on an OQO computer and currently have a netbook computer with a 10″ screen. From my experience, a 6.5″ screen would be too small to comfortably use for applications like the Internet or word processing.
The Tool Link system uses RFID tags that can be attached to your valuable items and will alert you if you forgot them and they are not in your truck. Firefighters could use this for tracking expensive equipment like pumps, chain saws, ladders, or smoke ejectors.
The Crew Chief system provides real-time tracking of vehicle location, vehicle and driver performance, and vehicle diagnostics. The data can be accessed by any Internet-connected computer, which could be invaluable for enabling, say, a Division Supervisor on a fire to know where their resources are deployed on a large fire, assuming the DIVS has a computer in their vehicle.
The Cable Lock system, of the four, would be least valuable to firefighters. It is simply a bunch of cables that can be attached to your equipment, securing it into the bed of the pickup truck.
For now, the systems are available in the F-150, the super duty series (F-250 through F-450), E-series vans, and their “Transit Connect” vehicles.
