- Details
- Category: Industry News
New for 2021 model year, the Ford Transit is updated with livery, parcel delivery, and recreational vehicle option packages to meet the changing needs of operators and the traveling public.
“With many Americans working from home and practicing social distancing during the pandemic, the popularity of recreational vehicles has soared at the same time package delivery has seen incredible growth,” says Tiffany Chang, Ford fleet brand strategy manager. “Our new 2021 Transit options help people design the recreational vehicles of their dreams and help enable our commercial customers to more efficiently deliver goods and services across the country.”
2021 Ford Transit passenger van
Transit Vans for Work: Parcel Delivery and Livery
The Livery Package serves the premium transportation market with a ready-made configuration focused on comfort and style. Available for Transit passenger van XLT, the package includes 10-way power seats finished in Ebony leather for all passengers, power-sliding side door, HID headlamps, full privacy glass, and 16-inch silver wheels with exposed lug nuts with black front wheel well liners for both single- and dual-rear-wheel models. Other standard appearance features include body-colored bumpers and chrome grille. The full suite of Ford Co-Pilot 360 Technology is standard on these vans, including Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Information System, Lane-Keeping System, Auto High-Beam Headlamps, reverse and side sensing, and rearview camera with trailer hitch assist.
A new Parcel Delivery Package focuses on the needs of an industry seeing incredible growth. It starts with a number of design refinements standard for the 2021 Transit that provide improved access to the cargo compartment. The manual parking brake on the floor by the driver’s seat has been replaced in all Transit vans up to 9,500 pounds GVWR by an electronic parking brake, creating a 50 percent wider aisle that is clear between the front seats.
An optional center console with right-side shifter further improves walkthrough and offers more than 7 inches of additional driver legroom. The overhead shelf is now optional, providing more clearance when standing. The Parcel Delivery Package adds 50/50 hinged rear doors featuring a wide 253-degree opening and full interior lighting. The armrests have been eliminated from both the driver and passenger seats to further improve cargo access.
Transit Vans for Play: Motorhomes, RVs, and Adventure Vans
July RV shipments were the highest in 40 years at 43,035 units, and 46 million Americans say they plan to take an RV trip in the next 12 months, according to the RV Industry Association.
More than half of all motorhomes sold in the United States are built on Ford chassis. Ford is using its expertise and responding to growing demand with appearance updates for the 2021 Transit, including new wheel choices and three new exterior colors that keep their good looks even when covered in campsite dirt. Three new and improved option packages include the updated Transit Motorhome Prep Package for cutaway, the new RV Prep Package for cargo van and a new Adventure Prep Package for cargo or crew van.
A honeycomb mesh grille is standard on all 2021 Transit models. Production begins this fall at Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo.
Visit corporate.ford.com for more information.
[10.13.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
It’s another mixed bag this week for the next stimulus/aid package as politics is getting real fewer than four weeks from Election Day. It’s a showdown between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. With the added wrinkle of President Donald Trump weighing in via Twitter in a confusing back and forth to first pledge his support for a relief bill, then tabling it until after the election, then walking it back and pushing for an even larger bill (which, according to McConnell, has zero support from Senate Republicans), it’s been a roller-coaster kind of week. Do we expect anything less in 2020?
Update 10/13: Senate Majority Leader McConnell indicated that they would vote sometime this month once the full chamber returns on 10/23 on a limited stimulus package that would include new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), as well as unemployment benefits. Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin offered up a $1.8T package to House Speaker Pelosi, which was dismissed because "the Trump proposal falls significantly short of what this pandemic and deep recession demand," according to the Speaker. President Trump has been tweeting on the issue again, today posting "Go big or go home!!!"
Frustrating for sure, but it’s so important not to lose hope or take your foot off the gas regarding Congressional outreach. The major national associations—among them the National Limousine Association (NLA), Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), American Bus Association (ABA), United Motorcoach Association (UMA), and The Transportation Alliance, to name a few—have all been working hard behind the scenes to advocate for our industries, whether it’s chauffeured ground transportation, travel and tourism, or corporate travel. We’re all connected, and our place in the overall global travel network requires that we all have the support of our government. Your voice can make a difference by continuing to contact your representatives. Remember: The presidential race dominates headlines, but every House seat is up for reelection, as are 33 Senate seats. Are you satisfied with the job they are doing during one of the worst crises of our lifetime? Only you can answer that with your vote.
Among the larger bills are the Coronavirus Economic Relief for Transportation Services (CERTS Act), a version of which is currently floating around in the House (H.R.7642) AND Senate (S.4150) with broad bipartisan support for both by senior leadership. All in all, it has more than 300 cosponsors—nearly 60 percent of Congress.
However, CERTS was designed to be attached to a larger bill, not to pass as a standalone, and it desperately seeks that bigger legislation.
Broadly across the industry, another round of PPP, among other loans and grants, is sorely needed until the pandemic is under control for small businesses. That too has strong support, but is being buried by other sticking points.
Even if you’ve already reached out to your representatives, do so again. Call, email, or request a meeting. It’s critical they see that there are hundreds of thousands of jobs on the line, and without a strong and healthy travel sector, the economy cannot fully recover.
To find your representative, click here. Busesmoveamerica.com also has form letters available to exert your support for the CERTS Act.
Don’t give up hope. Fight on. Your voice is powerful.
[10.09.20]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
The Transportation Alliance (TTA) recently announced its packed slate of experts lined up for Mobilize 2020, the association’s 102nd annual convention and expo onsite in Atlanta on Nov. 7-9, all of whom will help fleet operators through the COVID-19 pandemic and position them for the coming business resurgence.
Mobilize 2020 speakers include:
Phillip Russell Ogletree Deakins
Phillip Russell, a board-certified labor and employment lawyer who represents businesses only in workplace safety (OSHA) and employment litigation matters. Russell also advises clients in complying with a wide range of laws governing the workplace. During the COVID pandemic, he has advised clients on workplace safety and health issues, the new paid leave requirements, furloughs and layoffs, and return-to-work challenges. Russell is a shareholder in the international labor and employment law firm, Ogletree Deakins.
Matt Daus Windels Marx
Matt Daus, the founder and chair of the Transportation Practice Group at the law firm of Windels Marx and a frequent industry speaker. His practice focuses on transportation law, counseling clients on a broad range of matters including regulatory compliance, strategic planning, procurement, litigation, regulatory due diligence, expert witness testimony and reports, administrative law, and public policy. Before joining the firm, Daus served as Commissioner and Chairman of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission for more than eight years.
Paul Miller Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies
Paul Miller, founding partner of Miller/Wenhold Capitol Strategies in Washington, D.C., where he uses his decades of experience on Capitol Hill to successfully formulate and execute government affairs strategies on behalf of clients. He has appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC News, C-Span, CNN, MSNBC, The News Hour with Jim Lehr, and Lou Dobbs discussing ethics and transparency issues. Miller has served as legislative counsel to TTA for 10 years.
Russell will take to the podium on Saturday, November 7, for his discussion “COVID Hot Topics for Employers Now and in the Next Phase” where he will focus on employment law issues that businesses face as a result of the pandemic. Daus will speak on Sunday, November 8th, on “Federal Assistance and PPP Loan Forgiveness” and Miller will be addressing Mobilize 2020 attendees on the final day of the annual convention with his session on “Independent Contractor Rulemaking by DOL” as well as a recap of what the election results portend for our industry.
Mobilize 2020 will provide an informative, innovative and, most importantly, safe environment for attendees. Masks will be a requirement for all attendees, and all events will be set up to ensure social distancing according to CDC guidelines. To further ensure a safe event, all registrations must be completed online by October 26—no on-site registrations will be allowed.
Visit TheTransportationAlliance.org/102nd-annual-convention-and-expo for more information and to register for Mobilize 2020.
[10.08.20]