Ford Collaborates with Dashcam Provider, Offering Greater Security for Commercial Vehicles

Photo Source: Ford 

The Blue Oval’s dedicated commercial entity–Ford Pro–has expanded rapidly since its launch, adding a bevy of new products and services along the way. On January 25, 2024, Ford Pro once again expanded its list of offerings in numerous ways. Ford Pro has unveiled several software and technology features to give fleet managers more insight about their commercial vehicles and how they are operated to manage fleet risk. Explaining the rationale for making the significant enhancements to the core solution, Dave Prusinski, general manager of Ford Pro Integrated Services, said, “Fleet managers have more to deal with than ever: managing fleets, maximizing uptime, and minimizing the risks of accidents to drivers, vehicles, and their business.”

Ford Pro will offer video telematics fully integrated into the Ford Pro Intelligence platform. The system uses a windshield-mounted, cloud-connected dashcam from dashcam provider Lytx, with two lenses to capture road-facing and in-cab footage. It delivers insights based on the customer’s Ford Pro Telematics subscription level and business needs. Data is stored within the Ford Pro Intelligence platform for 30 days, enabling drivers to access and view it at any point within the allotted time.

The Dashcams

To clarify, the dashcam’s outward-facing lens records footage that can potentially provide crucial information regarding an on-the-job occurrence. It can also capture context related to vehicle alerts or driving events, such as harsh braking to help avoid a road hazard. By utilizing this footage, drivers can be coached on proper driving habits and potentially strengthen cases against insurance claims, an attractive prospect given the 17 percent increase in auto insurance premiums in the first half of 2023. 

In other words, it delivers insights based on the consumer’s Telematics subscription level and business needs. Similarly, the driver-facing lens acquires information regarding questionable driving behavior such as drinking, smoking, or cell phone usage to provide possible solutions for the reduction or even eradication of distracted driving.

Ford Pro Upfit Integration System

Another element to the move will see standard vehicle motion inhibit control coming to the Ford Pro Upfit Integration System (UIS). The Ford Pro Upfit Integration System is designed to eliminate the need for hard switches, aftermarket modules, and secondary control panels. The feature will allow upfitters to create logic to prevent the vehicle from being shifted into gear while powered upfit equipment is deployed. It is worth noting that a Sub Compartment Lock will aim to allow drivers to use a touchscreen button on the SYNC screen, key fob, or door code to lock and unlock compartments in which cargo or equipment is stored.

With the Fleet Start Inhibit feature, fleet managers can also remotely disable the start of their vehicles using embedded vehicle technology and the Ford Pro Telematics dashboard; that is to say, managers can establish recurring and one-time schedules or send inhibit and de-inhibit commands remotely to prevent unauthorized use of their fleet vehicles.

If you are impressed by Ford’s efforts to improve security for commercial fleet customers, please come visit Sunrise Ford, where the selection is always wide and the excitement to help our customers is never-ending. Whether you are looking to take a peek at our new vehicle inventory or our quality used vehicles are more your speed, we have got you covered.