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CEO Jim Farley explained on a recent episode of the “Office Hours: Business Edition” podcast that Ford has roughly 5,000 open mechanic positions. The pay is strong at $120,000 a year.
Farley said it takes about five years of training and hands-on experience to learn how to pull a diesel engine from a Super Duty. But the country isn’t producing enough people with that capability. He blamed the hollowing out of trade education and said the nation has failed to invest in a new generation of workers who could make a solid living in these roles.
The automotive sector alone sees an annual deficit of about 37,000 trained technicians, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.
via MotorBiscuit
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Wisconsin is getting another boost in DC fast charging thanks to $14 million in recovered federal grants for 26 sites statewide. The funding comes through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, part of President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The 26 new charging stations will be built along Wisconsin’s Alternative Fuel Corridor and sited at convenience stores, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, and other travel stops. They’ll service the more than 37,000 EV drivers registered in the state, as well as road‑trippers and visitors, and will have a minimum of 150 kW per port.
Round two awardees include Tesla, Kwik Trip, and Universal EV.
via Electrek
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Amazon Autos continues to expand as customers can now purchase certified pre-owned Ford vehicles online. The program is being launched in Dallas, Seattle, and Los Angeles, but there are plans to expand to other markets as well.
The collaboration means shoppers can browse used vehicles from the comfort of their home. Customers can buy the vehicle online and then schedule a time to pick it up. Users will be shown vehicles within a 75-mile radius and they can see itemized pricing as well as apply for financing online.
Ford said all models have passed a multi-point inspection and come with roadside assistance. More importantly, there’s a 14-day/1,000-mile money-back guarantee.
via CarScoops
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Ford continues to not make a police package out of the latest Mustang, but more and more states keep doing it themselves. The latest state police force to bring on the Mustang GT is Indiana.
The Indiana State Police have reached out to help make sure they can keep up with the crooks.
Florida, Virginia, and other states have begun adding the Ford Mustang GT to the fleets of their respective State Troopers. The return of the sports cars to police use is a bit of a surprise, but when cars and SUVs start at 300 horsepower and quickly climb to 500 and 600, the police SUVs aren’t up to the job.
via CarBuzz
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By Demetra Markopoulos, SVP of Fleets at ServiceUp
It’s vital for fleet managers to stay on top of industry trends including: 1) electrification and the shift to cleaner alternative fuels, 2) vehicle and route optimization leveraging data and analytics, 3) a focus on driver loyalty and training, and 4) addressing TCO through fleet right-sizing.
The managers who understand these trends will be in a stronger position to improve operational efficiency, retain drivers, and reduce costs.
Fleet managers recognize that their industry is undergoing a series of major shifts, from a sweeping digital transformation to the adoption of electric and clean-energy vehicles.
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Training, Coaching and Safety
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By Ed Pierce, Editor, Fleet Management Weekly, Former Marketing Director for CEI
Over the past few years, some fleet safety experts have suggested replacing traditional driver training with ongoing coaching. Coaching is valuable, no doubt—but dropping training entirely misses the bigger picture.
Training and coaching do different things, and both are essential. The best results come when fleets combine strong, structured training with consistent, personalized coaching.
Driver training is the foundation of every safe, productive fleet, giving drivers the same core knowledge, skills, and understanding of what’s expected behind the wheel. Coaching keeps drivers improving, but it can’t replace training.
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From J.D. Power
More than one-third (36%) of buyers in the new-vehicle market say tariffs impacted their vehicle purchase process, with most of them buying sooner than they had planned, according to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study.
Despite the market shifts, overall customer satisfaction with the vehicle purchase experience increases by 1 point this year to 802 (on a 1,000-point scale).
“Satisfaction among buyers has been gradually improving over the years, including a modest increase in 2025 despite the added uncertainties that tariffs bring.” said Stewart Stropp, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power.
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