The Ford F-150 was named as Automotive Fleet’s 2020 Fleet Truck of the Year, as voted by professional fleet managers.

The F-150 achieves the honor amid a strong truck and vocational market as workers are increasingly seeking service body trucks and vans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s an honor to have the 2020 F-150 named Automotive Fleet Magazine’s Fleet Truck of the Year. At Ford, we pride ourselves on building the hardest working trucks for hard working people and companies to help them get the job done,” said Tim Stoehr, Ford North America truck regional product line manager. 

The F-150 is available in seven trim levels: XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Limited, and Raptor. Engine options for the 2020 model-year include a 3.3L V6, 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6s, a 5.0L V8, and a 3.0L Power Stroke diesel.

“Simply put, the 13th generation F-150 is a great product. It has the proven durability and toughness that fleets require. It raised the bar as the standard of the truck segment when it was revealed in 2015 with its military-grade, high-strength aluminum alloy that cut the curb weight by nearly 800 lbs,” said Stoehr. “What it ultimately comes down to is trust and fleet owners trust that the Ford F-150 will help get the job done every time.”

The F-150 can match those needs of a basic work truck spec all the way up to trim levels that fleets would spec for a truck for a manager, supervisor, or someone on an executive level. 

Ford is continually reassessing and optimizing the content in its trucks based on feedback from various fleet sources, such as commercial themselves or from its long-standing fleet advisory board.

The goal from gathering all this feedback is to ensure that everything going into fleet-oriented trims provide enough value for fleets.

New for the 2021-MY

The Ford F-150 is entering its fourteenth generation for the 2021 model-year, arriving with a slew of new features and power options.

“The all-new 2021 F-150 is packed with thoughtful new features and technologies we developed through our Human-Centered Design thinking process. Features like the Tailgate Work Surface, the Interior Work Surface and Pro Power Onboard are direct results of hours upon hours of observing how our customers use their F-150s, learning their pain points and coming up with practical solutions,” said Stoehr. “That included engaging fleet operators and our fleet advisory board to better understand our fleet customers’ needs and hone in on ways to meet them.”

The all-new 3.5L PowerBoost full hybrid V-6 powertrain is targeting an EPA-estimated range of approximately 700 miles on a single tank of gas, and will deliver 12,700 pounds of available maximum towing

The new powertrain will be available on every trim level, delivering 430 hp and 570 lb.-ft. of torque, the most powerful engine in the F-150 lineup.

The PowerBoost system is mated to the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and modified10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with a 35-kilowatt (47-hp) electric motor, Ford said. The electric motor applies regenerative braking energy capture to help recharge its battery.

In addition, for the 2021-MY, the F-150 will also be available with previous engine options mentioned. The 5.0L V-8 and 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 engine both increased hp and torque for 2021-MY.

The 2021 Ford F-150 has a maximum tow rating of 14,000 pounds, an 800-pound increase over the 2020-MY. 

Continued Fleet Support

New workplace features include a vault that is added to a lockable, fold-flat rear storage that extends through the rear seats. The new Tailgate Work Surface adds cleats to the sides of the tailgate to act as tie-down locations for extra-long items in the bed; and clamp pockets are built into the tailgate so users can hold materials down for precision work.

An available Pro Power Onboard power generator expands F-150’s capability to provide exportable power, which is accessible through in-cabin outlets and up to four cargo bed-mounted 120-volt 20-amp outlets, with a 240-volt 30-amp outlet on the 7.2-kilowatt version, which can be used to charge workplace tools. The hybrid model has a standard Pro Power Onboard that brings 2.4 kilowatts of standard power and an available 7.2 kilowatts.

The available Interior Work Surface is designed for drivers who need to write on documents or work on a laptop. For this, Ford created a stowable shifter for the F-150, which folds into the center console and allows full access to the large flat work surface.

Maximum payload increases to 3,325 pounds on the 5.0L V-8, with gains across most trim levels and configurations, according to Ford. PowerBoost-equipped trucks debut with a maximum payload of 2,120 pounds for the crew cab 4x2 model with 6.5-foot box. The F-150 also adds technology that works to improve towing convenience and driver confidence, including Pro Trailer Backup Assist and Trailer Reverse Guidance.