Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Ford Highlights How F-Series Shaped America

Ford recently highlighted how the F-Series has been a part of the U.S. workplace for nearly a century.

by Staff
September 10, 2015
Ford Highlights How F-Series Shaped America

A 1962 Ford F-850 truck with concrete mixer at a job site. Photo: Ford Archives

2 min to read


A 1962 Ford F-850 truck with concrete mixer at a job site. Photo: Ford Archives

Ford recently highlighted how the F-Series has been a part of the U.S. workplace for nearly a century.

Ad Loading...

One of the early landmark projects that involved the F-Series was the building of the Hoover Dam in 1931. According to Ford archives, estimates of the project included 5.5 million barrels of cement, 5 million cubic yards of concrete masonry, 15 million pounds of hydraulic equipment, 40 million pounds of electrical equipment, nearly 20 million pounds of gates and valves, and 30 million pounds of reinforcing steel.

Ad Loading...

The Alaska Road Commission used Ford trucks to help build and maintain more than 2,000 miles of road and 70,000 miles of trails. In 1939, a loaded, 2-ton Ford V-8 truck could make the 370-mile run from Valdez to Fairbanks, via gravel roads, at an average speed of over 20 mph, according to Ford records.

In 1933, Ford F-Series trucks were used in another major dam project near Glasgow, Montana, with the building of the Fort Peck Dam across the Missouri River. At the time, the Fort Peck Dam was the world's largest earthen dam, containing 123 million cubic yards of earth. During construction, Ford V-8 trucks hauled 14 million yards of earth to clear a path, according the automaker's records.

In addition to helping with the construction of the Hoover Dam, Ford F-Series trucks were used in the late 1930s on the construction of the Hoover Dam Transmission Line, which was designed to power the city of Los Angeles. Ford trucks were used as concrete mixers, were equipped with winch gear for hoisting power towers, and even as a portable service station for fueling field equipment in the high desert, according to the automaker.

Today, Ford F-Series trucks are employed across numerous industries, including waste management; street and highway construction; electric services; water, sewer, and pipeline construction; and in the crude petroleum and natural gas industry.

More Operations

AF news recap thumbnail
Operationsby Faith HowellSeptember 11, 2026

Fleet Has a Talent Pipeline Problem. What Comes Next? | AF News Recap

Where will fleet’s next generation of leaders come from? This week, we’re looking at the industry’s talent pipeline, what certification can add to a fleet career, how to build an award-worthy track record, and the return of Automotive Fleet’s Personal Use Survey.

Read More →
5Keys Engage
Operationsby StaffSeptember 9, 2026

Smith System Launches Driver Risk Management Program

Fleets have more driver data than ever, but identifying risky behavior doesn't necessarily correct it. Smith System's new Driver Risk Management program combines monitoring, training, and follow-up coaching to help fleets connect risk signals with driver intervention.

Read More →
Graphic promoting Automotive Fleet's 2026 Personal Use Survey with the text "Have a Personal Use Policy? We Want to Know!" encouraging fleet managers to complete the annual industry survey.
Operationsby StaffSeptember 8, 2026

Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers

Less than two weeks left! Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Automotive Fleet news graphic featuring a woman pointing to the headline, “From AI Prompts to AI-Generated Safety Songs,” against a blue background.
Operationsby Faith HowellSeptember 4, 2026

From AI Prompts to AI-Generated Safety Songs | AF News Recap

Can better prompts make AI more useful for fleet managers? This week, we’re breaking down smarter fleet analysis, an AI-assisted experiment that turned safety training into music, and what happened to fuel prices in August.

Read More →
Interviewee photo and quote from her
Operationsby Chris BrownSeptember 1, 2026

How to Write Better AI Prompts for Fleet Analysis

Include these six elements in your fleet prompts to generate more relevant analysis and accurate answers.

Read More →
A Fleet Meets blue, red, and teal graphic with Eric Kilgore's headshot, title, and company.
Operationsby Faith HowellAugust 21, 2026

Fleet Meets: Eric Kilgore

This edition of the Fleet Meets series features one of the industry's best leaders driving multi-market and national operations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
fleetio coast pay cost
OperationsAugust 13, 2026

Why Reactive Fleet Management Is Becoming Too Expensive to Sustain

Research highlights a growing need for proactive management strategies to address rising costs in fleet operations effectively.

Read More →
"Element Mobility report cover with a utility fleet truck and the title 'What your fleet KPIs aren't telling you.'"
SponsoredAugust 12, 2026

What Your Fleet KPIs Aren’t Telling You

Tracking fleet metrics is only useful when the data leads to better decisions. This guide helps fleet leaders assess cost, utilization, and downtime more accurately, identify performance gaps, and prioritize the actions that can improve operational results.

Read More →
Cover of the AgileFleet white paper "Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks" with the AgileFleet logo and a photo of fleet vehicles parked outside a government building.
SponsoredAugust 7, 2026

Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks

Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Turning Fleet Payment data into executive insights blue podcast thumbnail
OperationsAugust 5, 2026

Turning Fleet Payment Data into Executive Insights

Does data alone drive results in operations?

Read More →