Borgman Ford Commercial Vehicles

Finishing this Season, Prepping for Next

This month my wife and oldest daughter traveled toChapala Mexico to work and teach at an orphanage. The stories from their journey are both heartwarming and terrible. While they were gone I thought it would be a nice surprise to completely re-landscape our yard. While my mind thought it would be fun, my body will likely never recover.

I have a new respect for the people and companies that work so hard to keep our landscapes beautiful. As I was hooking the chain around the fifth bush I was pulling out the thorns were shredding my forearms and knees, I kept thinking that maybe I should call someone who knows what they are doing…

Like most men, I am stubborn, and as such I kept going. If it were not for my Ford F -150, I would not have gotten it done in time. It popped the bushes out with ease, and some of the root bases were as big as the truck itself. It also helped pull down two trees and made numerous runs to and from the hardware store and greenhouse. I also managed to do all of this without getting any blood on the interior of the truck, a fact I am tremendously proud of.

At Borgman Ford we take a lot of pride in supplying the men and women of the landscape industry with the best vehicles on the market. From the fuel efficient transit connect, the more than capable Super Duty truck and chassis, to the amazingly powerful F-750, Borgman Ford has the tools landscapers need to keep mowing, plowing, and keeping West Michigan beautiful.

In case you were wondering, the yard looks great and almost all of my wounds have healed.

August is a great month to step back and analyze your fuel costs, calculate ways to reduce it, and take action. Did you know that after labor, fuel is the next highest cost for a fleet? Especially for those in peak business, such as landscaping and maintenance businesses, it’s crucial to ensure your fuel is being properly managed and used so your aggregate fuel cost can be as low as possible. Van Manen Petroleum Group is a local resource that offers prompt, dependable service for both fuel management and delivery.

Jordan Huizinga, a fuel consultant at Van Manen Petroleum, said that when it comes to heightened fuel costs, three main things contribute:

Fraudulent purchases, such as sodas, snacks, lottery tickets, cigarettes, ect. while purchasing fuel.

Time spent pumping fuel. Consumer targeted fuel providers have much slower pumps and nozzles. Fueling at these stations takes extra time on your dime. “Cardlock stations are set up for large trucks and trailers, fit with high speed pumps. Comparing that to, for example, a Speedway on the corner – they’re focused on the consumer market while we’re targeting the commercial,” Huizinga said.

Lack of control over fuel grade purchases. When you go to non-commercial fuel stations, the quality of your petroleum and the cost may be sacrificed.

By combatting each of these issues, your aggregate fuel costs for a fleet may significantly lower. It’s as simple as having a fleet management system to detect fraudulent purchases, and establishing fuel purchasing rules to guarantee the purchase of a specific grade.

Van Manen Petrolum owns and operates the Pacific Pride stations in our area, ensuring that facilities are maintained, conveniently located, competitively priced, and fit with premium quality so you can get more for your money. And, cardlock stations are safety focused, so that efficiency can be delivered in the best, safest way possible.

It’s time to reconsider your fuel spending trends. Partnering with a group like Van Manen can save you up to $.30 a gallon.

“Our goal is to be a consultant when it comes to how you manage your fuel and oil,” Huizinga said about their Fuel Management Solution. When speaking of their Pacific Pride and petroleum delivery services, he said, “Mobile product is an expensive product, and when it comes to our oil, we will provide premium quality with a safe, quick and secure environment.”

July is a month to celebrate our nation’s freedom, barbeque with our family and friends, sit pool side and relax as the summer settles in. During this time, I am sure you will have the opportunity to reflect on the winter vortex that we just had and realize the Michigan summers are a great reminder on “why you like to live in West Michigan”. With the summer heat, comes the extended use of our air conditioning units and the power we pull from the electrical grid. Hence, thank your local electrician who installs and services your electrical needs.

The Full Size Transit may be the most versatile, fuel efficient, and work capable vehicle Ford Motor Company has  ever made. It has a length and height to fit the needs of almost any job, from a small residential repair, to a large scale commercial electrical application. With upfit options such as interior shelving, exterior ladder racks, and a heavy duty towing package, the new van can keep your crews on the job site longer. While the Transit is designed to meet the needs of many types of businesses, it suits electricians and electrical companies especially well: with 3 wheelbase lengths, 3 roof heights and 3 engine choices.

While on a recent mission trip to Vietnam, I was able to preview the Full Size Transit in person. Maneuvering the “roads” in the hills of that impoverished country would have been a difficult test for any vehicle. The Transit handled it like a leopard climbing a tree. Braking was excellent, the ride was superb, and it was easily able to transport our group from the city to the countryside.

The Transit will soon be landing at our dealership, and we plan to put a few in demo service immediately. There is more versatility, more MPG, and more payload than ever before. I am positive the new van will get you charged up, and exceed your expectations.

Whether you’re an electrician or in any other field, give us a call to schedule a demo today.

Scott Gibbons
Commercial Account Manager

Hold onto your hats, Van Fans, because the new Ford Transit might just blow them away.

The all-new 2015 Ford Transit, America’s newest Built Ford Tough van, delivers as much as 46 percent better gas mileage than Ford E-Series and offers Ford van customers more choices and capability than ever.

Transit goes on sale for the first time at U.S. and Canadian dealerships this summer, eventually replacing America’s best-selling van for 35 years, E-Series, first sold in 1961 as Ford Econoline.

Read the rest of this entry »

The 2014 Stripped Chassis F-59 is the optimal model for your business’ step van demands. Borgman Ford Commercial Services now has the ability to order and upfit Step Vans for Fed Ex Ground, Fed Ex Home Delivery, and Uniform Distribution Companies. Contact Michael Hoving at (616) 249-8808 with any questions and read below why the F-59 is fit for you! Then, explore the upfit options with Morgan Olson and Utilimaster.

The Stripped Chassis F-59 is fit with:

• a 6.8L EFI Triton V10 Engine that has 5-speed TorqShift automatic transmission. The engine features a free-breathing 30valve-per-cylinder induction system and generates 362 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque.
• a 4-wheel disc anti-lock braking system for smooth and confident stopping action.
• a CNG/LPG gaseous engine prep package for power conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquid propane gas (LPG) is available with all engines.

Click here for more information on the 2014 Stripped Chassis F-59, and don’t forget to read how our upfit partners can customize your commercial vehicle below.

Ford understands the needs of a commercial fleet. That’s why they developed Crew Chief Technology powered by Telogis. By using GPS receivers, Crew Chief tracks all your fleet vehicles in real time, collecting vehicle data (battery, fuel, tire pressure, idling time, ect.), route information (custom map overlays, speeding alerts, directions, vehicle history trails, ect.) and delivering comprehensive reports that allow you to make cost-effective decisions.

The Crew Chief technology is available on all commercial vehicles: the F-150, Super Duty, E-Series and Transit Connect; Crew Chief is also available for retro-fitting on your existing fleet vehicles!

Crew Chief Technology yields over 15% improvement in fuel economy with the help of features such as optimized routing, uneconomical driving monitoring and unnecessary idling alerts. Watch the video to the right to see other ways Crew Chief can help improve your business!

Get a lease rate as low as 0.9% on new ford F-Super Duty, Transit Connect and Transit!

… that puts our pricing lower than any other leasing company! By leasing directly through Borgman, you are cutting out the “middle man” and simultaneously lowering your payments and cost and receiving tailored service and order specifications. Borgman offers leasing options with unlimited miles, eco-friendly options and tons of different services to increase maintenance quality and customer satisfaction.

In addition, for the first time ever Ford Credit, in partnership with Ford Motor Company, is pleased to announce subvened rates on eligible vehicles leased on a Ford Credit CommerciaLease (TRAC) supplement.

At Borgman Ford Commercial Services, you have all the benefits of a small locally owned business with a big business reach. If you have any questions, don’t delay, call us today!

Borgman is expanding their already outstanding Commercial Services and as an introduction incentive is offering $100 referral cash for anyone referred to Commercial Services who makes a purchase through July! Tell your business partners, friends and family about Commercial Services and they’ll get a price they love while you get cash to enjoy. Learn more about this commercial incentive here.

Borgman Ford Mazda has served businesses in the Grand Rapids and West Michigan communities for more than five decades. Whether you’re a sole-proprietor looking for dependable, economic and technologically savvy transportation solutions or a fleet manager seeing heavy duty solutions for private enterprise or municipal/non-profit service, Borgman has the commercial know-how and convenient service to keep your business moving.

We offer a robust inventory of light, medium, and heavy duty trucks, vans and chassis to meet every business need. Stay tuned for the highly anticipated 2015 Full Size Transit coming soon!

For any commercial needs, contact Commercial Account Managers Scott Gibbons or Michael Hoving.

Finding the elusive balance between maximum performance and sustainability is every commercial businesses dream. What strides can you take to reduce your footprint? How can you do this without sacrificing the power and output of your vehicles? Business Preferred Network (BPN) dealerships are your source for alternative fuel solutions (and the best performing Ford vehicles!) in order to make this happen. They will help identify the correct truck and the right fuel for your individual business needs to ensure you’re not emitting more than you have to. Then, let Borgman Ford show and provide you with the ultimate vehicle options!

Watch this BPN video to learn which vehicle is best for your business, and how each option offers efficient solutions and alternatives to ensure steps toward sustainability.

Below are the basics on why learning about alternative fuel solutions is necessary for all sizes of commercial businesses.

Reduced carbon footprint.

For many businesses, operating a fleet is the single largest contributor to their carbon footprint. When a business decides to reduce its carbon output, the fleet managers need to know how to identify which alternative fuel will make the biggest difference.

Blueprint for sustainability.

“Ford has tripled production capacity for electrified vehicles in North America compared to 2011. This includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles, with most sales coming from hybrid electric vehicles… This is part of the Ford strategy to offer customers a number of powertrain options – both conventional gasoline technologies and electrified options – within existing vehicle lines. We call this the power of choice, and it’s an important part of our vision to further evolve our fleet and our company.”

Excerpted from the William Clay Ford Jr. “Year in Review” Executive Message in the 13th annual nonfinancial report of Ford Motor Company

Cost of ownership

All fleet managers should consider the combination of acquisition costs, fuel prices and residual values to determine the total cost of ownership of the vehicles in their fleet. Although acquisition costs for alternative-fuel vehicles may be higher, these costs are often offset by the lower costs of the alternative fuels. In addition, the lower volatility of alternative-fuel prices reduces risk of future price shocks.

Contact Borgman Ford Commercial to discuss these topics and to see how a BPN vehicle can make a difference in sustainability and work performance.