Ford’s 2023 F-Series Super Duty Features for Small Service Fleets

Ford’s 2023 F-Series Super Duty is jam-packed with features that simplify construction and even small service fleets’ daily jobs.

I recently got an up-close-and-personal look at Ford’s newest release to see how it can benefit service employees’ jobs easier during a recent ride-and-drive event at its Michigan Proving Ground (MPG). Much of the service market chooses Ford to keep its employees on the move.

According to the S&P Mobility 2017-2021 five-year average, US TIPNet registrations for pickups, chassis cabs, and straight trucks over 8,500 GVW, revealed that nearly half of service providers choose Ford Super Duty trucks, compared to two other major automakers.

The all-new 2023 Super Duty is shipping to customers now.

Ford’s 2023 F-Series Super Duty, By the Numbers

The 2023 Super Duty offers a broad range of engines for fleets to choose from, including two new options, depending on customer need:

• 6.8L 2V DEVCT PFI Gas V8: New for 2023, it offers 405 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque, greater than the previous 6.2L flex-fuel engine. It delivers more low-end torque, making starting on steep grades and merging onto highways easier.
• 6.7 High-Output Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel: Also new for 2023, it offers 500 hp and 1,200 lb.-ft. of torque, the most powerful Super Duty ever offered. It has a unique turbo, upgraded exhaust manifolds, and unique tuning.
• 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Turbo Diesel: Offers 475 hp and 1,050 lb.-ft. of torque. It can go longer intervals between oil changes, reducing downtime.
• 7.3 OHV PFI Gas V8: Offers 430 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. It optimizes low-end torque, and the variable-cam timing helps optimize high-output power.

Every Super Duty features a Ford-designed and built 10-speed TorqShift automatic transmission. Additionally, every chassis cab model comes standard with a power take off connection to run added equipment.

Four-wheel drive is now standard on XLT pickup models and above.

Simplifying the Towing Process

Approximately 96% of heavy-duty pickup owners use their trucks to tow, so the Super Duty has multiple features to simplify the towing process.

The new Pro Trailer Hitch Assist automatically backs the truck up and aligns the conventional hitch ball to the trailer receiver, making that process easier for newer drivers.

An improperly hitched trailer can lead to more wear and tear on the truck; it’s also unsafe.

Imagine a landscaper is towing lawn equipment on a trailer that’s improperly hitched. The driver likely won’t notice until they’re driving, forcing them to pull over and make adjustments, which could waste valuable time if they’re heading to their next job.

“You think your tongue weight is great, but as you get going, the improperly loaded trailer could induce some excessive component wearing your truck, trailer sway, or unsafe conditions,” Ford Diesel Commodity Calibration Supervisor Shaun Palmer said. “You often don't notice these things until you're down the road, so you waste some time having to do it over and over again. Smart Hitch takes a lot of that out of the equation and gives you a better idea of where you stand before you start.”

Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps drivers guide whatever they’re hauling backward with a simple knob. The technology moves the steering wheel for the driver. Cameras mounted on the back and sides of the trailer also allow the driver to watch their surroundings while guiding the trailer to the correct spot.

“The backbone of this vehicle is the towing and the capability,” Baughman said.

The 2023 Super Duty has a max payload of 8,000 lbs. and a max towing capacity of 40,000 lbs. To achieve these higher capacities, Ford strengthened the frame in key areas.

“The frame has been enhanced to improve towing. We’re talking about updates to the interface between the hitch and the frame itself. The enhancements are towards the back end, but there are also enhancements in the fifth-wheel cross member,” Ford Super Duty Vehicle Engineering Manager Aaron Bresky said.

Easing Daily Tasks with New Tech

Perhaps the technology Ford’s team was most excited about showing off was the new tailgate down camera. It’s mounted on top of the tailgate, alongside sensors that alert the driver when they are getting too close to something. The camera gives the driver a whole new point of view they didn’t have when hauling items with the tailgate down.

The sensors are helpful if backing your truck up to a loading dock or hitching a gooseneck or fifth-wheel trailer.

This technology eliminates the need for a spotter, which is good news considering many businesses deal with smaller workforces amid labor shortages. And with fewer skilled drivers seeking jobs, this technology also helps newer drivers, giving their employers peace of mind.

In addition to the live camera view, the technology provides an aerial mockup view of the vehicle that shows on the driver’s touchscreen, giving them a better idea of their position and surroundings.

Another new feature on the Super Duty is the onboard scales with smart hitch, which Ford introduced in its F-150 for the 2021 model year.

It estimates the payload in real-time and provides guidance on trailer tongue weight distribution directly on the center touchscreen or within the taillamps. The taillamp blinks to alert the operator adjusting the weight of the load whether the load is positioned correctly.

This allows the operator to make the adjustments easily without needing the driver to communicate with them. It’s important to note that the scales are only meant to assist with the weight distribution.

These features are what Ford Pro North America General Manager Tim Baughman referred to as “thoughtful technology” on the Super Duty.

You can read more about the new tech features on the 2023 F-Series Super Duty on Government Fleet.

Keeping Drivers’ Eyes on the Road

Ford’s Head-Up Display (HUD), new to the Super Duty model, gives drivers quick visual access to vital information — like the speed limit, the vehicle’s actual speed, the next turn on the navigation, and the time — without pulling their eyes from the road.

The HUD system projects this information in front of the driver on the lower half of the windshield, quickly conveying information and putting the most important information closer to the line of sight.

Technology like a touchscreen can distract a driver while the vehicle moves, taking their eyes away from the road. The HUD system keeps this information as close to a driver’s line of sight as possible.

Inspired by fighter jets, Ford first used this tech on its Escape model a few years ago.

Drivers can choose from three views — Normal Mode, Tow-Haul Mode, or Off-Road Mode — to see the information most important to their trip:

• In Normal Mode, information such as speed, speed limit, and navigation prompts are displayed.
• Tow-Haul Mode changes to include tachometer, gear, and trailer brake output.
• Off-Road Mode displays tachometer, drive line status, and vehicle pitch and roll updates.

Small Additions that Make a Huge Difference

When you look at the 2023 F-Series Super Duty bed, you’ll notice a few additions: a bedside step, a back bumper step, and a handle along the top rim of the bed. These features make it easier for operators to quickly grab something from the truck’s bed without climbing in.

This also comes in handy when you’re hauling something and the tailgate can’t open all the way, preventing you from climbing into the truck.

Standard Features Across the Lineup

Here's a look at what comes standard on the Super Duty XL and Super Duty XLT, both popular fleet models:

Super Duty XL:

• Trailer sway control.
• Hill start assist.
• Cruise control.
• Rearview camera.

Super Duty XLT

All of the above PLUS:

• Lane departure warning.
• Pre-collision assist w/autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
• Forward collision warning.
• Post-impact braking.

Super Duty XL/XLT:

• Trailer sway control.
• Hill start assist.
• Cruise control.
• Lane departure warning.
• Pre-collision assist w/autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
• Forward collision warning
• Post impact braking.

Many of the additional ADAS features mentioned in this article are available through optional packages. Offerings on the Super Duty XL have been increased for 2023.

As far as the chassis cab goes, because the trucks have various types of bodies put on, some equipment can cause interference with the sensors that limit ADAS ability. Therefore, fleets have asked to make the features optional.

Upfit Your Fleet Using the Upfit Integration System (UIS)

The new Ford Pro Upfit Integration System (UIS) changes how fleet managers work with upfitters to install, operate, and control body equipment and upfits by offering an interface where fleet managers and upfitters can collaborate.

As OEMs become more sophisticated with electrical components and wiring, upfitters often have to learn those components during the upfitting process. UIS provides aftermarket equipment makers with improved access to the truck’s electrical system and signals to integrate after-market equipment seamlessly. Equipment makers can also add and personalize digital buttons that allow Super Duty drivers to control their equipment from the SYNC touchscreen inside the truck.

With more reliable connections and vehicle integrations, fleet managers and upfitters no longer have to rely on cutting and splicing into the vehicle wiring and potentially voiding their vehicle warranty.

“The UIS makes it easier for upfitters to build,” Ford Commercial Truck Brand Manager Connor Dunlop said. “They can plug into the vehicle, get the signals they’ve previously had to reverse engineer the truck for. We’re giving it to them in the data format they want so that they can quickly get that information…and program their upfits.”

The upfits can be added to the touchscreen, eliminating the need for an added control panel.

The system allows for high levels of customization and interlocks.

The UIS also helps work truck fleets using a Super Duty chassis and adding a powered service body.

“It's better integration between the second unit body and any aftermarket equipment that goes on the truck tied directly to the chassis,” Dunlop explained.

To put it simply, every component of Ford's 2023 F-Series Super Duty is built to help small service fleets put in the work.

"We lead in these segments because we understand their business and we've developed a truck as the platform to do the work for them," Baughman said.