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What does BFT mean to you and how do you live the promise?


ford f-150 (select to view enlarged photo)
Ford F-150

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AUSTIN, TX--July 25, 2013: The truck culture is unique. Truck owners – men and women – define themselves as individuals with more independence than most people. Truck designers, engineers and marketing people share that, and the team at Ford is no exception.

"For years, I have asked the Ford Truck Team to share the rules that they have developed for team motivation," says Linda Water Nelson, editor of INSIDEout: Cars & Trucks and sport vehicle editor for Texas Fish & Game magazine. "Finally the Built Ford Tough (BFT) team has released them for their fans."

I know that the letters, BFT, sometimes stand for other things but the T is always for truck," she adds.

The brainchild of Doug Scott, who heads up sales and marketing for Ford Trucks, the rules number about 25, but only the 10 most popular have been sanitized for external consumption. They are also updated on a regular basis.

"I think that, in a tongue-in-cheek way, they actually do capture the truck culture," Water Nelson says. "Truck people are perceived to be tougher and more resilient than their automotive counterparts.

So, here are the BFT Truck Team Rules:

Raw meat is acceptable team food. Raw fish is not. Roller luggage is expressly forbidden, except for golf bags. Earplugs are not permitted at NASCAR races or National Hot Rod Association events No whining! Airport trams and moving sidewalks are off-limits in order to promote team conditioning. When camping, you must set up your own truck or trailer. No glamping. No wimpy cell phone ring tones. Jackets or ponchos are acceptable rain gear. Umbrellas are not. True BFT Truck Team members wear real jeans, not skinny jeans. For flights departing at 7 a.m. or later, an office appearance is expected prior to departure. Red-eye flights are expected to maximize productivity. There are no "travel days".

Does all this lead to a more fit force? Water Nelson says that she sees this independent streak among truck owners and drivers, but "I suspect that most couldn't fit into those skinny jeans even if they wanted to."