Bean Counters Take Over Ford" Cut Use of Company Cars-("TLL") Yeah That Will Really Help Turn Things Around!

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. employees can no longer use company-owned pool vehicles for trips during the workday, which could affect the car insurance rates of thousands of workers.

The cut, which was expected to save the automaker about $4 million a year and improve its cash flow by $10 million, was outlined in a memo to employees obtained by The Detroit News.

Ford also was cutting by 25 percent a fleet of vehicles used exclusively by executives, spokeswoman Anne Marie Gattari said.

Under the old system, Ford employees routinely checked out pool vehicles to travel back and forth between Ford's offices, plants and other facilities during the workday.

Now they will have to rely on limited shuttle service or use their personal vehicles. Pool vehicles will be available only for overnight business trips.

Gattari said Wednesday that shuttle buses would make trips easier for employees.

``We're making it more convenient,'' she said. ``And the van service will be expanded if need be.''

She said a ``small number'' of employees were affected by the cuts, but she refused to comment on any numbers.

``We're cutting costs as we've been looking to do for a long time,'' she said.

But some employees are worried that the move may result in higher insurance rates, because auto insurers typically charge higher premiums for policyholders who use personal vehicles for work purposes.

The world's second-largest automaker, which lost $5.45 billion last year, has cut a number of employee benefits and other programs in an effort to save money.

Last year, the automaker indefinitely suspended 401(k) matching contributions and raised health insurance premiums for salaried employees and retirees

"The Last Line: While all of this "cost cutting" may impress the Wall Street hacks, it just mis-focuses and gets in the way of the Ford Folks who have to do the real job ...DESIGN AND BUILD GOOD CARS THAT WORK, Come on Bill you have been on the right track don't let "sweating the smallies" upset your vision for Ford!