DeWALT, a manufacturer of industrial power tools, is collaborating with Ford Motor Co. to launch Tool Link, the industry’s first Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) asset tracking system that enables professional contractors to track detailed inventory of their tools and equipment stored in the pickup box or van.   

Available on the 2009 F-150, F-Series Super Duty trucks, and E-Series vans this fall, Tool Link allows end users to track assets and control inventory, ensuring crews arrive and leave the jobsite with the right tools and materials for their job. The system includes rugged reliable labels that allow the truck operators to tag, scan and track expensive tools, equipment and other assets. When the vehicle is running, a pair of RFID antennas, mounted in corrosion and impact-resistant housings on the inside of the pickup box, scan the box for tagged items on a pre-programmed inventory list. This data is transmitted to a reader mounted inside the cab and displayed on the in-dash computer screen, alerting the driver if any inventoried tools are not loaded on the truck.  

For more information, visit: www.dewalt.com