Originally Posted by JoeBlowFord

In this post, I will attempt help others gain a better understanding of how best to follow the process after placing an order with a dealer to taking delivery of their truck. These are all things I've learned through reading the forums and tracking my own custom order. If anyone sees errors with my topics, please let me know. This is will be long, but if you're able to stick with it, it should be helpful.

Topics Covered

1. Terminology
2. Major Milestones
3. Window Sticker
4. Tracking Tools
5. When to ask for help
6. Additional Tips & Tricks

1. Terminology
These are common terms used when tracking your order.

• Dealer Code - A 6 digit code specific to your dealer. Dealer codes for USA start with an F with 5 numbers after it. Canada starts with a C and could have an A or a B after it with 6 digits total. This should be on your order sheet, listed at the top as "Sales Code". See below topic 6.1 for a method to find your dealer code.
• Order Code - This is a 4 digit code assigned by the dealer. Sometimes the order number on your order sheet may be different from what the dealer enters into the order system. Ask them for your order code. The order code will also be on your Window Sticker (shown below). You will need this number for some of the tracking tools. This order code is case sensitive when using in the tracker tools.
• Priority Code - The Priority Code is used to determine the timeline of your truck order being pulled against all the other orders your dealer has in the system. The lower the number the better. This impacts when Ford accepts your order.
  • 1-9 is Ford internal. Have to be at least a Zone Manager to assign these number.
  • 10 through 19 is for customer "retail" orders.
  • 20 through 80 is for dealer stock

• VIN - The truck's vehicle identification number (VIN) is the identifying code for a SPECIFIC automobile. The VIN serves as the truck's serial number, no two vehicles in operation have the same VIN. A VIN is composed of 17 characters (numbers and capital letters).
  • Your VIN is assigned after Ford has accepted the order.
  • Your dealer will need to give you your VIN.
  • The VIN is needed to track orders and view window stickers.
  • The 11th character of the VIN tells you which plant is assigned the truck. F = Dearborn K = Kansas City
• Window Sticker - This is the sheet of paper you typically see taped inside the window of a new vehicle. It contains details about the order and configuration options of the vehicle.
  • Customer order window stickers will be green and dealer stock orders will be blue.
  • Window stickers are created and available to view roughly 7 days prior to the date your truck will be built.
• Blend / Blend Date - Blend is the process of assembling your truck. The date is the planned start of assembly. This date is shown at the top of your Window Sticker.
• Window Sticker Update Date - This date is a bit of an unknown. It will may change many times throughout the cycle, with no indication that anything on the sticker or build process has changed. I feel safe ignoring this date completely.

• Constraints - Unavailability of components required to build your order. This can impact Ford accepting your order, if they don't currently have the parts scheduled to be available to build your truck, they may not accept your order until they know they'll have the parts.
• Dealer Allotment - How many vehicles your dealer can order from Ford. Typically larger dealers who sell more trucks will have a higher number of vehicles they can order. When you place an order, you're essentially "competing" with other customer orders, to grab one of their available spots that Ford will grant them. This is where a lower priority number can help you.
• Build Week / Day - The week and day Ford has scheduled to start building your order.
• Rail - Your truck will be shipped part of the way by train.
• Convoy - Shipping by truck transport.

2. Major Milestones
Throughout the lifecycle of of order, these are the most common milestones you should be concerned with. These milestones may not be up to the minute in any tracker, and may be up to several days behind. It's not uncommon for a dealer to take delivery, while the trackers show "In Transit" or "Awaiting Shipping".

1. Order is in - You've placed the order with your dealer.
2. Unscheduled - Ford knows about the order, but hasn't assigned a VIN or a build date.
3. Order Confirmed
   • This can happen days to weeks to months after you place the order with the dealer. It depends on your "Priority Code", "Dealer Allotment" and current "Constraints"
   • Ford has accepted your order.
   • Typically you will get a VIN (from the dealer) and a build week or build day assigned.
   • In Order Processing is another status at this point.
4. In Production
   • Typically happens 1 week prior to your scheduled build day.
   • You Window Sticker will soon be available, if not already.
   • Sub-statuses
     • Sent to Plant - Ford has sent your order to the plant to prepare for your build.
     • Produced - Order has been built
     • Sent Offsite - Order needs to go offsite for installation of components not installed at the plant: bed liner, wheel well liners, tonneau
     • Released to Body Company - Getting one of the above things installed
     • Origin Received - Truck is being stored in a location while it waits on the next step.
5. Built / Produced - Your order is built and complete. Internally the status will show the order has been released and is awaiting shipment.
6. Shipped - Your truck is on its way to the dealer.
7. Delivered - The dealer has taken delivery of the truck and will soon be ready for you to pick up.

3. Window Sticker
The Window Sticker is available about 1 week before your truck is scheduled to be built. The sticker should remain available once it's first displayed, but in some unknown circumstances, it may go missing for a period of time and then come back. It's unknown if this should be cause for concern, but doesn't seem to be an indication of anything bad.

If you have your VIN from your dealer, you can check to see if your Window Sticker is available by pasting this into browser with your VIN after the equals sign.
http://www.windowsticker.forddirect....icker.pdf?vin=

Example: http://www.windowsticker.forddirect....FW1E85MKD08255

Window stickers are also available via links in the trackers listed below. In some instances, when viewing the sticker from those trackers, you may see an outdated cached sticker. Using the link above should avoid that.

Originally Posted by JimmyD2

Great info. I just ordered (July15, 2021) a new 2021 F150 Tremor. I noticed on the order sheet in says priority #80. Now I'M the one buying it. Even have the price with my trade in and all fee's added. They took my trade already. Do I have toworry about the priority code being a dealer stock order or will they change it when the send in the order. Thank you.

Originally Posted by JoeBlowFord

It's not uncommon for the order sheet you're shown to have a different priority code from what is entered when the dealer actually places your order.

Originally Posted by Arkouda

Hi All - new here and awaiting my First truck patiently

Does anyone know what Transit Date means followed by a number

This is coming from Dearborn MI to Collegeville PA

Receipt Date 2021-04-21
ETA End Date 2021-08-01
Production Date 2021-06-27
Ship Date 2021-06-30
Transit Date 16
Brand Ford Model Year 2021
Model F-150
Group Order Type Retail (222R) (OBC8S)
Make Ford
Trim Platinum
Market USA
Status - null
Primary Status In Transit

Originally Posted by y2kmxz

I just checked http://palsapp.com/ and it says my KCAP build arrived at the Renaissance Yard in Louisville KY today. Does anybody know if that’s a truck terminal or rail? The ford tracker still says waiting for shipment with an ETA of 8/15.

Originally Posted by GlassSlinger

Any advice on getting the For Tracking Website to work? I've tried all the browsers and iphone!

Feel bad chatting w ford performance so often!