ThingMagic, Cambridge, Mass., has announced a partnership with DeWalt and Ford Motor Co. to equip 2009 Ford F-150, F-Series Super Duty pickups, and E-Series vans with an embedded radio-frequency-identification (RFID) tracking system.

Ford Work Solutions Tool Link by DeWalt uses an RFID reader system to track RFID-tagged tools, construction equipment and materials in the truck to ensure they can be accounted for easily and located quickly.

Ford says it is the first automotive manufacturer to offer passive, embedded RFID technology, thereby allowing customers to use RFID to track assets, control inventory, and ensure crews arrive and leave job sites with the right tools and materials.