Ford Offers Free Carhartt So Teens Will Fix Its 5,000 Broken Trucks

KEY POINTS

•In 2025, Ford CEO Jim Farley highlighted the urgent need for 5,000 auto technicians at US dealerships.
•Ford partnered with Carhartt to provide scholarships, workwear, and access to 25,000 tools each year through a Detroit ToolBank.
•The collaboration also includes co-branded apparel and a special Ford-Carhartt truck scheduled for release in late 2026.

In a bold 2025 gambit, Ford and venerable 137-year-old Carhartt teamed up to solve America's crippling shortage of mechanics—currently at a whopping 5,000 open dealership jobs. The plan? Gift young would-be auto techs head-to-toe Carhartt gear and $5,000 scholarships via TechForce Foundation, in hopes they'll trade Fortnite for a wrench. Their three-pronged strategy includes a Detroit ToolBank lending 25,000 tools annually, a donation of an F-150 to increase mobile outreach, and creating co-branded swag—because nothing screams pipeline crisis like sponsored vests. CEO Jim Farley frets Henry Ford might roll in his grave over this modern trade skill crisis. Meanwhile, Carhartt CEO Linda Hubbard dreams of outfitting scruffy teens who might someday boss the very companies they fix trucks for - or own a NASCAR team, thanks to impromptu field trips. So buckle up: a 'Super Duty Carhartt edition truck' is revving up for release in late 2026, proving the manual labor pipeline might just survive on denim and dreams.