INDIANAPOLIS—M.H. Eby’s new Advance enclosed service body now is available at Ford dealerships across the country through a new bailment pool agreement that streamlines upfitting solutions and reduces lead times, the truck body manufacturer reported during a special dual reveal at NTEA’s Work Truck Week.
The exhibit-hall news conference included third-generation owners Travis Eby, M.H. Eby president and CEO, and Nick Eby, vice president of engineering; as well as Charlie Horton, VP of fleet sales. Travis thanked customers and distributors before the reveal of Eby’s partnership with Ford Pro. “At Eby, customers and our products come first—and we believe that’s what gets us to exciting points in time like this,” Travis said.
As a newly authorized Ford Chassis Pool member, Eby will provide Ford dealers with faster access to F-Series, Econoline Cutaway, and Transit chassis combined with Eby’s aluminum service bodies, flatbeds, dump bodies, and van bodies. The agreement, which strengthens Eby’s ability to service the construction, utilities, delivery, and fleet operations industries, includes the Eby facilities in Ephrata, Pennsylvania; West Jefferson, Ohio; and Store City, Iowa.
“This relationship and partnership truly underscore our commitment to listening to customers more intently,” said Craig Bonham, Eby senior VP of business development. “The products we bring to market today are simply the byproduct of customer feedback, some of which you see here with the new Advance body, which is our brand-new family of products that addresses the enclosed service body market.
“This product will revolutionize forced organization and inventory management—with a lower cost of ownership and best-in-class return on investment.”
All-new Eby service body
Designed to boost work truck functionality, durability, and ergonomics, the Advance service body, which boasts 44-in.-high cabinet models, is built from American-made 5000 and 6000 series aluminum for superior weight savings, payload capacity, and corrosion resistance, Eby added. The model on display at Work Truck Week featured a 72-in. powder-coated body on a 2025 Ford E-350 Cutaway chassis with a 7.3-liter V8 engine.
“The new Eby Advance enclosed service body sets a new standard in the service truck industry, reflecting our commitment to innovation and customer needs,” Bonham said in a release. “With advanced features designed for performance and safety, this model equips service professionals with the tools they need to excel.
“We’re confident it will quickly become an essential asset for service technicians and fleet operations.”
Bonham pointed to the Advance’s unique extrusions and fastening methods as key features intended to make the body last as long as the chassis. Developed through internal meetings and client discussions, the Advance also boasts greater compartmentation, a brighter loadspace, and faster upfits. “The internal side of this body is known to be the fastest installation of any enclosed service body in the business,” Bonham said. “We never ask a technician to get underneath this body to install it.
“It’s all done in the load space through a unique mechanical wrench attachment system.”
Key Advance enclosed service body features include:
- Fully interlaced understructure: Provides unmatched strength and stability
- Oversized compartment rotary latch handles: Ensures easy access and secure closure
- Integrated tie-down rings: Ten recessed tie down rings in load space
- 2-panel aluminum doors: Includes an integrated rain gutter for weather protection
- 70/30 split rear doors: Ease of entrance to rear without opening both doors
- U.S.-made LED lighting: Includes stop/tail/turn and backup lights with strobe functionality
- Volcano-punched straight bumper: Adds safety and protection
- Hidden-hinge compartment doors: Improves security and aesthetics
Ford Chassis Pool provider
Key benefits of Eby’s Ford Chassis Pool agreement include:
- Inventory to address the market needs faster
- Reduced lead times
- Standard and custom upfit solutions
- Reliable delivery and service for customers
“The Ford bailment pool agreement underscores M.H. Eby’s ongoing commitment to delivering high-performance commercial vehicle solutions,” Travis said. “We are honored to be a Ford pool provider and look forward to growing this partnership to better serve our customers.”
