[ChasingCoral]

Here are some helpful links for those waiting for production and delivery:
* built from a Bronco site
-------------------------
VIN
Here's a site that allows you to look up your VIN. It was developed by someone for Mach E tracking.

Ford Mach-E Reservation Details Viewer

seg.fyi

The "Find Your VIN" and "VIN Barcode" portions worked for me. The "VIN Details" does not. That may be because it was written for Mach E and may test the VIN to make sure it is a valid Mach E VIN. Beware, Find Your VIN does require using your browser to pull some JSON data.

If someone wants to grab the code from the developer's GitHub to build a VIN Details code that works for Lightnings, go for it!
--------------------------
Ford site to check on status
https://shop.ford.com/vehicleordertracking#/

Another Window Sticker lookup tool - add your VIN at the end
https://www.windowsticker.forddirect.com/windowsticker.pdf?vin=

To the Ford site that populates your Modules being turned on (this lets you know it’s actually built at the factory)
https://www.motorcraftservice.com/AsBuilt

And lastly to see if it’s scheduled on the Convoy (Truck not Rail) to your Dealer!
https://palsapp.com

If you are going by rail, it’s more complicated…

First you will need the rail car letters and numbers. It is on the visibility report or DORA which is from the dealership. You MAY be able to get it from the SVT people but they seem often in a cranky mood and may tell you to get it from the dealer.

There are two major rail companies.

CSX is everything east of the mississippi
UP is everything west of the mississippi

But they all start out on CSX so once they have it in their system they will follow it all the way.

So, how do you track your truck on a railcar?

First and most important. Never talk to live personnel at the railroad! Only use automated phone system. If it attempts to transfer you to a live person please hang up. The railcar information we are provided by is given as a courtesy and if we call live personnel we may lose the access and ability to track.

CSX
1. Call the CSX 1-800-235-2352
2. When prompted for location or weight, press "1" on your phone for location.
3. When prompted for the car initials, say CN (or whatever initials you have) then wait for the next prompt.
4. When prompted for the car number, say 907048 (or whatever your number is)
5. When prompted for next car say DONE.
6. That's it; enjoy your updated status report.

Union Pacific
1. Call UP at 1 800 877-5123 1 800 877-5123
2. Follow phone prompts for Trace
3. Say the railcar number complete and clearly. Example CN123456 all together
4. Listen for your update

NS Norfolk Southern
1. Call 800-635-5768
2. Press 2.
3. Press 2.
4. Enter the letters on the numeric keypad then press #. As in: TTGX will be 8849
5. Enter the numbers then press #. It wasn't taking my voice prompts but typing worked.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Here's another site that allows you to look up your VIN. It was developed by someone for Mach E tracking.

Ford Mach-E Reservation Details Viewer

seg.fyi

The "Find Your VIN" and "VIN Barcode" portions worked for me. The "VIN Details" does not. That may be because it was written for Mach E and may test the VIN to make sure it is a valid Mach E VIN. Beware, Find Your VIN does require using your browser to pull some JSON data.

If someone wants to grab the code from the developer's GitHub to build a VIN Details code that works for Lightnings, go for it!

 

[ChasingCoral]

Also, here is the 2022 VIN Guide to understand your VIN.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Sorry to be obtuse, where are people getting their Vins from? Are you using these programs or did you get them from Ford?

Your truck's VIN is assigned when your truck is scheduled. You can learn what your VIN is from your dealer or the tool posted here:

Tracking Your Truck Through Build and Delivery

Here are some helpful links for those waiting for production and delivery: * built from a Bronco site ------------------------- VIN Here's a site that allows you to look up your VIN. It was developed by someone for Mach E tracking...

www.lightningowners.com

The direct link to that VIN tool is: Ford Mach-E Reservation Details Viewer

 

[ChasingCoral]

A window sticker for an FCTP truck that was just posted shows how you can use your VIN and order number to track the status of your truck.
Here's the window sticker posted today at Ford Lightning EPA Range & MPGe Revealed In Window...

On the window sticker you'll find the two items you need, the VIN and the 4-digit order number.
VIN: 1FT6W1EV5NWG01329
Order # F001
The VIN is found on multiple places around the sticker
The Order # is the 4 digit code in the ITEM# box F001

Go to the Ford tracker at https://shop.ford.com/vehicleordertracking#/
Enter the VIN and Order Number

The result is the current status:

 

[ChasingCoral]

Don't forget, there are tools for learning your VIN and tracking your vehicle in this thread. Start at the top.

 

[ChasingCoral]

For some bizarre reason, the two production trackers may be different. Take both with a grain of salt. The most accurate information is found using Vehicle Visibility but only your dealer has access (not customers).

 

[ChasingCoral]

Some additional updates from another Lightning site:

This post is meant to give a thorough understanding of how the build process works and what all these terms mean, for those of you asking. First thing you have to understand, this is not like ordering something off Amazon. There are tools and trackers, but they are often way off on their estimated times, or come in long after the vehicle has actually been built or shipped. Here are links to all the various trackers etc.

This Thread is meant more to be a Primer on ways to Locate and Track your Order and less a place to discuss and comment.

Please post any corrections or edits.

Normally, you would Log In to your Ford.Com Account and Reservations/Orders Tab but some Dealer Orders will not show up and you may have to use an Alternate Route.

Lightning Order Status (Back Door) Log In Required - Use Reservation #
https://www.ford.com/buy/manage.html?reservationId=10843XXX

where"XXXXXXXX" = your Reservation#

If Ford is about to, or has, given you a VIN you will find it by a simple hack:

In your Browser, on the above page, CTRL-SHIFT-I, and then RELOAD. After it loads all the Coding, type "VIN" in the Code Search Box upper left corner and your VIN should be in the second line of Coding that comes up. Look for Yellow Shading.

Lightning Order Confirmation - Use VIN#
https://shop.ford.com/vehicleordertracking/status/?vin=1FT6W1EV6NWG0XXXX

where"XXXX" = last four digits of your VIN #

Ford Vehicle Order Tracking - Use VIN# and Dealer Order#
https://shop.ford.com/vehicleordertracking/status/?vin=1FT6W1EV6NWG0XXXX

where"XXXX" = last four digits of your VIN #

Window Sticker - Sticker Issued 2-3 Weeks Before Production
https://www.windowsticker.forddirect.com/windowsticker.pdf?vin=

type in your VIN# after the "="

Window Sticker Example Decoded (For a Mustang in this case)

BLEND DATE
You should get your window sticker about a week before your "blend" date. Blend is the point where the chassis and body meet on the assembly line to go through final assembly. The work on the body and chassis has already begun a few shifts before this date. The blend above shows "2021/10/14" This is scheduled to go down final assembly on 10/14.

PLACE IN LINE
This shows it is the 496th out of 881 scheduled units to begin the final assembly process on 10/14. This number has become bigger recently, due to orders processing in larger batches. This number is not always a daily or weekly total, it had been a daily total for a few months due to production orders sent for processing in a daily batch. Recently they have been sent in larger 3/4 day batches, so this number could more or less weekly.

ROTATION #
Number next to blend date is the rotation number. This is the main number production workers pay attention to. It is the master sequencing number. 4015 will blend after 4014. 496/881 is a scheduled target, but they may be a bit behind or ahead for the day/week. Rotation number will roll back to 0001 after 9999.

PROCESS
So today is your blend date, now what. You wait! The final assembly process takes more than a shift to complete, lets say 1.5 shifts to get from blend through final QC. If your rotation number comes up on end of first shift or during second shift, you will not be complete until the next day.

Once your build is complete, the Ford system may send you a build email, but its not that simple. Some people get them quick, some are delayed days. If your Lightning has to go to the Mod shop for a bed spray, etc., that will delay your build notification. If your Lightning is selected for random extra Quality checks it is another delay. If quality checks find an issue that needs to be addressed, that could be a lengthy delay. Then there is just the plain fact the Ford system isn't great and some people never get a built email.

MODULES
Motorcraft Build Data - Use VIN# - Will Show BCE Codes Populated After Build
https://www.motorcraftservice.com/AsBuilt

PCM = Powertrain Control Module; BCE = Body Control Electronics

While we sit and wait wondering if our Lightning has been built yet, we can check if our "modules have popped". Ford has an online as built service site that shows your BCE modules. If your VIN starts showing something, it means your computers are "alive" and your Lightning has, or mostly, has been built.

Modules have been taking longer than before to populate. This use to happen within hours of being built, there is current evidence this system now has some lag and can take a couple days to populate. It is still useful to verify the Lightning has been produced, especially if you have a delayed Build email due to QA issue etc.

SHIPPING
Now our Lightning is built, next we wait for shipping. There are two ways units leave the factory, by Rail or by Convoy (18 wheeler car hauler). Your window sticker will show which way your Lightning leaves.

Generally, Convoy is within a few states of Michigan, Rail is the rest of the country. Your Lightning can leave the shipping yard quick, or it can sit there a while. It seems lately Convoy is sitting a bit, there are trucker shortages really hurting the industry. Rail will ship to a regional rail yard, and sit there until there is a Convoy full to send to your dealer or region.

Once your Lightning ships you may get another email from Ford notifying you with delivery estimates. These estimates can be way off sometimes, your dealer should be able to tell you how long shipping usually takes to them.

BY CONVOY
https://palsapp.com - Your Dealer Will Need to Log In (Most of us are Locked Out)

But There is a Hack (Thanks to GoGoGadgetTruck & Vandy1981):

To Follow Convoy:

Hacking Palsapp to allow VIN search using any Browser without Log In:

Navigate to https://palsapp.com/

CTRL-SHIFT-I (or J) to Bring Up Developer Console

Reload Webpage

Choose "Console" Menu at Top of Developer Console

At Blue Curser Paste:

Javascript:
document.getElementById("custom-search-input").parentElement.removeAttribute("hidden");

And then a VIN Search Bar will Open on the Palsapp Page.

BY RAIL
If you are going by Rail, it’s much more complicated and you will need information only your dealer can provide. Your Lightning may travel via Rail, then Convoy, then Rail again depending on your location so it gets complicated.

To track Rail you will need your dealer to give you the rail car number your Lightning is sitting in, or have them track it for you. Dealers have the ability to track it and see the rail car number in the Vehicle Visibility system. The rail car number should also populate on your DORA after shipping out.

First you will need the rail car letters and numbers. It is on the visibility report or DORA which is from the dealership. You MAY be able to get it from the SVT people but they seem often in a cranky mood and may tell you to get it from the dealer.

There are two major rail companies.

CSX is everything East of the Mississippi
UP is everything West of the Mississippi

But they all start out on CSX so once they have it in their system they will follow it all the way.

So, how do you track your Lightning on a railcar? This will be much easier if your dealer does it. You may have to educate him on the process!

First and most important. Never talk to live personnel at the railroad! Only use automated phone system. If it attempts to transfer you to a live person please hang up. The railcar information we are provided by is given as a courtesy and if we call live personnel we may lose the access and ability to track.

CSX
1. Call the CSX 1-800-235-2352
2. When prompted for location or weight, press "1" on your phone for location.
3. When prompted for the car initials, say CN (or whatever initials you have) then wait for the next prompt.
4. When prompted for the car number, say 907048 (or whatever your number is)
5. When prompted for next car say DONE.
6. That's it; enjoy your updated status report.

Union Pacific
1. Call UP at 1 800 877-5123
2. Follow phone prompts for Trace
3. Say the railcar number complete and clearly. Example CN123456 all together
4. Listen for your update

NS Norfolk Southern
1. Call 800-635-5768
2. Press 2.
3. Press 2.
4. Enter the letters on the numeric keypad then press #. As in: TTGX will be 8849
5. Enter the numbers then press #. It wasn't taking my voice prompts but typing worked.

Good Luck To All! And Share Your Fun With All of Us Who Are Still Waiting!

 

[ChasingCoral]

You could all use an app I made as well! I never made the list in the Bronco forum, but they did pin my posts there.
ordertrack.app

That’s an awesome app! Thanks

 

[ChasingCoral]

This is great. Thanks! I found my VIN thanks to your trick, however, when I go to the order tracking page, it says my order # is incorrect. Not my VIN but my order #. Odd because it is pretty clearly stated as an 8-digit order # on my Ford Manage Orders page. I have an assigned production week of 08/08/2022. Any idea why my order # would appear invalid?

The order number for that page is the 4 digit WEBDO number you will find on your window sticker.
See Tracking Your Truck Through Build and Delivery

 

[ChasingCoral]

FYI the Palsapp site has been updated, apparently on Friday night, to completely delete (not just hide) the search area (there's a comment in the source saying it was removed), so that path is no longer available.

Based on my experience with Palsapp during my Mustang Mach E's delivery, that is no loss. It was quite inaccurate when compared against Vehicle Visibility and wasn't updated to say it was on its way to the dealer until after I had it home.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Canadian Track Your Vehicle (shop.ford.ca) doesn’t seem to be working today - just keeps bouncing back to the data entry screen when I enter Order # and VIN

I’ve been getting the same on this tracker today in the US as well.

 

[ChasingCoral]

I don’t seem to be able to open this pdf

Here’s a link to it

https://www.fleet.ford.com/content/dam/aem_fleet/en_us/fleet/vin-guides/2022_VIN_Guide.pdf

 

[ChasingCoral]

Welp yes this was our truck, not their demo. We went by this evening and checked the vin. Not sure if honest mistake or them trying to pull something but either way we will finalize purchase tomorrow since we weren't quite prepared since we were supposedly just looking at the demo vehicle

If that was a mistake, it was a dumb one for a dealership to make!

 

[ChasingCoral]

My window sticker just showed up today. Build day November 22. It doesn’t show the 511a package and the colour is wrong. Is this normal?

No. The sticker should be correct on all options. Contact Ford and the dealer right away.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Is there any official ford order tracking website? Like i just google it and found https://fordordertracking.com/

Yes and what you posted isn't it. See post #1 in this thread.