Priority Codes in WBDO

What are WBDO Priority Codes?

WBDO Priority codes are numerical values you assign to orders to tell Ford in what order you would like your orders considered for scheduling. When you have allocation, Ford works through your order bank in order of priority starting with the highest priority units. If a unit can be built based on available commodities and plant capacity, it gets scheduled. If not, Ford moves on to the next unit in line. There are different priority ranges depending on the type of order:

• Ford Only (01–02)—Reserved for special cases such as one-off allocations or specialty units. These codes are assigned by Ford. A 01 priority doesn’t require allocation to schedule, unlike all other priority codes.

• Retail Orders (03–19)—Use these for customer-sold units. Lower numbers = higher priority.

• Stock Orders (20–80)—Use these for stock units. Again, lower numbers indicate higher priority.

• Fleet Orders—Ford assigns priorities once the order is submitted.

• Priority 99—Makes an order ineligible to schedule.

Ford's official scheduling process states that when multiple units are at the same priority code, age is the tiebreaker, meaning the oldest order gets considered first. However, many dealers don’t trust the system to consistently honor age as the tiebreaker. That’s why it's common practice to manage priority codes more carefully.

Additionally, Ford has said that a 03 priority will be treated the same as an 11, if it’s the only, or first, order the order bank.  Again, many dealers, and even Ford reps, don’t trust this and always recommend starting your retail orders at 03 and your stock orders at 20.

Using priority codes effectively helps manage your pipeline, avoid SIMS units, and ensure your most important orders get scheduled first.

How to Use Priority Codes Effectively

When it comes to priority codes, lower numbers mean higher priority—simple as that.

• For retail and stock orders, typically your most important units should be assigned the lowest available number, like your oldest retail. But you may want to place units with hard-to-get commodities at a higher priority (lower numerically). Place your highest-need or hardest-to-schedule vehicles at the top, then layer your lower priority (higher numerically) or easier-to-build units underneath.

  • For example—F-450 Super Duties are some of the hardest units to schedule, so you’ll want to place retail units at the lowest numerical priority code—ahead of other retail orders, even if they’re older—so they’re first in line when Ford schedules.

• Stacking your order bank strategically is crucial during tight commodity controls, especially during model-year balance out. Balance-out scheduling is more urgent as allocation does not roll to the next model year, and Ford is more likely to force builds and commodities for any leftover allocation. Always lead with your most desired units at the top of the priority list, then layer backup orders behind them. This ensures that when Ford schedules, the highest-value builds are considered first.

  • At Precision, we typically structure our order banks three tiers deep to give our dealers every possible edge in securing better units than the next store. It’s a simple tactic that can make a huge difference when availability is limited.

• Priority 99 is one of the most underused tools in the toolbox. We go into more detail in this article, but here’s the short version—use Priority 99 to lock out SIMS orders on Bronco, F-150, and Super Duty in the US. Many dealers do not realize this is now an option. Transit is the only non-OTD line that you can’t 99 SIMS orders. That gives you room to manage the rest of your order bank more strategically, whether you’re placing new units or reworking old ones.

Let Precision Handle It for You

At Precision, we specialize exclusively in Ford and Lincoln ordering, proudly serving over 250 dealerships across North America. One of our dealers recently told us it feels like having a “cheat code” working with us—and we want to be your cheat code.

We know the ins and outs of Ford’s scheduling system better than anyone, and we use that knowledge to our dealers’ advantage. The result? Faster turns, stronger availability of high-demand commodities, and consistently higher sales.

Book a demo today—we’ll analyze your store’s data and walk you through live opportunities in your market. No strings attached.