Anyone who still refers to program apparatus as plain-jane, cookie-cutter trucks probably hasn't looked at the products being offered today. What started out as a few stripped-down pumpers with limited options has grown into a wide range of premium models with features that include stainless-steel bodies, hydraulic ladder racks, and even compressed-air foam systems.

The key to this broad product offering is pre-engineering. As many manufacturers point out, it's the engineering work required to introduce a new component or configuration — all the design, testing, revision and documentation — that accounts for much of the time and expense involved in building fire apparatus. Once the engineering work is done and all the installation details have been refined, a particular component or configuration can be built in less time at lower cost. That fact, rather than some artificial marketing restriction on models and options, is the basis for many program apparatus today.

The advantages of purchasing pre-engineered program trucks include excellent quality, reliability, fit and finish. After all, it isn't the first time the company has built this particular truck — all the bugs have been worked out. Another advantage is that many manufacturers can build program trucks in a third to half of the time it takes to build custom trucks. That means customers can put their new rigs in service before their old ones break down or lose another year of resale value. Most important of all, program trucks offer customers real dollars-and-cents savings.

So what kind of apparatus and options can you get? Here is a survey of some of the program truck products offered by several manufacturers.

American LaFrance

The new Liberty Series by American LaFrance, announced at the Fire Department Instructors Conference, is available on both custom and commercial chassis. “The Liberty line of build-to-order vehicles meets specific customers needs while providing better value,” says Mike Popovich, vice president of marketing and strategy for American LaFrance. “They are designed to give customers the flexibility to build their own truck and get what they want.” He also notes that delivery time will be notably less than traditional custom vehicles.

The Liberty Series may be specified on Freightliner M2 and Sterling Acterra commercial chassis, as well as on the new Liberty four-door custom chassis. The Liberty custom chassis features a low cab entry with optional raised roof, horsepower upgrades and other choices. Customers can select aluminum or stainless-steel bodies on most models.

The new trucks include pumpers, rescue pumpers, tankers and a wildland unit. The pumpers may be specified with pumps up to 1,500gpm and tanks up to 1,000 gallons. The rescue pumper is standard with internal ladder and hard-suction storage with a low hosebed height. Options include a foam system and generator and light packages.

To assist customers in specifying a Liberty Series truck, the company is introducing a new Web site that allows customers to select their chassis, body and options online and receive a formal quote from their nearest American LaFrance dealer.

Crimson Fire

The Crimson Fire E Series of program trucks includes several premium pumper configurations. “Our E Series pumpers are designed for departments with tighter budgets, who still want quality apparatus that will last,” says Jim Salmi, president of Crimson Fire. “For example, we are the only manufacturer to offer stainless-steel bodies as standard on all of our program trucks.”

The E Series pumpers are available on Spartan custom chassis or on one of several commercial chassis. Customers can choose a Darley, Hale or Waterous pump with ratings up to 1,500gpm, depending on the chassis. Options include a generator, foam system, and a hydraulic ladder rack or ladder storage through the tank.

The body is constructed from premium-grade 304 stainless steel for excellent strength and corrosion resistance. Crimson Fire uses an exclusive mounting system to isolate the body from the frame and reduce transmission of torsion and vibration. This helps reduce maintenance and extends the body life.

A nine-step paint process is used to provide further protection. It includes a primer, two base color coats and two finish clear coats. Before trucks are delivered, they are given a final power buffing to bring out a deep shine. E Series pumpers carry a seven-year paint warranty as standard.

“Our E Series offer customers high-quality finished products at lower cost with quicker delivery,” says Salmi.

Darley

Darley's line of EZ Spec trucks are based on 60 pre-engineered models that make it easier for customers to specify everything from pumpers and tankers to rescues and wildland trucks. “Our EZ Spec trucks combine solid engineering and smart uses of technology to provide quality apparatus that give customers good value for their money,” says Peter Darley, chief operating officer for Darley.

The Vision Series of premium pumpers and tankers features high-strength copolymer bodies, pumps to 1,500gpm and tanks to 3,000 gallons. Their Conquest Series features stainless-steel bodies, while their Challenger Series features aluminum bodies. All are available on a variety of custom and commercial chassis depending on the model.

Darley EZ Spec trucks also include several light, medium and heavy rescues with copolymer, stainless-steel and aluminum bodies. Their line of aerials features a choice of 75-foot or 109-foot ladders and a 104-foot platform. To round out their program truck product line, Darley offers several initial attack and wildland trucks with copolymer bodies and a choice of pumps. Several models are equipped with CAFS.

“We recently spent a lot of time setting up our EZ Spec program to offer a wider range of pre-engineered trucks at a lower price,” says Darley. “This has been a major project for us, and we think our customers will see the benefits.”

E-One

The E-One Tradition line includes apparatus built on custom and commercial chassis. “The Tradition line offers the best value at the best price for our cost-conscious customers,” says Tangi Rouse, product manager of pumpers, tankers and rescue pumpers at E-One. “Our list of options lets departments add many features they want at a very attractive price.”

At the top of the Tradition line, customers can select an E-One Typhoon custom cab and chassis with an aluminum cab and body for use as a pumper, a pumper with a 50-foot mid-mount aerial ladder, or a quint with a 75-foot rear-mount aerial ladder. They can also choose a rescue pumper with a stainless-steel body.

The commercial chassis Tradition models are available as pumpers with aluminum bodies and as a rescue pumper with a stainless-steel body. Pumps to 1,500gpm and tanks to 1,250 gallons are available. Other options include a foam system and hydraulic ladder rack. E-One also offers tankers with a choice of an 1,800-gallon rectangular tank or 2,000- and 3,000-gallon wetside tanks.

“Our Tradition models are built on the same production line as our other models and use the same materials and construction techniques,” says Rouse. “The standard and optional configurations have been fully engineered and tested before production starts so we can offer them at attractive prices.”

Ferrara

Ferrara offers a choice of pumpers, rescues and an aerial ladder quint under their STAT program. Depending on the specs, customers can get a unit in as little as 60 to 90 days. Ferrara is one of the few manufacturers to advertise both specs and prices for their program trucks. “We know that budget-conscious departments want to know what they're getting, what options are available and how much it will cost,” says Blaine Richard, marketing manager at Ferrara.

Ferrara custom chassis STAT trucks are built on their Intruder 2 chassis with aluminum cabs and bodies. Models include a pumper, a 77-foot aerial ladder quint and a heavy rescue. The pumper is standard with a 1,500gpm pump and 1,000-gallon tank. The quint is standard with a 1,500gpm pump and 300-gallon tank. Options on those two models include other tank capacities, generators, and suction and discharge locations. Their heavy rescue comes standard with a walk-around body. Options on that model include a walk-in body configuration, generators and winches.

Their commercial chassis STAT trucks are standard with 1,250gpm pumps, 1,000-gallon tanks and galvanneal bodies. Other options include foam systems and suction and discharge locations. Light and medium rescues have aluminum bodies and can be specified with many available options such as generators and lighting packages.

KME

Program trucks from KME include a full line of pumpers, plus a new 75-foot aerial ladder. “Our program trucks offer many premium features, such as /¡ž-inch aluminum construction, and have lots of options to meet the specific needs and budgets of customers,” says Phil Gerace, KME sales and marketing director.

The Competitor and Challenger Series pumpers are available on commercial chassis or a custom Panther chassis. Both offer aluminum bodies, and the Challenger features a galvannealed-steel option. Standard specs include a 1,250gpm pump and 1,000-gallon tank. There are several options for the Competitor, and the Challenger's options include front bumper extensions and generators.

The Extreme Series pumpers are available on Excel or Predator custom chassis and include 1,500gpm pumps, stainless-steel bodies, a foam system, deck gun and more. The city version has a 750-gallon tank, and the rural version has a 1,000-gallon tank.

Their new 75-foot rear-mount program aerial ladder is built on a Predator custom chassis and is available with or without a pump. The ladder features the company's motion-control system. The body has rescue-style compartments, a 500-gallon tank and a hosebed that allows loading without raising the ladder. The jack spread is 14 feet to allow easy set-up.

Pierce

The Contender line of cost-effective apparatus includes pumpers, rescues, tankers, mini-pumpers and brush trucks with a full complement of standard features and about 100 core options. There is also a Contender build-to-order program that offers more than 1,000 options.

The stock Contender custom pumper includes an aluminum cab and body with a 1,250gpm pump and a 1,000-gallon tank. Options include other tank capacities, foam systems and others.

The stock Contender line of commercial pumpers have aluminum bodies and feature 1,250gpm pumps and 1,000-gallon tanks. Options include items such as generators, foam systems and others.

Their walk-around rescues are built on commercial or custom chassis with 10-foot to 18-foot aluminum bodies.

Contender tankers may be specified with a choice of dry-side or elliptical tanks in capacities of 1,800 to 3,000 gallons. Pumps are available, depending on the tank.

The Contender mini-pumper is available on a 4×4 commercial chassis with an aluminum body, pumps to 750gpm and 300-gallon tanks. The brush truck is built on a 4×4 commercial chassis with an aluminum flatbed body, and the standard 75gpm engine-driven pump is matched to a 400-gallon tank. Options on both models include CAFS.

“Our Contender program trucks complement everything we do at Pierce,” says Mike DuFrane, director of national sales for Contender products. “They provide customers with affordable apparatus and also allow tremendous flexibility with our more custom, build-to-order trucks.”

Rosenbauer

Rosenbauer's Firestar apparatus break a lot of preconceptions people have about program trucks. “To us a program truck is a pre-designed truck,” says Harold Boer, president of Rosenbauer's Central Division. “We pre-engineer it so we can build it the most efficient way and put the most cost-efficient components on it.” The company notes that using pre-engineered designs also allows quick delivery — another plus.

The Firestar line includes several models built on Spartan custom chassis. Their custom pumpers include 1,250gpm pumps and a choice of galvannealed-steel or aluminum bodies. They also offer a Genesis custom rear-mount pumper with a choice of aluminum or stainless-steel bodies. Options include foam systems and generators.

A Firestar 75-foot rear-mount aerial ladder quint is available on either a custom Spartan or a commercial Freightliner chassis. It features an aluminum body, 1,500gpm pump and 400-gallon tank.

Their line of commercial chassis program apparatus includes pumpers, tankers and light and medium rescues with many options. They also offer a 4×4 wildland/urban interface pumper with a 1,000gpm pump, a choice of 500-gallon or 750-gallon tanks, a foam system, and an aluminum body.

Rosenbauer points out that specifying low-cost components on their program trucks doesn't mean low-quality components. “We pick the components we've dealt with over the years so we know they're reliable [and a] good value,” says Boer.

Smeal

Smeal's Volunteer Series of economical pumpers are built to the same high quality standards as their other trucks and include many features and options for both city and rural departments. “These are workhorse trucks designed to give good firefighting protection,” says Jeff Wegner, Smeal's northeast regional sales director. “We have sold these units to small volunteer departments and larger paid departments in many areas of the country.”

The Volunteer Series of program apparatus can be specified on Spartan and HME custom chassis, as well as on Smeal's own Sirius and Altair custom chassis. Commercial chassis available include International, Freightliner, Peterbilt, Kenworth and GMC.

Some of the features and options include 1,250gpm to 1,500gpm pumps, water tanks up to 1,000 gallons, foam systems, deck guns, roll-up compartment doors, ladders racks, generators and more.

Smeal also offers their S.S. Freedom Series of custom rescue pumpers with stainless-steel bodies and full-height compartments. They have many of the same chassis, features and options as the Volunteer Series with increased corrosion resistance.

Something for everyone

Today's program trucks offer customers a lot of good reasons to buy. Whether your department wants a simple pumper on a commercial chassis or a fully loaded aerial ladder on a custom chassis, program trucks can give you real value for your money.

MANUFACTURERS

American LaFrance
888-253-8725, www.americanlafrance.com

Crimson Fire
605-582-2300, www.crimson-fire.com

W.S. Darley & Co.
800-323-0244, www.wsdarley.com

E-One
352-237-1122, www.e-one.com

Ferrara
800-443-9006, www.ferrarafire.com

KME
800-235-3928, www.kovatch.com

Pierce
920-832-3231, www.piercemfg.com

Rosenbauer
605-543-5591, www.rosenbaueramerica.com

Smeal
402-568-2224, www.smeal.com