The Oklahoma Association of Emergency Vehicle Technician Association was founded in 1994, under the direction of Oklahoma City Chief John Soos, to help mechanics/technicians share information on criteria for repairs and maintenance. Soos was also involved with the Emergency Vehicle Technician Commission and supported the idea of networking with the successful Ohio Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians Association.

OKEVT averages between 30 and 35 members annually. According to John Horton, vehicle maintenance dupervisor for Tulsa International Airport, “It is hard to get members in Oklahoma, as it is a small, mostly rural state. Most work done on emergency vehicles is done by shops that are run by cities and the mechanics work on all city vehicles or many of the departments are rural and volunteer.”

The OKEVT meets quarterly and offers clinics that pertain to medium/heavy duty emergency vehicles. The most popular classes for OKEVT are electrical.

Even though there are plenty of benefits for an emergency vehicle technician association, OKEVT faces a number of problems common across the nation, including size—many departments can’t afford designated mechanics/technicians for apparatus; time—for training on apparatus issues or new technology; and in addition, organizations are lead by mechanics/technicians that have multiple jobs and little support or funding for seminars.

In spite of the time and cost restraints, the OKEVT offers a newsletter with helpful advice for mechanics/technicians, a Web site and quarterly hands-on clinics.

For more information about the Oklahoma Emergency Vehicle Technician organization, contact Robert Sanders, rob1450@cos.net or John Horton johnhorton@ci.tulsa.ok.us.