By Bill Adams
Comparing “apples to apples” in the competitive bidding process can be a daunting task when specification wording is vague. Technical requirements such as metal thickness, water tank capacity, and a ladder’s length are easily compared and evaluated. Ambiguous specification requirements such as best industry practices, first class, top-of-the-line, premium, and the oft-used heavy duty are self-promoting and unprovable terms. However, they appeal to the sales and marketing folks because they can influence purchasers.
Fire apparatus manufacturers (OEMs) and their dealers use them and others including model, style, and type when describing product. Attempting to compare similar apparatus from multiple OEMs is akin to attending an open forum at the United Nations without an interpreter. Everyone speaks a different language.
Custom Cab & Chassis
The terms custom cab, custom chassis, and the collective variant of custom cab and chassis are used generically throughout the fire service and apparatus industry. They have no formal definitions. They’re subject to personal interpretation and are used synonymously by buyer and seller.
Custom cabs and chassis are built specifically for the fire service. Commercial cabs and chassis are built predominantly for everyone else. Some commercial cabs and chassis are modified or customized for use as fire apparatus. OEMs often refer to them as custom fire apparatus which is their prerogative although it is a bit misleading. What’s confusing is when OEMs assign names and catchy monikers to their apparatus and in particular custom cabs and chassis. Does the name reflect the chassis or the cab or both?
NFPA 1901
The National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 1901 Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus defines a chassis in Chapter 3 Definitions under 3.3.34 Chassis: “The basic operating motor vehicle including the engine, frame, and other essential structural and mechanical parts, but exclusive of the body and all appurtenances for the accommodation of driver, property, passengers, appliances, or equipment related to other than control. Common usage might, but need not, include a cab (or cowl).”
The NFPA specifically says a chassis does not include the cab – but acknowledges some people may think otherwise. Cabs are addressed separately in NFPA 1901 Chapter 14 Driving and Crew Areas. The NFPA does not define a custom or a commercial cab and chassis – nor should it.
My definition of a cab is where firefighters sit. A chassis is everything underneath the cab.
OEMs’ websites and literature seldom say if the name or model number assigned to a cab and chassis means just the cab structure or is inclusive of the chassis. Some just show a rig’s photograph with an identifying moniker. Some literature describes styles, series or configurations or model numbers. Also, not every cab and chassis has a trademarked name.
Let the OEMs define their own cabs and chassis but explain what components the definition includes! OEMs don’t usually describe a specific cab and chassis as their top-of-the-line product. Not every OEM uses the word model to define their cab and chassis. Some use series and configuration and others just a name.
Specifications
Envision an apparatus purchasing committee (APC) tasking each member to investigate and evaluate a different cab and chassis manufacturer. If finding what could be pertinent information on an OEM’s website proves difficult, the APC member may give up or look elsewhere.
The intent is not to parse words but to help readers understand custom cab and chassis offerings and to assist in comparing similar product from multiple OEMs. Not every purchasing committee member is an expert in custom cab and chassis construction. Some lack proficiency in navigating OEMs’ websites. If information is not easy to find, it may not be evaluated.
Purchasers should be judicious in their choice of words when describing a cab and chassis in their purchasing specifications. If a purchaser specifies that only a manufacturer’s top-of-the-line custom cab and chassis model shall be acceptable, the purchaser best be prepared to define and defend what a top-of-the-line model is. In scenarios when bid prices are close, some bidders may use every means available to disparage or discredit the competition including claiming non-compliance to the specification’s written words – regardless of how ambiguous they may be.
It may be advantageous for purchasing specifications to describe a cab and chassis by actual design, measurements, and type of construction in simple yet definable terms. Such criteria is easy to compare, evaluate and determine specification compliance. Why argue after a bid opening over the definition of terms such as top-of-the-line, heavy duty and best industry practices?
Domestic Cab & Chassis Builders
The nine domestic manufacturers of fire apparatus custom cabs and chassis are E-One, Ferrara, HME-Ahrens Fox, KME, Pierce, Rosenbauer, Seagrave, Spartan, and Sutphen. None were formally interviewed. The following data was found when researching custom chassis on OEMs’ websites. It reflects what a novice might find when researching product.
E-One advertises the Cyclone and Typhoon – names following their early original offering of a Hurricane. It appears the names reflect the cab widths. Ferrara’s website shows the Inferno, Igniter, Cinder and Invader. However, their brochure states they have three models, 12 cab styles and 50 configurations. It appears the names reflect the size motor available in each.
HME-Ahrens Fox’s website shows the AF-1 chassis although the name SilverFox has been used in the past. KME offers the Predator, Panther and Severe Service (SSX) saying their three chassis have 300 configurations. Pierce’s site shows six configurations of custom chassis – the ArrowXT, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber and Velocity.
Rosenbauer’s website offers seven “series” of cabs and chassis under the names of Commander, Avenger and Warrior. At the time of this writing, they just introduced the General cab and chassis. Seagrave offers the Capital, Marauder and Attacker which seem to be based upon their cab configuration. Their website also mentions a Marauder II. The chassis builder Spartan Fire Chassis offers the Gladiator, Metro Star and the FC-94. Sutphen offers one – the Monarch.
The objective is to illustrate the differences in custom cab and chassis nomenclature. There is no claim one is better than the other. And, there is no attempt to define each manufacturer’s interpretation of model, style, series, configuration, etc. Electric-powered chassis are not included because they are not offered by all manufacturers.
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Choosing a custom cab and chassis should not be based on fancy photos and advertising. Prior to evaluating cabs and chassis on the market, APCs should determine initial basic requirements. The apparatus function including aerial device, pump, and tank sizes if applicable; physical limitations of length and overall height; approximate compartmentation; motor requirements and cab seating establishes an approximate gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
Vendors can then suggest an appropriate cab and chassis to meet that criteria. That route may be more efficient than picking a cab and chassis out of a brochure and then trying to make everything fit on it. Meeting such criteria requirements may eliminate being influenced by and defining best industry practices, first class, top-of-the-line, premium, heavy duty, model, style, series, configuration and type. More on cab and chassis monikers next time. Good luck.
