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NEW FIRE TRUCKS
- HOW TO BUY A FIRE
TRUCK
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Selecting a fire apparatus manufacturer is an important
decision. It is a decision that should involve more than
just choosing a company that meets your specs or is the
lowest bidder. Specifically, it should involve gathering
and evaluating information about the manufacturer, the dealer,
and the product itself to ensure you are getting the best
overall value for your money. This information will allow
you make an informed selection that you can confidently
present to your town council, city manager, or board of
fire commissioners to justify your choice.
The easiest way to gather this information is to submit
a questionnaire to bidders to complete as part of their
bid packages. That way, you'll be sure to ask each bidder
the same questions in order to make an impartial evaluation.
A sample questionnaire is included at the end of this guide.
You may photocopy it, or you may use it as a basis for developing
your own questionnaire.
The first step in the information gathering process is to
learn more about each manufacturer, such as:
Experience
• How long has the manufacturer been building fire
apparatus?
Ownership
• Is the manufacturer owned or controlled by another
corporation? If so, what is the name of the parent corporation
and what is their primary business?
Financial Stability
• Will the manufacturer provide a copy of their most
recent annual report with their bid for review by the city
or department finance officer, risk manager, or other designated
person?
Product Line
• What kinds of apparatus does the manufacturer build?
(Alternatively, inquire if the manufacturer builds specific
types of apparatus you may need in the future -- aerials,
tankers, wildland pumpers, patient transport vehicles, etc.)
ISO (International Standards Organization)
Certification
• Is the manufacturer ISO 9001 certified?
Bonds and Insurance
• Will the manufacturer provide
a bid bond for 10% of the total bid? (Bid bonds must be
from the apparatus manufacturer -- bonds from sub-contractors
are not acceptable.)
Lease/Purchase Options
• Does the manufacturer offer finance options?
If so, describe them.
Customer Support
• Does the manufacturer have a training program for
vehicle operators? Does the training take place at the fire
department site and does it last for more than one day to
ensure the operators are familiar with all modes of operation
and with the proper preventive maintenance procedures?
Literature
The following
files are in a PDF format.
If you don't have Adobe Acrobat (needed to view PDF files),
click
here.
A
Guide to Selecting a Fire Apparatus Manufacturer (95KB)
15
Year Structural Warranty (24KB)
20
Year Aerial Structural Warranty (646KB)
10
Year Plumbing Warranty (647KB)
10
Year Paint Warranty (74KB)
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This will help you determine their experience,
financial stability, quality record, and other valuable
information.
Read " A
Guide to Selecting a Fire Apparatus Manufacturer"
for more detailed information.
Sunbelt Fire can assist you at the very beginning of the
process to consider a new fire apparatus. We can help you
identify and develop the guidelines and specifications for
the exact type of truck and feature your department needs
for a cost that stays within the budget you have allocated.
CUSTOMER ASSURANCE
Our extensive
dealer network leads the industry in customer service before
and after the sale. Should problems arise, a simple phone
call to your local E-One dealer or E-One's 24-hour technical
support department will work with you on handling your situation.
Factory authorized service and support-close to home. Our
warranty leads the industry in vehicle coverage against
defects of factory-supplied materials and workmanship, call
your local dealer for complete details.
LEASING INFORMATION
The Lease-Purchase Program
from E-One is a popular way to finance the equipment you
need now with long-term financing at competitive rates.
Unlike other lease programs, with us you have two options.
At the end of the term you can own the vehicle outright
or trade it back to your E-One dealer at a guaranteed value.
WARRANTY
With the best warranty package in
the industry, E-ONE vehicles have a 10-year body structural
warranty, a 10-year stainless steel plumbing warranty, a
10-year paint warranty, a 20-year aerial device structural
warranty, a lifetime corrosion perforation warranty and
a lifetime water tank warranty. See literature below for
details.
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Should you have further questions concerning any of the
information on this site, or should there be information
which is required which you have not received, please
feel free to contact us at your earliest convenience at
1-800-642-8484 or fill
out the contact
form on this site.
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