Vehicle Maintenance

One of the hardest things on vehicles is to leave them set. It takes continual maintenance and operation to keep our equipment ready to go. It is not uncommon to have only a few thousand miles on a 30 year old fire truck. Just because it has so little miles does not mean it is in good shape. We must continually service them. Oil should be changed every six months. One item that is overlooked and can become life threatening is the tires. The rubber compound can break down and become brittle. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends every six years. This can be a tough sell to our administration since they will look brand new. Consider the risk factors of loosing a tire during an emergency response. It may simply result in a delay to the call. It could also result in a catastrophic accident. It is our responsibility and duty to ensure that our equipment is safe and ready to go. 

This month take time to review the maintenance records of your equipment. Review your department’s policies and procedures as they relate to these. Check the age of your tires. Be certain to operate your equipment. This includes pumps and all valves. Vales can become very sticky when left in the same position for extended periods. 

Training Objectives

Upon completion, the firefighter should be able to….

• Discuss the importance of vehicle maintenance.

• Describe your department’s current vehicle maintenance procedures.

• Inspect your vehicle tires and recommend replacement if over 6 years old.

Scott Meinecke is a member of the Sheldon Volunteer Fire Department, an instructor for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, and field staff for the Fire Service Training Bureau. He can be contacted by email at smeinecke@iowarec.org