This was found on a LACoFD Crew Carrier last week during their quarterly inspection.  Issue was not there 90 days ago. 

2008 Freightliner Front Steer Axle Suspension
Meritor model number: MFS-12-143A  12,000 lb.
Serial number: ARD00337731

Fire truck maintenance is an essential part of every fire department’s routine and budget.  However, with the nation facing an economic downturn, fire department officials are looking for ways to save money.  FDNNTV.com’s Barbara Brooks and veteran fire department Maintenance Officer Sammy Dominick, Sr. bring you tips on daily fire truck maintenance practices that can help your department save money and keep your vehicles  in optimum working condition.

Fire Truck Maintenance That Can Be Performed By Firefighters

Unless a fire department has its own full-service maintenance shop, most fire apparatus repairs must be outsourced to a third-party fire mechanic.  However, there are several things that firefighters can do on a daily and weekly basis in the station to catch problems early and to prevent the need for costly repairs. These measures will also ensure the safety of the apparatus and its crew.

Apparatus Inspection Forms

Most fire departments have an Apparatus Inspection Form that operators must fill out prior to, and in some cases after, each shift.  Sammy Dominick, Sr., a retired Rancho Cucamonga Fire District Maintenance Officer with thirty years of experience, explains, "On that form the individual is signing that he has checked all of the emergency lighting, he’s checked the brakes, he’s checked the steering, he checked the tires, wheels and all of the particulars, all of the equipment that is essential to the firefighting component.  They’ve got to check that off daily."  Inspecting all of a fire department’s apparatus on a daily basis will insure early detection of potential problems, preventing a possible accident or malfunction.  Identifying these issues right away will also prevent additional, related problems, thereby saving the fire department money.

Fire Pump Maintenance

Fire pumps should be maintained on a weekly basis.  Dominick advises that pump operators should always backflush the pump to clear out rocks and debris that might have entered the pump during the use of a fire hydrant.  He explains, "Every time a contractor breaks into the main pipe, all of that concrete, those pieces and rocks, follow through the mains, come up the hydrants, and stay at the head of the hydrant."  He suggests that firefighters make a habit of flowing the hydrant before they hook up to it with their fire apparatus to flush that debris out of the hydrant and keep it from entering the pump.  He also recommends that firefighters operate the relief valve or governor on a weekly, if not daily, basis.

"Over and Under" Checks

Keeping a fire apparatus’ moving components properly lubricated is another preventative maintenance measure that firefighters can take.  Using a creeper, personnel can access the undercarriage of the fire truck and lubricate all of its fittings.  Sammy Dominick explains that this can also be used as an opportunity to check a myriad of other components, saying, "Going under with a creeper and doing what we call an "over and under’ – over is everything on top and under is getting on the creeper, check the drive shaft, the U-Joints, look for leaks in the pump, the differential, the engine, the transmission, maybe a major water leak."

Hoses

Besides looking for damage and leaks, operators should check that all hoses are securely mounted and are not chaffing against the drive shaft or wheels.

Drive Shaft

It is also important to make sure that the drive shaft is not cracked or bent.  Apparatus operators need to be sure that the drive shaft’s couplings are securely mounted and free of foreign objects.

Brake Slack Adjustor

Inspecting a vehicle’s front brake slack adjustor is also very important.  There should not be any broken, loose or missing parts.  With the brakes released, the push rod should not travel more than one inch.

Steering Linkage

Similarly, steering linkage should not have any worn or cracked connecting links, arms or rods.  Operators should also check to make sure all of these parts are securely mounted.

Importance of Doing Daily and Weekly Fire Truck Inspections

Dominick stresses the importance of firefighters doing daily and weekly maintenance checks on the fire apparatus in their stations, saying, "Anyone that has a license to drive an apparatus should be able to maintain it to the best level they can.  Like the "Out of Service Criteria".  Is it a tire problem? Is it a brake problem? Is it a major leak problem? Is it a steering problem?  Those kinds of things, you are out of service, no question.  You take that on a public road and you get into an accident with it and you haven’t checked it, it’s on you.  The liability is on the driver."

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THIS INFORMATION SEEMS TO ONLY BE AFFECTING ONE DEPARTMENT AT THIS TIME AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WIDESPREAD – PLEASE USE THIS AS INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME

SAFETY ALERT!!    IMMEDIATATE ACTION REQUIRED!!

** Submitted by a Member **

If you or any of your employees use and drive 2002 through 2010 FORD Expeditions, Explorers, Rangers, F150, F250, F350 F450, F550 with STEEL rims/wheels PLEASE take them to a Ford Dealership, reputable vehicle repair shop or tire shop and have the tires REMOVED from the wheel and the rims/wheels inspected for cracks as shown in the photos. Take the photos with you to show what you want inspected.  I say this because the failure CAN NOT be seen with the tire on the rim/wheel.

This does NOT apply to vehicles with aluminum wheels.

If you are experiencing any of the following it could be signs that you have a cracked rim, slow or fast air leak, wobble or vibrations while driving.

This is a SERIOUS issue and we need to be sure to get those vehicles checked out.
For the newer vehicles that may be still under warranty it would be best to take them to a Ford dealership to be taken care of that way.

The USFS Region 4 is starting to get reports of cracked rims/wheels, just last week the H-T had 4, new Ford trucks inspected and 3 of them had cracked rims. So this is not just an issue with older vehicles.

There is no technical bulletin or Ford recall on this issue yet, please have you vehicles inspected.

If you personally own a Ford please take the time to have it checked out also, safety awareness and risk assessment doesn’t stop when we go home.

** Please put a comment here if you have seen this issue in your fleet **

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By Lyn Bixby
Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment Magazine

Stepping inside a new $1.5 million mobile command vehicle built by Pierce Manufacturing for the Frisco (Texas) Fire Department can be intimidating. You’re surrounded by a half-dozen sophisticated work stations, and video monitors of different sizes are everywhere, some displaying multiple images that can come from anywhere in the world and be sent anywhere in the world.

See the Full Article here

Published: Tuesday, December 22, 2009

The Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Public Information Officers (PIO) have a state of the art command vehicle, giving them the tools they need to keep the members of their community informed during large scale emergency incidents, such as wildfires, extended commercial building fires, and natural disasters. Join FDNNTV.com’s Barbara Brooks for an in depth look at the Freightliner SVI Command Vehicle that was purchased with the help of a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

Read Full Story
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Re: Ram 2010 3500/4500/5500 Cab and Chassis Models – Order Cutoff 10/8

As previously communicated the 2010 Model Year for Ram 3500/4500/5500 Cab and Chassis Models will be very short. The plant will only operate from October through December and then will be down for retooling until March when we will begin production of 2011 Models. Because of the limited production window, our order cutoff for Ram Cab and Chassis Models will be October 8th. If you are planning to order please make sure your orders are in our system by that deadline.

Reminder: These 2010 models will not require Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF aka Urea). You can beat any potential price increase as a result of the additional required system and the on going expense of the DEF by ordering 2010 Models. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Jim Baldridge

jhb2@chrysler.com

702-525-8642