Excerpts from wcia.com:
Some ambulance providers feel their vehicles need critical improvements, but a national shortage is putting up a roadblock.
The Champaign County Fire Chiefs Association (CCFCA) reached out to state leaders for help. In a letter to Sen. Tammy Duckworth, they said their equipment needs microchips to function and are concerned about the lack of them available for emergency vehicles. In the letter they asked for leaders to put pressure on microchip manufacturers to create a better priority for emergency vehicles.
Many Advanced Medical Transport (AMT) vehicles have 150,000 – 250,000 miles on them. Many Arrow Ambulance units are approaching 300,000 miles.
The problem will only get worse if they can’t receive new parts or new vehicles soon. The microchip shortage is of course affecting more than just ambulances.
thanks Martin
#1 by Crabbymilton on September 10, 2022 - 8:11 AM
Well said Mike and you are correct. No potus can act unilaterally on it though. We also have to put pressure on our Governors as well. We need to ask ourselves are we spending energy to encourage businesses to build things here or chase them away. You appreciate American heritage as do I. But sadly the masses don’t seem to care either way where their stuff comes from. The fire apparatus and ambulance builders are not exempt from that battle.
#2 by Mike on September 9, 2022 - 4:42 PM
Crabby it would have been nice if trump or any president would encourage the American car many factors to actually build their stuff in America. Trump did say he was going tariff companies for not doing this but that never happened. Maybe this global shortage we will finally learn that outsourcing isn’t as good as people think it is.
#3 by Mike L on September 9, 2022 - 2:03 PM
Poor planning, profits before people and privatization are the problem as well. 3rd party, private, for profit ambulance services don’t invest in keeping the fleet updated or even properly maintained so there’s that. The current president signed legislation to have chips manufactured in the US be used in place of overseas manufacturers so, thankfully, we can have chips made in the USA.
#4 by crabbymilton on September 9, 2022 - 1:36 PM
Say what you will but President Trump was right. We’re at the mercy of these overseas sources because we don’t build enough components here. Perhaps for now, the chassis section on the bid form should allow for substitutions. FORD is the most popular ambulance chassis but RAM and GM could be used in the event if FORD can’t deliver and vise versa.