This from E-ONE.com:
E-ONE ANNOUNCES FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO
OCALA, FL – FEB. 19, 2019 – E-ONE, a subsidiary of REV Group and a leading manufacturer of fire apparatus, has announced a five-year contract between the City of Chicago and E-ONE’s authorized dealer Fire Service, Inc., to provide multiple E-ONE apparatus including pumpers, aerials and platforms.
The City of Chicago has 98 fire stations citywide and it has more than 140 apparatus in service today. This contract will enable the city to replace dated fire apparatus and continue its best in class fire suppression and emergency demands for over 2.7 million citizens.
The contract allowed the city to examine a dealership and OEM who could manufacturer fire trucks and equipment needed to compliment the city with all current NFPA codes and standards in the fire industry, and to service the units as needed in the future.
“This important contract is replacing an aging fleet and equipment and we look forward to working together with the City of Chicago,” said Shawn Junker, Principal of Fire Service, Inc.
Jay Johnson, Vice President and General Manager of E-ONE, stated, “We are excited to serve the City of Chicago as their apparatus provider. Fire Service, Inc. is an outstanding dealer partner and we have full confidence in their ability to service and support the City of Chicago.”
thanks Andy
#1 by rich S. on February 25, 2019 - 2:45 PM
Bill, Pierce continues to sell fire apparatus as they do because they are a huge name in the industry and you have some who are just dead set on the name. Unfortunately, there product has some issues. they are great for a small town doing several hundred runs a year but we are very hard on our rigs and they need to be able to take extraordinary amounts of abuse. Some of these companies are doing 20 runs a day everyday. and they haven’t been able to withstand the constant beating. Aside from the manufacturing issues they are expensive to repair as Pierce uses “Pierce” parts that you must purchase from them. They have Paint issues, Rust issues, Electrical issues and so on. We gave them a try they’re just not for us. They are great for calendars 🙂
#2 by Bill Post on February 24, 2019 - 6:38 PM
Thanks for your input rich S. You really clarified it. I wonder what is with Pierce as they still seem to doing a good business. And it sounds like Spartan/Crimson seems to have blown it considering that Chicago was just about their largest customer for 25 years at least for engines.
#3 by rich S. on February 24, 2019 - 11:52 AM
I am on the job in the city and I really haven’t heard anything horrible about the E-One’s. As for fleet taking advice from us in the field what should they listen to? The complaint has been that the cab is not as big as the Spartan, that has been listened to and is changing the next batch of engines will have the XL cab so more room. Other than that these rigs are fleets nothing we can do about that. “NO ONE” likes to get new rigs… we don’t like change, there is nothing that can be done with rigs today they’re all electronic and a pain in the ass because of this. Every manufacturer has issues in some way. The difference is standing behind your product, Pierce hasn’t, Crimson hasn’t. So hopefully these E-Ones are like all the others we have had and they work for us. We have crap on the street and crap as spares so that’s that. Fireman will complain about anything.
#4 by Rj on February 23, 2019 - 9:37 AM
What don’t the line guys like about the E-ones??
#5 by John Antkowski on February 23, 2019 - 9:12 AM
New York replaces their fleet about every 10 years or so. The members loved their Seagraves but I believe it was style of cab wasn’t available any more for the standard 1000 gpm pumpers. So Kme came in. The same happened with the rear mounts and Ferrera came in. Milwaukee went all Pierce and standardization of parts came easier. I would have to agree with Fleet with the ease of repairs. I also agree that they should take some feed back from the field to work out the bugs.
#6 by Bill Post on February 22, 2019 - 4:24 PM
Craig Mack, what is the preference of the men in the field? Is it that they don’t care for the E/Ones? I understand there have been some problems with the Spartans, and the Pierce trucks have been rusting. What is their main grievance? Do they still prefer the Spartans or do they think it is a maintenance issue? Would they rather try Pierce or Rosenbauer engines?
#7 by michael m on February 22, 2019 - 3:07 PM
I agree, it should be easier for shops to service the vehicles since they will all be from one Manufacturer.
I believe they will completely replace the fleet quicker this time than they have in the past. Since they are going to replace it over 5 years.
#8 by Craig Mack on February 22, 2019 - 10:19 AM
Fleet likes E-ones… the men do not! Nor will the men have any say so in the design. They’ve already been out to the firehouse’s looking at sizes and when the men,from busy companies mind you, tried to put some input in, they were shrugged off!!
#9 by CrabbyMilton on February 22, 2019 - 6:16 AM
That’s good news.
Obviously they like E-ONE’s and that should advance standardization.