Channel3000.com has an article about a recall issued for certain Pierce fire trucks:
Pierce Manufacturing is recalling 135 fire trucks in the U.S. because a suspension part can fail and cause a wheel to fall off.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says in documents posted on its website this weekend that the recall covers Pierce Arrow fire trucks from the 2010 and 2011 model years. The trucks have TAK-4 front suspensions and were built from Nov. 18, 2009, through May 11, 2011.
The agency began investigating the trucks in March after getting reports of a wheel falling off two aerial ladder trucks that were responding to emergency calls in Portland, Oregon, and Edmond, Oklahoma. The Wisconsin-based company also told the agency of another case in Milwaukee.
Pierce will inspect the lower control arms on the trucks and replace any that are defective.
thanks Dan
#1 by Crabby Milton on November 5, 2014 - 6:23 AM
That could be low bid. Unless SEAGRAVE has “crap” problems now too. FDNY disposes of their rigs about every 10 years so while it’s sad to see them move away from SEAGRAVE, by many it makes sense not to buy a premium brand though I’m not suggesting that KME and FERRARA are all out lousy.
#2 by Bill Post on November 4, 2014 - 9:34 PM
Forget about American La France and just take a look at Seagrave now. New York City until less then 10 years had bought all of their trucks and most of their engines from Seagrave. For the last few years New York City’s contract for rear mounted aerial apparatus has gone to Ferrara. While the contract for tower ladders and tillered aerial ladders had still gone to Seagrave, the lastest engine company order is from KME.
#3 by Crabby Milton on November 4, 2014 - 6:00 AM
Sure hope we don’t have another “AMERICAN LaFRANCE” brewing. Sometimes I hear stories like that mostly from car builders and the resulting recalls so one of the first things that come to mind is were they desperate for engineers at some point that they can goof up like that? Nothing is wrong with improvements but the lesson is either make sure it’s right or leave it the way it is. How many restaurants have ceased to exist because someone had the big idea to “Impove” the menu?
Nobody or organization is perfect in this world and PIERCE has a great track record so perhaps too much complency on their part can be remedied by some self examination.