It’s becoming trite to say that we are in unprecedented times when it comes to purchasing fire apparatus. They are more expensive than ever, and the delivery times to which we have become accustomed over the years have increased.
Some departments are just now receiving rigs they ordered in 2022. Across the fire service, fire departments are beginning to adjust when they start planning for new fire apparatus so the planning starts sooner than usual, knowing that the entire process could take four or even five years to complete. A truck that is nine years old now could be 13 or 14 years old when replaced.
Back in December 2024, we ran our annual “Outlook” article, which offers insight into what is coming in the following year. For 2025, some of those we spoke with suggested or predicted that during 2025, departments would potentially investigate stock fire apparatus as a means to get rigs sooner and at lower costs. We decided it was time to take a closer look at this option.
To that end, we’ve contacted a variety of stock rig makers to talk about the difference between stock vs. program rigs, advantages and tradeoffs to choosing a stock rig, the purchasing process for these fire apparatus, and whether or not these fire trucks are indeed customizable in some ways.
STOCK VS. PROGRAM
Stock vehicles and program vehicles are sometimes considered one and the same, but there are important differences between them. There might also be differences from how individual companies describe their stock programs. “ ‘Stock’ is designed to meet the specific needs of departments based on their geographical and operational preferences,” says Scott Edens, president and CEO of Fouts Bros. “The truck specifications remain consistent for a full model year and are not available for sale until completion. This standardization of the production process results in the best pricing for fire departments.” He adds that program trucks are production slots with a similar base design, marketed to fill production gaps and shorten lead times. “These units typically require a department to submit a change order, which can increase costs and lead times,” he says.
Mike Harstad, stock truck and co-op purchasing manager for Rosenbauer America, says, “Stock vehicles are configured to match what is being purchased in the industry— whether it’s aerials, pumpers, Type 3 units, etc. Stock units are designed to fit in best with what is currently selling in the marketplace. Program units tend to be preengineered configurations that allow limited option content.”
According to Larry Daniels, vice president of sales for REV Fire Group, a stock truck is an apparatus that any dealer buys without having a customer for it. “They take the lead since they know the needs of their local markets and can purchase any model,” he says. The dealer will also design and spec the truck based on his specific market and the customers within that market and their needs. “This gives the dealer an opportunity to help customers with quicker delivery,” he adds.
In terms of program vehicles, he says that a modular design allows for quicker build trucks and cites REV’s S-180, F-180, and K-180 pumpers as examples that are road-ready in less than a year. “We start with nine custom-built models and configure them with features and options to meet the department’s specific needs,” Daniels says. “We also recently introduced the E-ONE Select Series™ for our 75-, 78-, and 100-foot aerials where we preselected the most popular features, streamlining the order-to-delivery process.” He adds that an E-ONE Select Series aerial will be on display at FDIC International 2025.
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