Ladder trucks are 96 inches wide, compared to a 101-inch standard, and the back of trucks here taper to 88 inches, giving drivers a little extra room on tight turns, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety.
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Other differences include recessed grab rails, bar lights, and air conditioning units. Parts of the exterior have rubber instead of stainless steel so there’s less damage if the truck brushes against something else. For going up and down hills, Jones said, the trucks have extra horsepower and brakes.