Exploits Search and Rescue has ditched its 1987 school bus in favour of a new $350,000 mobile command centre.

The volunteer search and rescue team unveiled the new machine, a converted freightliner truck, on Feb. 1.

Training sessions with the new piece of equipment have begun, and the group says the truck promises to make life easier in the field.

"We can pull up to a scene, start the generator within a matter of seconds, and we have everything available to us to start the search immediately," explained Trevor Miller, a spokesperson for the group.

"It shortens our timeframe."