Christian P. Koop

As most of you have heard in the news and what seems much more frequently in print and social media, “We live in a changing world.”

Those six words should not only be a painful reminder of the recent terrorist attack in San Bernadino, California, which left 18 dead, but also a reminder of just how much our country and the world have changed and are changing. Unfortunately, physical attacks of the type that occurred in San Bernadino are not our only vulnerabilities. We are also at high risk for cyber attacks through the highly sophisticated vehicles we drive, which are no longer self-contained and are essentially alive and communicate. It is important for fleet managers to know that commercial vehicles and emergency response vehicle fleets are at a greater risk for cyber attacks because of the commonality of vehicle systems and the increased use of telematics. My main objective with this article is to bring more awareness to this subject by defining some basic terms and sharing information on how your vehicles can be maliciously attacked.

I recently attended a meeting with the South Florida Fleet Managers group. The topic was fleet vehicle cyber security for automobiles, buses, trucks, over-the-road trucks, and emergency response vehicles. The founder and organizer of this group is David Motola, a fleet manager from Miami Gardens, Florida. The main objectives for this group were to discuss forefront topics. This past session was no different. Cyber security for vehicle systems is something everyone is rushing to address-or should be. Motola made two important points: First, PCs have malware detection software installed that can be updated to protect from hacking, but most vehicles do not. Second, common hackers can take control of your vehicle from anywhere, yet they don’t even know how to change their own oil!

The Lingo

Let me define some important basic terminology that all concerned with this issue should be familiar with.

Firmware is a set of instructions programmed into a hardware device that essentially provides the basic necessary instructions for how a device communicates with other computer hardware. It is generally stored in a device’s flash read-only memory (ROM). ROM can be erased and rewritten because it is a type of flash memory.

Controller area network, also referred to as CAN bus, is a vehicle network standard that is designed to allow microcontrollers and other electronic control devices to communicate between each other without having a host or central computer. It was originally designed for use in automobiles as an electronic-coded-message-based protocol for use with multiplex wiring. However, it now can be found in many other contexts including trucks, buses, and heavy equipment. This includes emergency response vehicles.

Telematics is sending, receiving, and storing information (data) via wireless communication from vehicle networks whereby the control of an object can be remotely affected. For example, most reading this are probably familiar with OnStar, a General Motors (GM) subsidiary that offers a service where it is connected to customer vehicles through the global positioning system (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver technology. In the event of an emergency, the driver can immediately communicate with OnStar to request emergency services, such as the police or fire and rescue, and provide them with an exact location. It can also unlock your vehicle if you leave your keys inside and access a host

Christian P. Koop

As most of you have heard in the news and what seems much more frequently in print and social media, “We live in a changing world.”

Those six words should not only be a painful reminder of the recent terrorist attack in San Bernadino, California, which left 18 dead, but also a reminder of just how much our country and the world have changed and are changing. Unfortunately, physical attacks of the type that occurred in San Bernadino are not our only vulnerabilities. We are also at high risk for cyber attacks through the highly sophisticated vehicles we drive, which are no longer self-contained and are essentially alive and communicate. It is important for fleet managers to know that commercial vehicles and emergency response vehicle fleets are at a greater risk for cyber attacks because of the commonality of vehicle systems and the increased use of telematics. My main objective with this article is to bring more awareness to this subject by defining some basic terms and sharing information on how your vehicles can be maliciously attacked.

I recently attended a meeting with the South Florida Fleet Managers group. The topic was fleet vehicle cyber security for automobiles, buses, trucks, over-the-road trucks, and emergency response vehicles. The founder and organizer of this group is David Motola, a fleet manager from Miami Gardens, Florida. The main objectives for this group were to discuss forefront topics. This past session was no different. Cyber security for vehicle systems is something everyone is rushing to address-or should be. Motola made two important points: First, PCs have malware detection software installed that can be updated to protect from hacking, but most vehicles do not. Second, common hackers can take control of your vehicle from anywhere, yet they don’t even know how to change their own oil!

The Lingo

Let me define some important basic terminology that all concerned with this issue should be familiar with.

Firmware is a set of instructions programmed into a hardware device that essentially provides the basic necessary instructions for how a device communicates with other computer hardware. It is generally stored in a device’s flash read-only memory (ROM). ROM can be erased and rewritten because it is a type of flash memory.

Controller area network, also referred to as CAN bus, is a vehicle network standard that is designed to allow microcontrollers and other electronic control devices to communicate between each other without having a host or central computer. It was originally designed for use in automobiles as an electronic-coded-message-based protocol for use with multiplex wiring. However, it now can be found in many other contexts including trucks, buses, and heavy equipment. This includes emergency response vehicles.

Telematics is sending, receiving, and storing information (data) via wireless communication from vehicle networks whereby the control of an object can be remotely affected. For example, most reading this are probably familiar with OnStar, a General Motors (GM) subsidiary that offers a service where it is connected to customer vehicles through the global positioning system (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver technology. In the event of an emergency, the driver can immediately communicate with OnStar to request emergency services, such as the police or fire and rescue, and provide them with an exact location. It can also unlock your vehicle if you leave your keys inside and access a host

By Alan M. Petrillo

Specialty vehicles play an important role in a fire department’s fleet, whether it’s a platoon full of different units or a single rig for a specific dedicated purpose.

The types of specialty vehicles and the specific models being made vary among fire departments and regional response teams according to the special requirements dictated by their response areas and types of hazards they face. But, typically they are vehicles used for command, hazmat, specialty rescue (such as dive teams), air and light, urban search and rescue (USAR), or any combination of these functions.

1 SVI Trucks built four air and light units for the Houston (TX) Fire Department on Ford F-550 chassis. Each unit has a 13-cfm air compressor and a small light tower. (Photo courtesy of SVI Trucks.)

Bob Sorensen, vice president of SVI Trucks, says many fire departments talk about building smaller specialty vehicles but end up having manufacturers put together large tandem-rear-axle rigs with high gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs). “We recently built a tandem-rear-axle specialty rescue/command vehicle that has a small crane on the back of the unit,” Sorensen says. “And, we are seeing more trucks being provided as turnkey units with all of the equipment already mounted in the vehicles. Some fire departments want to issue a single purchase order for a vehicle and all its equipment, and they’ve even provided us with their laptops and radios to be installed too.”

2 E-ONE built this combination specialty vehicle for the Dumfries-Triangle (VA) Volunteer Fire Department on a nonwalk-in body and a tandem-rear-axle chassis. The unit functions as a rescue, hazmat, and specialty rescue rig. (Photo courtesy of E-ONE.)

Bill Himstedt, director of product management and rescue sales for E-ONE, says the specialty vehicle market has changed in the past two years. “We had been delivering nonwalk-in bodies with command cabs and some power requirements,” Himstedt says. “But, recently a lot of customers are asking for more complex trucks, basically combination units with front walk-in modules and the backs being walk-arounds. They want light command functions and office space up front on a heavy-duty, fire-rated body that can be upfitted in the future if needed.”

Air and Light

At the other end of the specialty truck size spectrum, Sorensen notes that SVI recently delivered four air/light units to the Houston (TX) Fire Department built on Ford F-550 chassis carrying 13 cubic-foot-per-minute (cfm) air compressors and small light towers.

Ferrara Fire Apparatus built an air and light truck for the Monroeville (PA) Fire Department on a heavy-duty custom cab with a walk-through body accessed from the rear. “The truck had a huge compressor in the center of the body to make its own air where firefighters could fill their bottles out of the elements,” says Kevin Arnold, rescu

By Alan M. Petrillo

Specialty vehicles play an important role in a fire department’s fleet, whether it’s a platoon full of different units or a single rig for a specific dedicated purpose.

The types of specialty vehicles and the specific models being made vary among fire departments and regional response teams according to the special requirements dictated by their response areas and types of hazards they face. But, typically they are vehicles used for command, hazmat, specialty rescue (such as dive teams), air and light, urban search and rescue (USAR), or any combination of these functions.

1 SVI Trucks built four air and light units for the Houston (TX) Fire Department on Ford F-550 chassis. Each unit has a 13-cfm air compressor and a small light tower. (Photo courtesy of SVI Trucks.)

Bob Sorensen, vice president of SVI Trucks, says many fire departments talk about building smaller specialty vehicles but end up having manufacturers put together large tandem-rear-axle rigs with high gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs). “We recently built a tandem-rear-axle specialty rescue/command vehicle that has a small crane on the back of the unit,” Sorensen says. “And, we are seeing more trucks being provided as turnkey units with all of the equipment already mounted in the vehicles. Some fire departments want to issue a single purchase order for a vehicle and all its equipment, and they’ve even provided us with their laptops and radios to be installed too.”

2 E-ONE built this combination specialty vehicle for the Dumfries-Triangle (VA) Volunteer Fire Department on a nonwalk-in body and a tandem-rear-axle chassis. The unit functions as a rescue, hazmat, and specialty rescue rig. (Photo courtesy of E-ONE.)

Bill Himstedt, director of product management and rescue sales for E-ONE, says the specialty vehicle market has changed in the past two years. “We had been delivering nonwalk-in bodies with command cabs and some power requirements,” Himstedt says. “But, recently a lot of customers are asking for more complex trucks, basically combination units with front walk-in modules and the backs being walk-arounds. They want light command functions and office space up front on a heavy-duty, fire-rated body that can be upfitted in the future if needed.”

Air and Light

At the other end of the specialty truck size spectrum, Sorensen notes that SVI recently delivered four air/light units to the Houston (TX) Fire Department built on Ford F-550 chassis carrying 13 cubic-foot-per-minute (cfm) air compressors and small light towers.

Ferrara Fire Apparatus built an air and light truck for the Monroeville (PA) Fire Department on a heavy-duty custom cab with a walk-through body accessed from the rear. “The truck had a huge compressor in the center of the body to make its own air where firefighters could fill their bottles out of the elements,” says Kevin Arnold, rescu