stormgod
07-01-2004, 07:10 AM
I found this article from the Enid News-Eagle in Enid Ok. They purchased 2 new pumpers and have had some problems with them, actually they have had a TON of problems with them.
Fire truck troubles
Enid may file lawsuit over pumpers
7/1/04
By Robert Barron
Staff Writer
Enid Fire Chief Phil Clover eagerly awaited the arrival of his new fire trucks, paid for with public safety tax money.
Two years after the trucks were ordered, the American LaFrance trucks arrived with numerous problems and have been in repair since they got here, he said.
The trucks were ordered in 2001, but American LaFrance was in the process of moving into a new $50 million plant in Charleston, S.C., and planned to close other plants around the country and centralize operations.
“They were planning on most of their people moving to Charleston when the plant was built. But when they moved, very few of their experienced workers moved to the new plant,” Clover said.
Enid’s orders were the ninth and 10th trucks built at the new plant. The trucks are American LaFrance Eagles — pumper trucks — costing $252,850 each.
“We have had numerous electrical problems with both trucks, as well as substructure problems — not enough bracing beneath the tail section to hold up the tail of the truck — and cracks have appeared in the truck body,” he said.
Both trucks were late arriving. The city has had one for 188 days and the second for 69 days, and they have been at the Freightliner dealer in Oklahoma City, which is trying to correct the problems.
Neither truck has been officially accepted by the city, and American LaFrance is paying a $100 per day penalty and will continue to pay until the trucks meet specifications, Clover said.
The current plan offered by the company is to take the trucks back individually to a plant in Cleveland, N.C., and refurbish them “from the ground up,” he said.
That process will take 45 to 60 days per truck.
The company would provide replacement trucks while they are being repaired. However, Clover is concerned about the age of trucks the department currently has in use.
“I do have some concerns because of the age of the apparatus we are trying to replace. They are the same trucks we campaigned on for the public safety tax in 2001,” he said.
American LaFrance was considered by Enid firefighters as one of the top three fire truck manufacturers in the nation when the company was the successful bidders in 2001, he said.
Clover said he has talked with American LaFrance officials many times and is getting frustrated. City commissioners had been scheduled Tuesday to consider filing litigation against the company, but the item was taken off the agenda.
City Attorney Carol Lahman will write the company notifying officials of the city’s frustration and the possibility of legal action if no remedy is found.
Clover said he has since discovered several of the first trucks off the line at the new plant have had problems.
“We’re not ready to discuss litigation yet, we’re still writing letters. We have nowhere to go but up from this point,” he said.
Fire truck troubles
Enid may file lawsuit over pumpers
7/1/04
By Robert Barron
Staff Writer
Enid Fire Chief Phil Clover eagerly awaited the arrival of his new fire trucks, paid for with public safety tax money.
Two years after the trucks were ordered, the American LaFrance trucks arrived with numerous problems and have been in repair since they got here, he said.
The trucks were ordered in 2001, but American LaFrance was in the process of moving into a new $50 million plant in Charleston, S.C., and planned to close other plants around the country and centralize operations.
“They were planning on most of their people moving to Charleston when the plant was built. But when they moved, very few of their experienced workers moved to the new plant,” Clover said.
Enid’s orders were the ninth and 10th trucks built at the new plant. The trucks are American LaFrance Eagles — pumper trucks — costing $252,850 each.
“We have had numerous electrical problems with both trucks, as well as substructure problems — not enough bracing beneath the tail section to hold up the tail of the truck — and cracks have appeared in the truck body,” he said.
Both trucks were late arriving. The city has had one for 188 days and the second for 69 days, and they have been at the Freightliner dealer in Oklahoma City, which is trying to correct the problems.
Neither truck has been officially accepted by the city, and American LaFrance is paying a $100 per day penalty and will continue to pay until the trucks meet specifications, Clover said.
The current plan offered by the company is to take the trucks back individually to a plant in Cleveland, N.C., and refurbish them “from the ground up,” he said.
That process will take 45 to 60 days per truck.
The company would provide replacement trucks while they are being repaired. However, Clover is concerned about the age of trucks the department currently has in use.
“I do have some concerns because of the age of the apparatus we are trying to replace. They are the same trucks we campaigned on for the public safety tax in 2001,” he said.
American LaFrance was considered by Enid firefighters as one of the top three fire truck manufacturers in the nation when the company was the successful bidders in 2001, he said.
Clover said he has talked with American LaFrance officials many times and is getting frustrated. City commissioners had been scheduled Tuesday to consider filing litigation against the company, but the item was taken off the agenda.
City Attorney Carol Lahman will write the company notifying officials of the city’s frustration and the possibility of legal action if no remedy is found.
Clover said he has since discovered several of the first trucks off the line at the new plant have had problems.
“We’re not ready to discuss litigation yet, we’re still writing letters. We have nowhere to go but up from this point,” he said.