Engine or Truck?

[MidgetStalker]

Looking for some input on pro's and con's for choosing to be on a engine or truck company.

[SWLAFireDawg]

Don't you have to work the engine before being allowed an opportunity to work the truck?

[jccrabby3084]

I would say it depends on how the department you are with operates. A volunteer dept may not have enough people to dedicate to a engine or truck company specifically.

Then again the department I'm with has three trucks with a staffing of three and seven engines, staffed with four and four rescue squads, staffed by at least two. You may be assigned to one rig, but they will put you where needed. Also even if on an engine you could find yourself doing ventilation, search and rescue, salvage, what have you.

Point is not everywhere has the luxury of truck company operations and engine company operations. You should be proficient enough to do both. Then if you are on a department that has seperate truck company functions and engine company functions, you may do time on both and be put on the rig more suited for you.

[Mihlrad]

preference, not even worth keeping this open it will turn into a debate.

Bottom line is if you want to be the one to actually put out the fire, go engine. If you want to be the one to do search/rescue, ventilation, climb ladders, go truck.

[st42stephenAFT]

it's what you like better. pro's and con's don't really matter. if you like doing search and rescue, then trucks the way to go. if you wanna actually put out the fire, then you're an engine guy.

all the volunteer companies around here don't have set trucks or engines. one call you could roll in as a truck, and a call 10 minutes later you might be the engine. its a coin toss.

[DocVBFDE14]

Looking for some input on pro's and con's for choosing to be on a engine or truck company.


Why not learn the job first? Again, learn an engine first. Can't be an effective truckie if you don't know how to put the fire out or understand fire spread first.

[RetJaxFF]

Looking for some input on pro's and con's for choosing to be on a engine or truck company.

Engine or Truck ? What about the "Ambulance" ?

[stretch13]

Don't you have to work the engine before being allowed an opportunity to work the truck?


Not everywhere. I was assigned to a truck as a rookie, and loved it.

[BCLepore]

The engine is usually busier, but when the truck goes it's usually a "good" call. They both ahve their advantages, but I much prefer truck work.

Paul Lepore
Battalion Chief
www.aspiringfirefighters.com

[hoosierdaddy]

Hey guys, it was my understanding that they just put you wherever they put you although rookies are likely started on the engine. I know a girl who's dad is on the fire dept. and I asked if you can pick which one you go on and she said, "no, you just go where they put you."

Considering the work done by each, I think I'd prefer the engine.

[DFW333]

Engine or Truck ? What about the "Ambulance" ?

HAHAHA

I can see him trying to put out a structure fire with a bag of normal saline. Or responding to a hazmat spill and attempting to defibrillate gasoline.

[clark918]

HAHAHA

I can see him trying to put out a structure fire with a bag of normal saline. Or responding to a hazmat spill and attempting to defibrillate gasoline.

You mean you've never done that? Wow, what weird department are you from? : )

[RetJaxFF]

HAHAHA

I can see him trying to put out a structure fire with a bag of normal saline. Or responding to a hazmat spill and attempting to defibrillate gasoline.

:o)

Being on an ALS Unit in a big department was great !! We usually got to the scene first, and usually got to do search and rescue before anyone else arrived sometimes. When the engine arrived... we were already bunkered out with air pack so we'd grab the nozzel and run!!

AND when it was over we didn't have to roll or load hose !!! :o)

[st42stephenAFT]

i was under the impression that Engine responded to first aid emergencies as first responders. and that the Truck rolled to all calls (alarms, detectors, etc.). is this false?

[AZFF25]

Damn....I wish we had a TRUCK so I could pi$$ and moan about which one I would like to be on.....Oh...and the AMBULANCE's.....I wish we would get rid of those!!! There would be no tear's sheded by me if that happened!

We are the Eng Co, Truck Co, Haz Mat Team, RIT, and EMS Responder's all wrapped in one. It's kinda hard when all you have is 7 guy's on duty at one time.

[doughesson]

Bet you've never built a defibrillator from a fish finder and two BBQ spatulas.They work.Just watch Mythbusters.

Seriously,like someone else said,on my old department,it was a coin toss if you were the truck or the engine.We had a river dividing our district in two and whichever side the call came in was the engine and the other was the truck.
We had guys that preferred one or the other so they'd either show up POV to be on a hose or arrive later and get to do truckie work.
There is a ladder in the works from what I heard before I moved out of town(midmount IIRC) but I'm not sure which station will get it or if they'd want to assign people to it for their response to keep them familiar with its operation.

HAHAHA

I can see him trying to put out a structure fire with a bag of normal saline. Or responding to a hazmat spill and attempting to defibrillate gasoline.

[johnfd86]

Around here you go where you are assigned after recruit school. If you are lucky you will end up in an engine company riding out of an active multi company station. This way it is possible to cross train on truck company, haz mat, heavy rescue, als....etc. you could end up on detail to any of these type units on any given shift.

[JHR1985]

Engine or Truck ? What about the "Ambulance" ?


Holy crap I loved that one.

Yeah, not everywhere is like this , but before you start wanting to decide where you want to go, how about you learn how to operate the ambo first.

You put drunk people here

You strap babies here

You hold on here to learn out far enough to get the food as you go to a drive through

This parking lot is where we sleep to hide from the officers

and this chinese food place gives us a discount, but just dont go look in the toilet. You might not want to eat the shrimp anymore

Now good, you've learned everything there is about riding on the ambo. In another 10 years, you can decide if you want to ride the engine or the truck


On a more honest gesture, if you wear the tag/patch/plate that says Firefighter, your an engine man. Cry baby would be the tag/patch/plate for a truckie

[doughesson]

Would you say that to a Sheriff's Deputy who volunteers for his local FD and had to go looking for a child one night and failed to locate her before they were recalled due to fire extension?
I don't want to start a truckie/engine war ,I don't know how he deals with it while looking at his kids and I never want for you to be in his shoes.
Both sides of the job have their merits and downsides.


Cry baby would be the tag/patch/plate for a truckie

[JHR1985]

apparently someone here cant take a joke:rolleyes:

[firefiftyfive]

Why not learn the job first? Again, learn an engine first. Can't be an effective truckie if you don't know how to put the fire out or understand fire spread first.

What the hell does being in an engine have anything to do with knowing how fire will spread. Hell being in the truck is where you learn how fire spreads. The engine stretches the line and puts it out, they don't necissarily need to know where it's going that's why the truck is there. (I'm not knocking the engine at all, without them we all know what happens and I know how punishing it can be to be at the nozzle or backup) BUT... fire spread is the truck's bread and butter man! Opening up; knowing when and where to open up without wasting your time or energy! WHEN or WHEN not to take a window or open the roof. Does and engine man need to know to make a small hole in the ceiling before entering a room at a top floor job. NOT REALLY.. I'm a truckie by the way and I know some tremendous firemen who where never in an engine! JMHO!!

[VinnieB]

I'm a truckie by the way and I know some tremendous firemen who where never in an engine! JMHO!!

Then they are not Firemen........they are just a Fireman's Helper. :D

[doughesson]

I know it's a joke.Just reminding you that there's stuff on this job that no one should see and be made fun of if they shed a few tears over it.
Nice to know that nothing gets to you.

apparently someone here cant take a joke:rolleyes:

[firefiftyfive]

Then they are not Firemen........they are just a Fireman's Helper. :D


Hey vin long time no see!! I thought I might get a LITTLE rise out of you with my last post. STAY SAFE bro!

[CFDFireGecko]

I enjoy being on an engine. Especially when im on the pipe. You get to lead the charge into the building, and have the satisfaction of putting out the fire. Truck work is hard, dirty, tiring work. I havent been in on a rescue yet, so I cannot compare the feeling of gratification between putting a fire out and pulling a victim out. My advice is, if you even get a choice, start out on an engine and take frequent details to the truck to learn both aspects of the job.

[OhNoSavage]

i was under the impression that Engine responded to first aid emergencies as first responders. and that the Truck rolled to all calls (alarms, detectors, etc.). is this false?

That's FDNY protocol. Engine responds to all EMS runs i.e. unconscious person, cardiac etc. They will go on these calls w/o a truck. Truck will respond to stuck elevators, etc.

For utility emergencies like CO or Gas, trucks and engines will respond.

[bigl27]

Theres Alot Of Work At A Fire Scene For The Truck Companies, And The Search And Rescue Part Is Cool. Being On The Nozzle Is The Ultimate, But If Your Not Your The Third Man In Pulling On Hose For The Guys Having Fun. Engines Get Alot More Runs, Giving You More Experience. Ems Is Part Of The Job And A Skill You Will Lose If Not Used. You Should Be Able To Operate Multiple Tools For Truck Work, You Shouldn't Just Break Every Door Down Even If It Is Fun, Less Damage Is Best For Every One And Your Department Will Look Better. I've Worked Booth, And Remember Your Lucky To Have The Job, Something To Always Remember.

[johnny46]

Theres Alot Of Work At A Fire Scene For The Truck Companies, And The Search And Rescue Part Is Cool. Being On The Nozzle Is The Ultimate, But If Your Not Your The Third Man In Pulling On Hose For The Guys Having Fun. Engines Get Alot More Runs, Giving You More Experience. Ems Is Part Of The Job And A Skill You Will Lose If Not Used. You Should Be Able To Operate Multiple Tools For Truck Work, You Shouldn't Just Break Every Door Down Even If It Is Fun, Less Damage Is Best For Every One And Your Department Will Look Better. I've Worked Booth, And Remember Your Lucky To Have The Job, Something To Always Remember.

What is that, some kind of wierd poem?

Quit screwing with the venom and rivalry, Ghandi.

[DocVBFDE14]

What the hell does being in an engine have anything to do with knowing how fire will spread. Hell being in the truck is where you learn how fire spreads. The engine stretches the line and puts it out, they don't necissarily need to know where it's going that's why the truck is there. (I'm not knocking the engine at all, without them we all know what happens and I know how punishing it can be to be at the nozzle or backup) BUT... fire spread is the truck's bread and butter man! Opening up; knowing when and where to open up without wasting your time or energy! WHEN or WHEN not to take a window or open the roof. Does and engine man need to know to make a small hole in the ceiling before entering a room at a top floor job. NOT REALLY.. I'm a truckie by the way and I know some tremendous firemen who where never in an engine! JMHO!!

I'm just passing on what the senior man on the engine passed along to me :D

[DocVBFDE14]

Theres Alot Of Work At A Fire Scene For The Truck Companies, And The Search And Rescue Part Is Cool. Being On The Nozzle Is The Ultimate, But If Your Not Your The Third Man In Pulling On Hose For The Guys Having Fun. Engines Get Alot More Runs, Giving You More Experience. Ems Is Part Of The Job And A Skill You Will Lose If Not Used. You Should Be Able To Operate Multiple Tools For Truck Work, You Shouldn't Just Break Every Door Down Even If It Is Fun, Less Damage Is Best For Every One And Your Department Will Look Better. I've Worked Booth, And Remember Your Lucky To Have The Job, Something To Always Remember.

Wow, this is an interesting post. When did we start capitalizing the first letter of every word?? :D