Open Cab Trucks

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Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault (ret) on January 15, 2011 at 5:55pm

-Firstly, sad to say, but I am unfortunately old enough to remember what you're talking about. The open cab truck is no longer permitted by NFPA standards. Even the open jump seat area is no longer permitted under the current NFPA standards. This is specifically for firefighter protection.

-Interestingly enough, mounting axes or portable extinguishers to the side of the truck is not permitted either. 

-Why were these trucks designed with open cabs? I have been told that it facilitated rapid mounting of the apparatus by firefighters but there is nothing to support this theory.  

-Realistically, many automobiles, those that did have roofs, during the earlier part of the 20th century were equipped with retractable roofs as a standard feature. In fact, at the beginning of the 20th century it was common to find automobiles and trucks manufactured without a roof at all.  This seems to harken back to the horse and uncovered utility wagon know not just to the fire service but everywhere. "We never needed roofs on the horse wagon so why put them on the automobile?"

-Many of the first utility vehicles, trucks, bulldozers, etc... never had roofs.  And the practice continued for some time.  The original production run of the Jeep was produced without a roof at all. In the warmer locations fire apparatus were still being purchased without roofs into the late 60's. Seems that roofs were an afterthought.

-The manufacture of fire apparatus without a roof seems to be nothing more than an automobile manufacturing trend that continued for some time in the fire service. As we're all very much aware, change comes slow to the fire service; we like to hang on to traditions. And apparatus without a roof on the cab seems to be just that, a manufacturing trend that became a minor fire service tradition until someone wised up.

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Permalink Reply by ken hollins on January 15, 2011 at 8:08pm

Thank you Michael for the reply. I like your answer, the dept. i was active in is in New Jersey.The officer and the driver on those old trucks were pretty much in the weather just like the men either hanging on the sides of the trucks, or riding the back step. Hopefully i get some more reply`s to my question........Ken Hollins

Michael Bricault said:

-Firstly, sad to say, but I am unfortunately old enough to remember what you're talking about. The open cab truck is no longer permitted by NFPA standards. Even the open jump seat area is no longer permitted under the current NFPA standards. This is specifically for firefighter protection.

-Interestingly enough, mounting axes or portable extinguishers to the side of the truck is not permitted either. 

-Why were these trucks designed with open cabs? I have been told that it facilitated rapid mounting of the apparatus by firefighters but there is nothing to support this theory.  

-Realistically, many automobiles, those that did have roofs, during the earlier part of the 20th century were equipped with retractable roofs as a standard feature. In fact, at the beginning of the 20th century it was common to find automobiles and trucks manufactured without a roof at all.  This seems to harken back to the horse and uncovered utility wagon know not just to the fire service but everywhere. "We never needed roofs on the horse wagon so why put them on the automobile?"

-Many of the first utility vehicles, trucks, bulldozers, etc... never had roofs.  And the practice continued for some time.  The original production run of the Jeep was produced without a roof at all. In the warmer locations fire apparatus were still being purchased without roofs into the late 60's. Seems that roofs were an afterthought.

-The manufacture of fire apparatus without a roof seems to be nothing more than an automobile manufacturing trend that continued for some time in the fire service. As we're all very much aware, change comes slow to the fire service; we like to hang on to traditions. And apparatus without a roof on the cab seems to be just that, a manufacturing trend that became a minor fire service tradition until someone wised up.

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