IAFC Apparatus Updates- February 2026

[Cross, Steve]

Please see the message below from IAFC President Trisha Wolford regarding fire apparatus costs and delivery timelines. 

Steven Cross

MTAS Fire Management Consultant 

Program Manager

931.981.3593

Steven...@tennessee.edu

 

Please see the message below from IAFC President Trisha Wolford regarding fire apparatus costs and delivery timelines. 

IAFC Apparatus Update - February 2026

 

As the fire service continues to struggle with apparatus costs and delivery times, I have tried to stay focused and connected to the solutions that will get our fire apparatus off the production lines and onto the streets of our communities. 

 

I recently met with the new President of Pierce Manufacturing, Marty Bass. Marty is six weeks into his new role, and he and his executive team spent a full day listening to me communicate the struggles and difficulties of fire departments across the United States, who are overpaying and impatiently waiting for their apparatus to be delivered. I was brutally honest and conveyed the fire services' frustrations and disappointment.

 

Marty listened with empathy and curiosity to know more about the fire service and our needs. The solid team of Dan Meyer, Shena Straka, and Marc Manske reinforced the investments being allocated to improve capacity and deliver our needed product. 

 

I learned they have opened a 440,000 sq ft High Flow Line Facility that increases flow and throughput. They have also implemented robotics in some areas to assist with jobs like sanding and buffing. As you can imagine, recruitment and longevity in these roles can be difficult. For a new hire, it doesn’t have the appeal of other positions, and for long-term employees, it can physically be difficult to stay in this role. People-assisted robotics helps streamline and expedite production. They are hiring hundreds of new employees (approximately 800) and staying committed to pushing out the over $6 billion backlog.

 

Pierce has also implemented a new Managing Daily Improvements (MDI) process to help catch smaller issues that could result in delays down the line. I’m sure all of you are thinking, “What’s so great about that?” or “Why weren’t they already doing that?” I agree. But what could be worse than getting an overpaid rig that's three years late? Getting an overpaid rig three years late that doesn’t work or look right. One of our biggest post-delivery fears is how soon we will have to take it out of service to get something “fixed” or “looked at”. 

 

Again, I’m trying to stay focused on the solution. We already know the problem. 

All of this information is just that, information. What I can say is that Pierce understands the problem and is working to give us solutions. Like it or not, the only thing we can control in this area is how we want to be a part of the solution.

 

Since Pierce is not the only player in the game, I am working towards setting up a meeting and visit with the REV group in hopes of learning more about their plans to expedite and cost control fire apparatus. I look forward to continuing the discussions, but more importantly, seeing action. We have been talking long enough, and our communities deserve better.

Thank You,

 

Chief Trisha Wolford

IAFC President and Board Chair