The Joy of Specs

     Whether you're in the public sector or the private, vehicle purchases are a major expense. With that kind of investment, you need to get exactly what you want. That's why the specification process is important.

     Utilizing a bidding process lets you detail specs for the required systems and optional equipment you want on your vehicle. Two things that should be reflected in your specs are the current General Services Administration KKK standards and any additional state or local requirements. Incorporating these ensures that you won't end up with a truck that, for some reason, needs to be retrofitted with missing elements.

     If you're in management, an important early step should be to sit down with your personnel and get a feel for what they'd like to have in a rig. Ambulance manufacturers have lists of accessories, and contacting a sales representative can help you find out what fits what. If you already have a good idea of what you want, try to get the exact specifications for that vehicle. If your preferred company doesn't win the bid, at least you'll have something close to what you wanted. The more details in your spec sheet, the better it will be for everyone concerned.

     Something people may overlook when speccing out their trucks is some of the details that can have an impact on your downtime and repairs. It's pretty much given in the automotive industry that parts are modified or change over time. To that end, it's a good idea to request copies of the schematics of the ambulance, any special adapters/cables for interfacing with it, and service and parts manuals/CDs/DVDs for both the truck and the box. There is nothing worse than watching a mechanic swap parts to see if it will fix a problem because they don't have the proper diagnostic tool or manual. This will save you time and money. If you're a department that orders several trucks a year, one set per model year should work fine for your maintenance folks.

     Another item that's coming into use is an hour meter. Get one if you can; it will benefit your tracking of vehicle costs, help improve your scheduled services and cut down on catastrophic engine failures. You may be spending well over $100,000, and a little extra investment goes a long way toward keeping that vehicle on the road as long as possible.

SAFETY AND OTHER CONCERNS
     With speccing out trucks comes the matter of crew and patient safety. From restraint devices to child safety seats to lift gates and pneumatic and electric-powered stretchers, there is a variety of features available. If you're procuring a specialty truck, such as a NICU/PICU critical-care transport vehicle, a lift gate can save a lot of backs.

     An emerging trend involves automated-lift stretchers, bariatric stretchers and bariatric ambulances. With the rise in obesity in the United States, these advances can increase patient safety, reduce provider injuries, reduce the manpower needed to handle these patients, and improve customer satisfaction.

     I'm a believer in commonality. I know a lot of things determine what goes into a vehicle; cost and other issues come into play. But if you can have one family of vehicles, your maintenance issues become easier. Parts you keep on the shelf become cheaper because you can buy them in bulk. They'll also take up less room: Instead of having different sets of brake pads for several types of vehicles, you'll need only front and rear sets for one. They may also be interchangeable between vehicles, reducing downtime.

     If you're in an area where four-wheel drive is a necessity, look at having some sort of "no-slip/spin" or "limited slip" type of locker in your rear differential. This ensures that both rear wheels will get power when you need it. Four-wheel drive does not mean all four wheels drive continuously. If you get stuck, one front wheel and one rear wheel will normally move, or "slip." A no-spin/limited-slip rear differential allows both rear wheels to move regardless of which one is stuck.

     If you're looking for a command vehicle, which will have numerous radios and other devices, it's good to order the heavy-duty alternator for it, as well as heavy-duty oil and transmission coolers. Remember, this vehicle will be powering a lot of extras. Keeping it cool helps keep you cool under pressure as well. You may also have it set up so that an external generator can be hooked up to power the extra devices.

     If a dealer promises something, get it in writing. If you'd like something added, fax or e-mail the revised order sheet to the dealer and keep a copy. That way there's no confusion. Confirm receipt of the modified order.

     Now comes the waiting period, when your vehicle is built and/or delivered. This can be anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on several factors (e.g., availability of the frame, specialty items to be installed, etc.).

Is She Your Type?
     I once had to switch from a Type I ambulance to a Type III. I hated it. I was cramped, my knees were in the dash when I drove, my feet didn't fit the pedals right, and I was guaranteed to have an abdominal injury if we had an accident at more than five miles an hour. Out of curiosity, I called the manufacturer and spoke to the sales rep. He said that was how my department had ordered the truck—had they wanted a longer wheel base, they could have gotten an extended-cab version for $1,000 more. Van chassis now are being built with more room than before, which is an improvement, but is it going to be enough for your crew and their stuff? Bigger cabs can mean less room in the back, so weigh the decision carefully. If you're a department that runs a lot of calls and needs the extra supplies, it might be better to go with a bigger frame.

YOUR NEW TOY
     Finally the day will come to pick your new vehicle up at the local dealer or manufacturer.

     Bring your proof of insurance, vehicle tags (if you already have them) and any other required paperwork. It helps if you take a second person with you—perhaps a mechanic. You should both look things over and ask questions of the technicians who built or will service it. If a mechanic isn't available, find someone knowledgeable in vehicles to assist you. If possible, inspect it with the salesperson, and use your order sheet and vehicle information and make sure it matches what you ordered.

     Before starting the vehicle, check all the fluid levels. If it's a different brand than you're used to, have the salesperson take you around and show you everything. Know what's normal for various levels, etc. It's OK to ask what something is or how it works. I've seen people fill radiators with wiper fluid, transmissions with engine oil and engines with transmission fluid. Remember, if there's something new on that truck, everyone is going to assume you know how to work it when you bring it back.

     Check the paint and decals. Are they in the right order? Do they lie flat, with no bubbles or corners lifting up? Now is the time to find out, before someone takes a high-pressure washer and blows off the decals with it. Have any problems repaired before you leave.

     Once you've done the walkaround and everything looks OK, get in and start it up. Let it run for a while. Check that all instruments and gauges are working right. Wait a few minutes, then turn everything on and see if it all works. Go back and look at those gauges again. Check the ammeter and oil and water temperatures. Have your second person walk around the outside and look for any leaks. Check your normal lights; if everything's working, check the emergency and auxiliary lights. Then move on to the back and check the AC and heat, the ventilation fan, internal suction and the inverter, if you can.

     I recommend turning everything on gradually and not overloading the system. If something's going to blow a fuse or cut out, it's easier to say "I turned on x, and everything went dead!" than "I turned on everything, and all of sudden nothing worked." If you have a lift gate of some sort, test it. If it's stiff or not working right, get it adjusted before you leave. If you have four-wheel drive, engage it in both high and low ranges, drive it for a few minutes, then see if it disengages as well.

     If the vehicle comes with a preset radio, see that it works. Have your second person drive 3–4 miles away and see if you can pick each other up. If you and your colleague are content leave the truck running, go back inside and finish any remaining paperwork. Pick up any materials you ordered (electrical schematics, truck paperwork, etc.). If there's a problem, now's the time to get it fixed. If it can't be fixed or adjusted to your needs, it's OK to leave the vehicle and let the dealer/manufacturer fix it. Remember, the more specialized the vehicle, the longer this might take. Try to get the dealer to priority-order whatever is needed to get the truck on the road.

     If the vehicle has no problems and all parties are in agreement, then it's time to get going. Your truck has been running at least 30–45 minutes now, so check out the gauges and head home. As you're driving back, watch for any quirks and record them for any warranty work that might come up.

Kevin M. Storm, AHS, NREMT-P, has been active in EMS since 1996, working in various departments and rising to the rank of captain. He is currently a WMD EMS instructor for the Texas Engineering Extension Service's Emergency Services Training Institute in College Station.