An Introduction To Heavy Rescue Trucks

In emergency situations, the duties performed by rescue workers require essential equipment and tools. Delivering those tools are highly customized and equipped trucks. But sometimes, the tools and equipment needed by rescue personnel are exceptionally large and cumbersome. In those cases, specialized heavy rescue trucks may be in order.

These types of vehicles can include firefighting apparatus or vehicles providing specialty emergency medical services. They can, within structure fires, also provide search and rescue equipment/services. Providing the highly specialized equipment needed, they are primarily designed for technical rescue situations.

What’s On Your Truck?

Precisely and specifically dedicated equipment is carried on heavy rescue trucks covering a vast array of choices. Some equipment can include the following:

• Circular saws
• Cutting torches
• Cranes
• Hi-lift jacks
• Winches  
• Generators
• Wooden cribbing
• Jaws of life
• … and other forms of equipment that is considered heavy and not standard truck adaptable.

Traditional Trucks Versus Heavy Rescue

Because heavy rescue trucks can carry all of the above, this is the characteristic that differentiates them from ladder trucks or pumper trucks of a more traditional design. The more traditional trucks were made to carry entry gear, firefighters, hoses, water tanks, and other fire extinguishing and light rescue equipment.

In order to broaden their response capability, onboard pumps are carried by some heavy rescue trucks. But ordinarily, because of their special role, pumping gear and water tanks are not routinely carried.

How Are Heavy Rescue Trucks Used?

Some of the most popular choices for using heavy rescue apparatus include the following:

• USAR (urban search and rescue)
• Light and air
• Hazmat incidents
• Rehab
• Local and federal law enforcement (communications/command, bomb response, SWAT, etc.)
• Incident command vehicles and more

Heavy rescue vehicles, based on their target environmental setting, can be specifically outfitted (i.e., wildland, industrial, or municipal). Determined by the operational district and agency, these configurations provide numerous size, equipment, response, storage, etc. options which are worked out with the manufacturing company. Based on the ordering organization’s desires and needs, unique options can be specifically tailored.

Types of Rescue Vehicles

Depending on the equipment carried and the size of the vehicle, rescue vehicles can fall into various categories. Some of these are as follows:

• Technical rescue
• Heavy rescue
• Medium rescue
• Light rescue

Keep in mind, of course, that overlapping tasks could be included in these categories. But for certain kinds of incidents, they must be easily classified for the sake of the dispatcher. Depending on the locale and the company to whom the rescue vehicles belong, certain nicknames or unit names can be assigned to rescue vehicles (for easy reference) in accordance with the jobs they do and their size.

Contact Mickey Genuine Parts Today

Whether you need a qualified individual to replace parts or just parts for the person who does your truck maintenance, you can rely on Mickey’s helpful staff for all your needs. With numerous Mickey owned and approved service centers throughout the nation, there’s probably one not too far from you. If you have any concerns or questions about vehicles, trailers, used trailers, used equipment, or parts contact us today. Our customer service people are ready and willing to prove why we are industry leaders – and have been for over a century!