Emergencies can come in all shapes and sizes, but they all have a few things in common. They require rapid and agile responses by professionals equipped to address the source of the problem.
In practice that can mean lots of different things. For firefighters that can require lots of different tools. In the interest of responding rapidly and efficiently, departments need flexible assets that can fulfill multiple purposes across a range of diverse and difficult scenarios.
That’s the idea behind the Pro Line series of mobile command centers from TruckVault. A series of six carefully designed units that fit in the beds of pickup trucks, it offers departments complete command capabilities, tailored for their specific needs and purposes and delivered in low-profile vehicles that can navigate where larger ones can’t.
“We get a lot of great design ideas directly from our customers,” said Ross Roberts, the company’s marketing director. “The roots of this line are just a compilation of needs our customers have voiced and benefits they’ve wanted to see. Our approach has always been to take those ideas and translate them quickly into products. In this case we’ve been able to produce a whole line of features across six different products.”
With those individual variations – and the company’s ability to further customize to departments’ needs – the resulting units can serve an array of purposes and bring numerous benefits to FD responses and scenes. Here are five of the biggest.
1. TAKE COMMAND ALMOST ANYWHERE
Pickup trucks are often used by fire departments in rural areas, but the Pro Line units let them wield full command capabilities anywhere crowds may inhibit larger vehicles, including urban scenarios like festivals, protests and other mass gatherings. Of course, pickups are also suited for remote and wilderness needs, like navigating down unmaintained logging roads to get to burgeoning wildfires or remote accident scenes.
Wherever the emergency, the Pro Line models enhance mobile and effective on-site response.
Pro Line 1 is geared to power drone operations. It has a folding mount to hold a 32-inch monitor, equipment tray, three locking drawers and adjustable shelving. It’s one of three powered Pro Line models and also has USB, USB-C and HDMI ports.
Pro Line 2 can carry large tools in a pair of full-length gear tunnels and features gear compartments, adjustable shelves and top tiedown points to keep things secured.
Pro Line 3 meets a key EMS need with an integrated SCBA bracket on an easy-access pullout tray. It also offers two integrated magnetic dry-erase command boards and cargo storage with an included net.
Pro Line 4 provides ample storage with areas both secured and unsecured, including a pair of full-length drawers, two more compartments with latching lids and adjustable shelves in the back.
Pro Line 5 has a removable radio panel, flip-up dry-erase board and a large gear tray, along with integrated power.
Pro Line 6 is also powered and has three secure drawers, a pair of magnetic map boards and additional cubbies for gear.
“We can provide a variety of different setups,” said Lisa Herrera, TruckVault’s West Coast public safety territory manager. “It all depends on how a department wants to organize and store their gear. There are lots of different features on each one.”
TruckVault
“We can provide a variety of different setups,” said Lisa Herrera, TruckVault’s West Coast public safety territory manager. “It all depends on how a department wants to organize and store their gear. There are lots of different features on each one.”
If a department needs features beyond that selection, those are usually doable too.
2. CARRY EXTRA EQUIPMENT
Beyond command capabilities, the second priority in designing the Pro Line units was space. TruckVault wanted to provide abundant storage not only for the regular tools firefighters require but for specialty items and other nice-to-have accoutrements that can be helpful on scenes.
The Pro Line series sits atop the company’s TruckGlide sliding bed platforms. To accommodate even more features, TruckVault concurrently developed a new TruckGlide for eight-foot beds. The original was built for 5½-foot beds.
“We realized we could fit even more features into a larger one,” said Roberts. “We expanded some of the designs and were able to align the weight capacity and benefits of the TruckGlide with some of the bigger setups needed for those command units.”
Pro Line units can go into beds of 5½, 6½ or 8 feet and hold essentially as much weight as departments can load onto them. The shorter TruckGlide systems are rated to 1,500 pounds, while the larger one can support up to 3,200.
3. ACCESS WHAT YOU NEED QUICKLY
The purpose of putting the Pro Line units atop the TruckGlide platforms was access: Rather than requiring team members to crowd into limited space at the vehicle’s rear to do and get what they need, the TruckGlide apparatus lets the Pro Line models slide out and be accessed freely from three sides. Teams can choreograph seamless approaches that save time and let work occur unimpeded.
“It really adds efficiency to the entire process,” noted Herrera. “Now you can open up three sides of access versus fighting over that space on the backside of the truck. The whole team can get deployed more quickly.”
4. COMMAND-LEVEL SECURITY
Gone are the days when emergency responders didn’t have to fear having items stolen as they served their communities. Fire command vehicles may not present the easy targets of vacant ambulances or idling squad cars, but departments and their leaders require appropriate levels of security on scene. Pro Line models provide that. Their locking drawers feature Kaba Simplex locks with Strike Guard technology.
Beyond the assortment of locking compartments to protect pricey gear, Pro Line units are built for discreet, quiet operations. Fire-service customers get the same designs TruckVault offers to federal entities like the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and U.S. Marshals Service. Secure enough to hold the long guns and ballistic gear of law enforcement tactical teams, they bring just as much protection to firefighters’ radios, laptops and other high-value items. All TruckVault products are tested against fire, water and break-in.
5. LITTLE FEATURES MAKE A BIG IMPACT
Once key needs are met, it’s the smaller details that can determine a good experience. TruckVault dressed its Pro Line units with numerous such features. These include things like the adjustable shelving, tiedown rails, latching lids for automatic protection and LINE-X protection against damage and wear. Even the low side rails have been removed from the TruckGlide platforms for easier sliding and streamlined operations.
Whether you need a quick command post at a developing scene or a nimble presence at a challenging planned event, pickup trucks outfitted with complete command and bonus storage capabilities are a valuable option for the fire service.
For more information, visit TruckVault.
