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Departments Quick To Respond To Pierce Frontal Air Bag Protection

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November 8, 2007

Departments Quick To Respond To Pierce Frontal Air Bag Protection

More than 40 custom chassis ordered with the new safety system since April 2007

OCTOBER 15, 2007, Appleton, Wis., — Since Pierce Manufacturing Inc. introduced the first frontal air bags available in custom chassis to the fire service earlier this year, the company has received more than 40 orders for vehicles featuring this new safety system.

The frontal air bag system is an integral part of the company’s 360º Protection From Every Angle™ program, designed to increase the safety of firefighters as they travel to and from emergency calls.

The air bags can be paired with the Side Roll Protection system and are available on all Pierce custom chassis.

“Our people are our most valuable asset, and their safety is my number one priority,” said Chris Sadler, chief of the technical services and special operations battalion of York County, Va. “We need state-of-the-art safety features on our apparatus, and that’s why we’ve spec’d the frontal air bag system on four new Pierce Quantum fire trucks now on order.”

Other departments ordering the frontal air bags include Las Vegas Fire Dept., Nev.; City of Portland Fire Bureau, Ore.; Bolivar Fire Dept., Ohio; Crowders Mountain Fire Dept., N.C.; and Newton Square Fire Dept., Penn.

The frontal air bag system protects firefighters in the event of front impact collisions. The frontal air bag system is available on Pierce Velocity™, Impel™, Quantum® and Arrow XT™ custom chassis, exclusively through Pierce. Fire trucks ordered with the frontal air bag system will be placed into service beginning later this fall.

“We’re seeing a high number of departments who want this system to keep their crews safer in the cab,” said Wilson Jones, president of Pierce Manufacturing. “The development of the frontal air bag system represents a tremendous investment, focusing on keeping fire fighters safer in the line of duty. At Pierce we make the commitment to develop the technologies because it is an important part of our on-going commitment to build the industry’s safest vehicles.”

A sensor inside the cab monitors the truck’s longitudinal accelerations. If it detects a frontal crash of significant magnitude, it sends a signal to inflate a steering wheel-mounted airbag and a knee bolster airbag on the front passenger side. These subsystems work together to dramatically reduce the risk of fatality or severe injury in a frontal collision. Pierce developed the frontal air bag system together with LifeGuard Technologies, a division of IMMI.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK], is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce the Side Roll Protection System to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.

Pierce Initiates NHTSA Recall On Pitman Arms

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November 7, 2007

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Pierce Initiates NHTSA Recall On Pitman Arms

Release Date : October 10, 2007

October 11, 2007, APPLETON, Wis., — Pierce Manufacturing Inc., North America’s largest manufacturer of fire and rescue apparatus, announced it will be conducting a NHTSA Safety Recall covering Pierce® custom chassis with independent front suspension for the model years 2001-2007. In particular, the pitman arms installed on the suspension system manufactured from December 20, 2001 through December 31, 2006 need to be replaced. Pierce will begin a field replacement beginning on October 8, 2007, and anticipates completing it by August 2008. Customers of affected units are being notified through Pierce and its dealer network.

Pierce has identified the condition (in the absence of an obstacle) to cause the damage in the pitman arm. The condition requires a full cramp in all instances, and at slow speeds:

      1. At full cramp, drive one wheel INTO and OVER or AGAINST a curb.
      2. At full cramp, drive in reverse AND brake hard in a PANIC stop.
      3. Dry steer to full cramp while applying service brake.

Pierce has had only three breaks without any apparent previous hard strikes against an object (out of a total of more than 2,600 units with 5,200 total pitman arms). The breaks in the pitman arm have all occurred during slow speed maneuvering at full cramp.

“Our goal is to complete repairs in all identified units by August 2008. We see no valid reason to take an affected unit out of service,” said Wilson Jones, Pierce Manufacturing, president. “To ensure that apparatus drivers remain safe, Pierce is asking fire departments to instruct their drivers not to drive over curbs with the front wheels turned full left or right.” When the wheels are pointed straight or the unit is driving on roads, the stress level is low, which is the reason why it is safe to operate an apparatus at normal road speeds in normal manner.

Pierce will replace all the pitman arms on the vehicles subject to the recall with new arms made of thicker and stronger material. The new pitman arms are being installed in all independent suspensions on vehicles manufactured since January 1, 2007.

“Pierce recommends that Pierce dealers perform the replacement work,” added Jones. “We are providing dealers with the necessary tool and replacement kits and instructions. Otherwise, Pierce Customer Service will work with fire departments to determine who will do the work.” Any questions on affected apparatus should be directed to the local Pierce dealer or to Pierce customer service.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK], is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce the Side Roll Protection™ System to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.

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Pierce Launches Newly Designed Web Site

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November 7, 2007

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Release Date : September 7, 2007

September 5, 2007, APPLETON, Wis., — Pierce Manufacturing Inc., North America’s leading manufacturer of fire and rescue apparatus, launched a newly designed corporate Web site, on-line at www.piercemfg.com. The site showcases all of the Pierce innovative product line up offerings — including the recently launched Velocity™ and Impel™ chassis — safety features such as the industry’s first frontal air bags, and new customer deliveries. The site also includes direct links to the Contender^® by Pierce and Pierce Homeland Security Web sites.

The new Pierce Web site meets the needs of fire fighters searching for apparatus information. Navigation through the site has been designed for easier click-through to locate the Pierce dealer network faster, or find information on aftermarket parts, accessories and service centers. Pierce Gear™ — the Pierce clothing and merchandise section — provides greater e-commerce capabilities to order merchandise and collectibles. The History section was enhanced with more information and photography, and the Career sections provides an easier on-line application process.

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation [NYSE: OSK], is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. Products include custom and commercial pumpers, aerials, rescue trucks, wildland trucks, minipumpers, elliptical tankers, and homeland security apparatus. In addition, Pierce designs its own foam systems and was the first company to introduce the Side Roll Protection system to fire apparatus. To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.