Ladder Truck

Ladder trucks are used to reach high places and to spray water over fires. They are usually stationed in dense urban areas were there are many multistory buildings. Ladder trucks carry 45- to 50-foot ground ladders, fire extinguishers, air tanks, power and hand tools, and of course, a big hydraulic ladder on top. These extendable ladders can reach from 75 to 105 feet in the air. These are some of the different types of ladder trucks used in the USA.

Truck 51 at TVF&R Station 50

Rearmount ladder trucks carry 75 to 105-foot ladders that stretch from front to back of the truck. These are the most common ladder trucks around the USA.

Truck 20 at NF&R Station 20 

some Ladder trucks have an attachment on the front end of the ladder called a basket. The basket serves as a platform for firefighters to stand on to give them more operating room.

Truck 51 at Station 50.

Tiller trucks are stationed in areas with narrow roads and alleyways. Any other ladder truck would be to long to turn on these roads, but tiller trucks work like a tractor trailer so it turns as a trailer instead of one long truck.

Truck 3 at PF&R Station 3

To prevent the trailer from swinging out and hitting things, it has a second cab in the back so that the back of the truck can be steered in sync with the front. Firefighter engineers have to be specially trained to drive these trucks. When the driver in the front turns the truck one direction, the driver in the back has to steer the other direction.

Tiller Cab on Truck 3

  

Front view from the tiller cab on Truck 3

This ladder truck is equipped with a small pump that holds 200 gallons of water. It carries a 75 foot ladder on top that can reach 4-5 story buildings. it is much smaller than most ladder trucks because the roads it its response area are tighter and the buildings are closer together.

Ladder Truck at Black Butte Ranch Fire Station