Spotted at the KME plant . . .

[GA_Dave]

Dave, can you explain your statement about the CPFD only purchasing Pierce?  Are you loyal to them based on quality, dealer support, pricing, or some other factor?

 

Actually, when I said "some of us", I was referring to me, not CPFD, but then, I write the specs.....

 

In reality, a lot of it has to do with our preference for Detroit Diesels.  We have had great service out of them since 1978 and the two Cummins-powered pumpers we did get stuck with (1989 and 1992) were crap!  Since Pierce has an exclusive with Detroit....

 

Our situation differs from most others when it comes to taxpayers.  We protect about 225,000 people on a daily basis.  Only 14,000 of them live in our city.  The rest are transient.  Most of CP's tax base comes from the large amount of commercial property we protect, or from sales tax generated at that little airport across the Interstate.  The revenue from the "impact tax" charged at our 35 hotels brings in more than 5 Million/year alone.  Each year, CP brings in more revenue than they spend, a substantial amount more.  Our "Homestead exemption" for property tax is the highest in the State.  Money is not an issue for us.

 

We at CPFD feel that we have a responsibility to provide the best we can for those we protect, be it residents or visitors.  Pierce builds what we want and the way we want it.  We beat the crap out of our apparatus (5500 runs/year, 2 stations) and the Pierce rigs can take it better than those other brands we see in nearby departments.  We have developed a great relationship with the local dealer as well.  His service facility is just over an hour away and he has a fleet of service trucks.  We are happy with Pierce and I don't see that changing anytime soon.