Emergency vehicles in general, and fire apparatus in particular, are often heavier and larger than typical commercial vehicles. Few people question the need for emergency vehicles, or their axle capacities, when these vehicles show up at the scene of a fire or other emergency. But before they can get to the scene, these vehicles must be moved from their place of manufacture, often crossing through many States, before being delivered to the local department. While most of their miles will be logged within a few miles of the fire station, some emergency vehicles will have the occasion to travel great distances in support of natural disaster relief or to fight wild fires in neighboring counties or States.
Size and weight regulations applicable to emergency vehicles currently vary from one State to the next. Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association (FAMA) offer this document as a guide to emergency vehicle size and weight laws and regulations.
