Oshkosh Truck Corp. subsidiary Pierce Mfg. has partnered with LDV Inc. to produce and market mobile command post vehicles for homeland security applications. The vehicles will be sold through Pierce's dealer network and feature its chassis, custom exterior bodies and emergency apparatus. LDV will provide the vehicle's custom interiors and communication systems.
Pierce entered the homeland security arena four years ago and paired up with global command center outfitter LDV last year. "We knew that LDV are experts in outfitting global command centers in the interiors and communication side of it for 12 years," said Jim Parker, vice president of homeland security, at Pierce. "Because their quality and expertise were a match for the processes we like to use, we decided to partner with them."
Together, Pierce and LDV are producing the mobile command post vehicles for law enforcement, fire and emergency and local arid federal agencies. The vehicles are designed to maintain constant communication while facing a natural disaster, biological or terrorist attack. The first vehicle model was featured on the Lance chassis and powered by a 14 L, six-cylinder, turbocharged and air-to-air charge-air cooled Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine rated 500 hp at 2100 rpm. Engine cooling is through a front-mounted Modine radiator.
Driven off the engine is art Allison EVS4000PR (emergency vehicle series) five-speed automatic transmission. The electronically controlled transmission is a part of Pierce's TAK-4 suspension system. TAK-4 integrates the suspension, brakes, steering, axles and tires into a singular standard option. The components are matched to provide greater performance, handling, stopping power and overall durability, the company said.
Front Bendix 17 in. ABS brakes and rear ArvinMeritor 16.5 m. cam brakes stop the vehicle with 60 ft. less stopping distance than similar vehicles, the company said. The vehicle has a 40[degrees] to 45[degrees] cramp angle, depending on weight rating, and an 18,000 lb. Oshkosh front axle. Combined with the 24,000 lb. Arvin Meritor RS24-160 tear axle, the chassis' gross vehicle weight rating is 42,000 lb. The wheelbase is 200 in. with Michelin 22.5 x 9 tires fitted to the steel wheels.
The vehicle's body is completely supported by the Lance chassis' 13.38 in. steel, 110 psi yield strength frame rails. Enclosing the chassis is a steel and aluminum body built to endure biological and chemical toxins, the company said. A Draeger vehicle filter system maintains the inside air pressure and a variety of filters clean contaminants from the air.
Although Pierce offers the Lance chassis as one of seven chassis options for the mobile command post vehicle, it will customize the vehicle to specifically what the buyer requires. "The customer works with our dealers or internal product experts," said Parker. "They basically tell us, 'this is what we need to use this product for.' Then, we design the chassis, body and where everything is going in it and configure the final product."
The construction of the vehicle up until this point takes place at Pierce's Appleton, Wis., facilities. Installation of the customized interior and communication technology is done in Burlington, Wis., where LDV is head quartered. Pierce's dealers work to assist customers on the basic interior and communication schemes. "When it gets to technical details of communication equipment, that's when we bring in LDV," said Parker.
The specifications to every mobile command post vehicle are different. but the interior basically breaks down into three sections: a conference room area, a living area (galley, restrooms) and a command center. The conference area is a seating/meeting area used to display and communicate directions, plans or discuss actions. The command center houses the communication technology, systems including satellite TV, phone, radio data/voice communications, interoperable communication centers and video surveillance. The living area can be configured for up to 72 hours of self-contained living with a galley and restroom.
Only four years ago, Pierce was selling a few homeland security vehicles a year. Today; the interest and volume on these types of vehicles has escalated and be come a product that many departments and agencies am looking to add to their fleet, said Parker. "These types of products help prepare for terrorist and other major incident. And, given the level of terrorist activity, around the world today, I see the continued need For these kinds of products for many years."
