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Ambulance Options: Gas vs. Diesel

Coke or Pepsi? Coke. Tea or Coffee? Coffee, duh. Whataburger or In-N-Out? Whataburger. Not close. Gas or diesel? Well, that depends… All of those other choices have clear, totally objective answers. But when it comes to picking the fuel type for your new ambulance, there are a few other considerations beyond just taste. Please note, this particular post covers offerings from Ford, Chevy and Ram, as they are they only ones offering both diesel and gasoline options on ambulance prep package models. What Vehicle Do Our Customers Choose? By more than a two to one margin, Frazer customers opt for diesel power for their EMS vehicles. The splits are roughly 70% diesel to 30% gasoline.  Drilling down further, for those choosing diesel, Ram leads the way by nearly 2 to 1. According to the Ambulance Manufacturer’s Division (AMD) of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), those numbers flip around to Ford at a 2 to 1 pace nationwide.  Diesel Options Ram, Ford, and Chevrolet all offer diesel options powerful enough to make Tim Allen happy. However, from a pure performance perspective, Ram carries the day with a whopping 1000 ft. – lb. of torque from their new Inline 6 cylinder Cummins engine. Here’s a handy chart for your viewing pleasure. Diesel Options Ford Ram Chevy Name Ford PowerStroke Cummins Duramax L5P HP 450 HP 400 HP 445 HP Torque 935 lb. – ft. 1000 lb. – ft. 910 lb. – ft. Compression 16.2:1 16.2:1 16.0:1 Displacement 409 cu. in. – 6.7L 408 cu. in. – 6.7L 403 cu. in. – 6.6L Configuration V8 Inline 6 cylinder V8 Gasoline Options It’s been a long time coming, but the Big 3 manufacturers all have a gasoline option available that works for Type I vehicles. (* Note – Type 3 cutaways ONLY come in gasoline configurations.)  Since the mid-1980s, the Chevrolet C3500 has been the Houston Fire Department’s platform of choice. Consequently, Frazer has decades of experience in this area. While the power ratings don’t match up to those of the diesel engines, there are a number of factors that still make these trucks an attractive option under the right circumstances. Here’s another nice chart. Gasoline Options Ford Ram Chevy Name FlexFuel V8 Hemi V8 6.6L V8 HP 430 HP 370 HP 401 HP Torque 475 lb. – ft. 429 lb. – ft. 464 lb. – ft. Compression 9.8:1 10:1 10.8:1 Displacement 445 cu. in. – 7.3L 392 cu. in. – 6.4L 403 cu. in. – 6.6L Configuration V8 V8 V8 A Little Vehicle History In the mid-1980s, when Frazer began building for the EMS industry, we were virtually alone among builders in using a gasoline chassis. However, our separate power source, provided by the Onan generator, made it possible to still use the Chevy 3500 without the overheating, air conditioning, and electrical problems others faced when running all the power off the chassis.  Technological advances have mitigated the overheating issues to the point where the Big 3 now offer an ambulance prep package on all models, diesel or gas, but we still know the separate source of module power matters no matter what platform you choose.  Pros and Cons So how does one choose from among such a wide array of options? Let’s look at some things to consider: Diesel Pros Diesel Cons Gasoline Pros Gasoline Cons Phone A Friend Frazer will build you a new or remounted EMS vehicle on whatever platform you prefer. Our main concern is that you’re happy with your new rig.  If you’re considering a change to a different chassis or fuel type or both, please give our Sales Team a call at 888-372-9371 for a list of referrals. However, we find that talking to your friends or neighbors in the industry who have some experience with the model you seek is a great way to lock in a decision.  If you already know what you want, or if our handy dandy charts gave you the answer you need, click here to get our latest pricing info!

Notes on 9/11

It was about 8:00 AM in Houston when I first realized there may be something bad happening in New York. Contributors to a financial website I followed were chatting about some sort of explosion at the north tower of the World Trade Center. The source of the blast was unknown at that point. I walked back to the customer waiting room in our service center to find any news coverage on the television. Pete Morin, at the time the Director of West Harris County EMS, was also there. We watched the unfolding horror in silence. I was sick to my stomach. Much of the rest of the day was a blur, but I do vividly remember being at home later, holding my daughter, one year old at the time, watching the news, and wondering just how bad things might actually get. As the shock gave way to sadness, it became unrelentingly evident. Plenty of people and sites have compiled timelines of the events. There are, no doubt, numerous posts in your social media feeds with links to news footage or audio of Flight 93 and the extraordinary acts of courage carried out by those passengers, so there’s no reason to try and recap all of that here. When I visited the Memorial and Museum earlier this year most of those memories came flooding back. It is a somber and poignant reminder of not only the destruction and horror, but also of the collective heroism carried out by people in all walks of life, some clinging to survival, some risking all so that others might survive. First and foremost among those were the first responders of FDNY,  NYPD, and the surrounding agencies that rushed headlong into an apocalyptic disaster with virtually no idea what was going on.  We cannot ever completely express our appreciation and gratitude for the work that you, our friends and family in the first responder community do every day to protect and serve your own communities. We certainly never take it for granted. Without you, many among us would be utterly lost in times of crisis.  Thank you.

Fleet Size Matters

Getting your fleet right-sized is a key consideration for any EMS leader. Learn more about what factors are important to stay ahead of the curve.

Top Ambulance Procurement FAQs

Ambulance procurement can be challenging for even the most seasoned administrator. The following FAQs will help as you prepare for your next EMS vehicle. From financing to grants to cooperative purchasing requirements, Frazer has the answers you need. Cooperative Purchasing or Competitive Bid? Bid requirements vary greatly from state to state, and even among regional or local authorities. In Texas, for example, most items over $50,000.00 must meet state bid requirements. In Louisiana, however, that figure drops $25,000.00, and in other states the rules may only apply to construction projects. A quick web search for your home state’s municipal buying requirements should provide the relevant information. Cooperative Purchasing (Yes! We’re on HGAC and BuyBoard!) Cooperative purchasing can be as simple as partnering with another municipality working on a competitive bid and buying your own vehicle with the same set of specs. Or, numerous government procurement services around the country allow for the same thing without the hassle or outcome uncertainty associated with the bid process. These entities improve the process for end users by reducing the administrative and advertising fees for a competitive bid and by opening up the number of available products. They are designed to meet most state and local purchasing rules. A vast majority of our customers have found this a huge improvement to the normal ambulance procurement process. Cooperative purchasing entities like Houston based, HGAC, evaluate products either through “competitive bid (IFB) or competitive proposal (RFP) process.” They offer the end user the pricing power of a national group of buyers as well as a thorough vetting of accepted vendors. As with competitive bidding, rules will vary per location, but most states have some form of cooperative purchasing statute. Click here to see how your state handles cooperative buying. Frazer is an authorized vendor through HGAC. We also work with BuyBoard, a purchasing cooperative run by the Texas School Board. Our EMS vehicles are available for purchase on both of these sites. Many of our customers have found cooperative buying a major improvement in the ambulance procurement process. It allows them to meet state requirements while ensuring they don’t end up with an unwanted vehicle. Call one of our sales team at 888-372-9371 to find out more. The Bid Process Here is a list of just some of the tasks you’ll confront when conducting a public competitive bid. Click here to see the current Texas statute defining purchasing requirements. Write your own vehicle specs Review specs with committee Advertise time and place of bid once a week for at least two weeks prior to award date Pre-bid conference Respond to any bid questions Evaluate bids Award bid Verify product received meets specs The municipal bid process requires a significant amount of time and administrative effort. And while it can be very effective when vendors are offering apples to apples products, i.e. multiple Ford dealers bidding on an F-150 truck, things get a lot trickier as the specifications get more complicated. Ambulance and fire apparatus are notoriously complex, and the differences in specifications, construction methods, and quality among builders are vast. Adding to the mix are purchasing agents or local attorneys who may not have experience with the product in question. Their involvement in the process may lead to unexpected buying outcomes. Award Requirements The award process is usually where things get more complicated. In Texas, for example, many people think a bid must be awarded to the lowest priced bid. This is actually inaccurate. Per Local Government Code 252.043: (a)  If the competitive sealed bidding requirement applies to the contract for goods or services, the contract must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder or to the bidder who provides goods or services at the best value for the municipality. Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 252.043 (b) goes on to define the ways you may evaluate “best value” as it pertains to your locale. These include things like “quality”, “reputation”, and “bidder’s past relationship with the municipality” to name a few. If you are considering running a competitive bid, it’s a good idea to make sure everyone on the decision team is on the same page when it comes time to award the bid. You should also consider familiarizing yourself with your own state requirements at the outset. Do You Know of Available Grants? Many of our customers have had success going the grant route, but it definitely takes time and effort to make that happen. There are some great resources on the web to help start you down that path. There are numerous grants available to help absorb some of the rising costs affecting critical equipment procurement. Federal, state, and private agencies offer financial assistance for items ranging from small equipment and accessories all the way up to facilities. EMSGrantshelp.com, FireGrantshelp.com, and Grantfinder.com can help you determine what items have grant money available or even help write the grant. Click here to see a more comprehensive article detailing some of the things you’ll want to consider before starting the process. You can also call us at 888-832-9371 and ask for Herb Brady. Herb spent over 35 years in both Fire and EMS and has personal experience with the grant process. He’s an excellent resource and can help point you in the right direction. What Are My Financing Options? Frazer has typically seen equipment financing handled by either a bank local to the customer, or by one of numerous regional or national lenders, such as Leasing2 or Texas Capital, specializing in municipal fleet leasing or replacement programs. The financing approach you’ll choose depends largely on what’s available to you, terms offered or comfort with the lender, and governance approval. Whatever the case, Frazer works directly with the lending institution to provide the invoice, MSO, delivery information, etc. to help streamline the process for our customers. At funding, the lender will either: Wire the payment funds directly to the dealer, who will release funds to us upon your acceptance of the vehicle Deposit funds in

Ambulance Buyer’s Top FAQs – Part 2

Thank you so much for your interest in Frazer EMS Vehicles! If you’re here you’re likely a prospective ambulance buyer and that probably means you saw us at a trade show or perhaps on a social media post; maybe one of your neighboring communities has one of our vehicles; or it’s possible you found us with a good old fashioned web search. However it happened, welcome! We’re glad you stopped by. If you missed Part 1 of this series, please click here to check it out. Like any potential customer you have lots of questions. Since this may be the first time you’ve ever heard of us, we’ve compiled a list of the most common things we hear asked by ambulance buyers or their committees. Hopefully these will give you a better sense of our company and our products. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for here, please feel free to call one of our sales team at 888-372-9371. Or, if you prefer, fill out a request for our handy Buyer’s Guide. How Do You Service Customers Not In Texas? Our approach to service works directly with the way we’ve designed our product. We know components can fail over time. Given that fact, we’ve tried to make everything on your vehicle easy to identify, troubleshoot, and repair. If you have a fleet maintenance department, they will run into very few things they won’t be able to fix. We offer free training to all of our customers for dealing with maintenance and repair on the generator , air conditioner, electrical systems and much more. Our service department is always just a call away. You can even find the number right on the electrical compartment door. Customers have been amazed over the years at how many issues they’ve been able to solve over the phone. Because we designed our EMS vehicles to feature module independence, we don’t make modifications to the factory chassis. If you do have a truck issue, your local dealer will be able to work on it, and the finger pointing we hear about with traditionally powered ambulances goes away. Frazer has excellent relationships with service centers around the country. Click here to see a list of Authorized Service Centers. If you are more comfortable with a service center in your area, we can review their expertise and work directly with them. We can even have them come to the factory for training if necessary. Our Service Department is constantly on the lookout for good people to work with. We have a goal to add 10 more Authorized Service Centers in 2019, bringing our total to 23. To find out more about our numerous service options, please call 888-372-9371 and speak with one of our sales team or ask for Bert Jones, our VP of Service. Also, we highly encourage you to talk to our customers, especially those outside of Texas, to find out how our service has worked for them. Why Do I Need a Generator for My EMS Vehicle? Our customers find generator power on their EMS vehicle gives them a number of major advantages over traditional ambulance electrical systems. They typically have had issues with at least one of the following situations. First, it allows for our super cold, independent 120V A/C system. Customer experiences with the truck-based A/C systems common on traditional ambulances, especially in hotter parts of the country, have definitely been underwhelming. Second, they typically find the separate source of power for the module on their EMS vehicle far more efficient than trying to run everything off the truck electrical system. They no longer rely on load management systems to keep major module functions operable. You just turn it on and go. Third, the modular design and module independence allows for easy, cost effective remounts down the line. Smaller departments frequently tell us how this has allowed them to expand their ambulance fleet without breaking the bank. Fourth, thanks to generator power, mechanics love the simplicity of our electrical design. Our electrical compartment features a detailed print of all circuitry along with the serial numbers and makes of all major components. Lastly, should something go wrong, you don’t want to find yourself without power. If an issue arises with either generator method, our EMS vehicles are designed to automatically switch back over to the chassis electrical system, giving you redundant 12V power in the event of an unexpected problem. Onan or MEPS for My EMS Vehicle? Frazer offers two different approaches to the generator solution on our EMS vehicles. One method uses an on-board Onan 5.5 kW generator located in its own compartment. The advantage to this design is that it does not rely on the chassis to create power. If you should have a truck issue, the patient module will remain fully operable with all major systems intact.  Our other solution utilizes an under hood, belt driven generator from Mobile Electric Power Solutions, MEPS for short. The MEPS system provides 6.3 kW of output. Customers find the advantage of the MEPS system in not having to maintain another piece of equipment. If you don’t have a dedicated fleet maintenance department, this may be the right solution for you. Please click here to view a more comprehensive discussion of the pros and cons of each design. However, if you’re not experiencing consistent battery and alternator failures, poor A/C quality, or system outages on your current ambulance, it’s quite likely a generator powered module is not a priority for your service. But if any of these complaints sound familiar, give one of our sales pros a call at 888-372-9371. They can walk you through these scenarios and discuss the MEPS v. Onan questions to see if generator power, and which approach, would be a good fit for your department. What’s Your Sales Process? We know the sales cycle can be daunting for a prospective customer. We’ve worked hard to streamline the process so you get the most out of your Factory

Ambulance Buyer’s Top FAQs – Part 1

Ambulance Purchase

Thank you so much for your interest in Frazer EMS Vehicles! If you’re here you’re likely a prospective ambulance buyer and that probably means you saw us at a trade show or perhaps on a social media post; maybe one of your neighboring communities has one of our vehicles; or it’s possible you found us with a good old fashioned web search. However it happened, welcome! We’re glad you stopped by. Like any potential customer you have lots of questions. Since this may be the first time you’ve ever heard of us, we’ve compiled a list of the most common things we hear asked by ambulance buyers or their committees. Hopefully these will give you a better sense of our company and our products. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for here, please feel free to call one of our sales team at 888-372-9371. Or, if you prefer, fill out a request for our handy Buyer’s Guide. How Much Does an Ambulance Cost? Like most complex, big-ticket items the short answer is, it depends. Frazer EMS vehicles start around $145,000.00. However, we have customers at the other end of the spectrum who have requested major customization or added numerous high-dollar options and loose items to the point where we’ve seen prices as high as $375,000.00.  A Frazer sales professional can walk you through the process using our Configuration tool to give you exact pricing based on your needs. If you’re not quite ready for that level of commitment, click here for more info. Why Haven’t I Heard of You? We get this question a lot and frankly there are numerous reasons you might not know who we are. Though the company has been around since 1956, we’ve only been building EMS vehicles since 1985. Back then our primary business was in the seismic exploration field so most of our growth in EMS was organic and most of our marketing was word of mouth. Our generator powered concept was unique in the EMS industry and we didn’t have a large sales staff to promote the concept. We accepted this was a niche product and might not be the sort of thing that would catch on in a widespread fashion. But we also heard horror stories from our customers about experiences with dealers. We committed early on to maintaining a Factory Direct sales model that allowed prospective and existing customers to have a much bigger voice in the direction our product took.  As our market share grew we increased our sales team, but we also made the decision to spend our advertising and marketing dollars cultivating direct relationships with EMS agencies. This meant we rarely advertised in the national trade publications and didn’t show up at every convention.  All of this is to say we’ve been around for many years in the EMS industry but our approach over time has not left us as a household name. Thanks to the internet and social media, and coupled with a larger sales team and marketing budget, we’re able to grow awareness while still keeping the personal interaction we’re known for.  Ultimately, our customers are our best sales force and we highly encourage you to reach out to as many of them as you want. We’re glad you found out about us. Let them give you the rest of the story. Who Runs your EMS Vehicle In My Area? As a prospective ambulance buyer you’re probably curious to know who else might have a vehicle you’re interested in. Frazer provides EMS vehicles to services around the country. While Texas is our predominant market (we build for over half of the 911 agencies in the state), we have customers in 32 states throughout the US.  We’ve built our customer base largely through word of mouth, and, as we offer a Factory Direct buying experience, we don’t have a large dealer network. But we’re hard at work getting the word out via trade shows, social media, and our website.   Please call us toll free at 888-372-9371. Or you can click here to see where are customers are located. We encourage you to contact them to find out more about our products and our legendary service. Do You Customize? Contrary to what other dealers might say, yes, Frazer does tons of customization with all sorts of unique design elements and customer specific features. But in reality, the majority of ambulance buyers have neither the budget nor the time nor the specific need to justify getting too crazy with custom options. Ultimately though, you know what you need and we get that. Fortunately, someone else may have already had that need and likely asked us to engineer a solution. But we also know there are plenty of good ideas lurking around out there. If you have one for us to design, we’re ready, willing, and able to do so. Does Your A/C Hold Up to High Temperatures? Frazer set the standard for high quality air conditioning over 30 years ago when we introduced the generator powered EMS vehicle. Armed with sufficient power to run a completely independent A/C unit dedicated to cooling down the patient compartment, our product was a revelation in an industry used to what some of our customers called “drip air,” turn on the A/C then drip sweat on your patient. A 34 degree differential from outside air temperature is what we provide and what you should expect from your vehicle. Being in Houston puts us squarely in the middle of some of the most brutal summer heat in the country so we’ve had plenty of opportunity to prove the concept over a very long time. We assumed long ago every manufacturer would want to provide the same level of comfort for their customers, but it’s only been in the last handful of years that other builders have started offering a variation on the theme.  Given that Texas experiences extreme summer heat, it’s not surprising we have such a huge fan base here.

Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of July 19

crew-safety

Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you City of Rancho Mirage Fire Rescue for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you Houston Fire Department for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you Liberty County EMS (FL) for your order of a new Frazer unit! We are honored to help you serve your community and build lasting relationships. Take a moment to browse our Customer Deliveries page to view our finished Frazer units!

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