Is Your Ambulance Fleet Costing You Too Much Money?
It’s not a secret that owning and operating a modern ambulance can get very expensive. EMS agencies continue to face the challenge of keeping costs down when managing an individual unit or an entire ambulance fleet. A single emergency vehicle could cost anywhere between $120,000 and $325,000, so it’s imperative to know what you can do to save money when shopping around. It is also important to know how to keep costs down after your initial purchase. Here are 7 things to consider when trying to save money on your next ambulance: 1. Service & Maintenance You demand a lot from your vehicles, so it’s important to keep them well-serviced. A well-serviced and maintained ambulance fleet will last considerably longer and save a ton of money in the long run. If you don’t invest in maintenance early on, then you’ll surely pay for it later. Choosing a builder that is known for both durability and serviceability will lead to successful maintenance programs that cost less money. When looking for a builder, consider their ability to service your entire vehicle, including the chassis. Choose a partner that has established service centers near you and offers FREE training to your team. Otherwise you may see costs rise quickly. If your EMS agency opts to buy Factory Direct, you may see reductions anywhere from 40 to 60 percent in overall fleet maintenance costs. 2. Premium Equipment When you spec a new ambulance, you may encounter dealer networks that try to overcharge or upsell equipment that you may not need. Dealers often work on commission, so trying to sell you higher-priced options means more money in their pockets. Make sure your salesperson is more concerned about your agency’s success and sustainability than they are with the size of their commission check. Choose a builder that works at building a long-lasting relationship with you. One that understands your service, your community and your goals. Work with a company that has a long history of incorporating popular features as STANDARD and not as expensive add-ons. This will save you a lot of money when it comes time to spec your next unit. Does your EMS vehicle provider offer a discount for choosing standard options? If so, then this may be a great way to keep your costs down. It may also make the spec process a lot less painful for you and your committee. When you have a trusted partner that puts your needs first and works hard at solving your problems, it can make all the difference in the world. 3. Ambulance Down Time Having a unit break down can be a nightmare, especially when it’s essential to get it back on the road quickly. When one of your fleet vehicles goes down and is placed out of service, the costs can be tremendous. These unplanned losses can cause logistical challenges and increased stress for EMS providers, leadership, and the community. Some EMS agencies determine fleet size based on their peak staffing needs plus additional resources for surges in call volume, special events, and scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The additional units can vary from 140% to 200% of typical peak demand depending on multiple factors including the community risk profile, availability of service, seasonal variations, surge history, availability of mutual aid, types and frequency of special events and geographical deployment. Agencies that don’t carry additional resources find themselves in a situation of diminishing returns, where scheduled maintenance is skipped due to the lack of a backup, then much more expensive issues crop up. Choosing a vendor that uses modular components that are replaced quickly is a great way to keep your vehicles out of the shop and reduce the number of reserve units you will need. 4. Chassis Wear & Tear If you have an ambulance that relies on its chassis batteries and alternator to power the patient compartment, your unit may be gone before its time. The more wear and tear you place on your chassis, the sooner it will need to be replaced. Choosing an ambulance that features an independent power source extends the life of your chassis considerably. With an independent power source, the chassis does not need to work overtime powering the patient module and can focus on doing what it does best… getting your crew on-scene fast. 5. Remounting One of the most expensive aspects of fleet management happens when it comes time to replace one of your vehicles. Whether a unit has been in a wreck, or has simply reached the end of its life cycle, the process of replacing one of your ambulances can be quite overwhelming. EMS agencies that are interested in saving money have the option of remounting their units. Some feel that their money is better spent on chassis upgrades and much-needed unit enhancements rather than replacing a perfectly good box. If you are interested in the benefits that remounting provides, then partnering with a builder that designs modular units that can be remounted easily is a great idea. Finding a builder that also offers a lifetime warranty on structural integrity will ensure that your box will be with you for many years. 6. Structural Integrity Ambulance builds have changed a lot over the years. Of course, you want to ensure that your vehicles are built with only modern materials. Choosing a builder that uses only the strongest aluminum construction will lengthen the life of your vehicle. Be careful, though… There are builders out there that will sneak wood products into their construction because they believe it saves them money. Are they passing those savings onto you? 7. Employee Health & Safety One thing you should never cut corners on is safety. With recent changes in safety requirements, several EMS agencies are now dealing with an increase in equipment costs. Outfitting ambulances with equipment that meets these new standards has proven to be a challenge. Crash-tested equipment mounting solutions like Technimount, cot fastener systems, and safety harnesses may seem like a large upfront cost,
Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of June 28
Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you Limestone Medical Center EMS for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you City of Cranston Fire Rescue for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you Skamania County EMS for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you Jackson County Fire Rescue 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!
Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of June 21
Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you Rankin County Hospital District for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you Towns County EMS for your order of a new Frazer unit! Thank you Tri-County EMS for your Frazer remount order! 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!
Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of June 7
Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you Garland Fire Department for your order of 2 new Frazer units! Thank you East Alabama Fire District for your order of 1 new Frazer unit! Thank you Waller County EMS for your order of 1 new Frazer unit! Thank you Alamo Heights Fire Department for your order of 1 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!
Introducing The Ohio Health Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit
Take a Tour of Frazer’s newest Demo Unit. This Type I Custom Emergency Vehicle is mounted on a 2019 Chevy Silverado 4500HD diesel chassis and features plenty of storage space…
Jefferson Health & Bensalem EMS Ribbon Cutting Event
Today we are in Bensalem, PA attending a ribbon cutting event which celebrates the introduction of the new Jefferson Health Mobile Stroke Unit. Be sure to watch the livestream on our Facebook page.
Want to see a Frazer unit in person? You’re invited!
The Frazer Team will be on the road to give you an up-close tour of our units! We’re headed out to 3 Texas fire stations to show off some of the latest features and options. You’ll have the chance to see 3 new Frazer units with all the bells and whistles. If you’ve been wanting to see what’s new, now is your chance. Be sure to RSVP and let us know you’re coming out! What our customers are saying…
Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of May 3
Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you Houston Fire Department for your order of 3 new Frazer units! Thank you Gadsden County Emergency Services for your order of 4 new Frazer units! 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!
Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of April 26
Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you Friendswood VFD EMS for your order of 2 new Frazer units! Thank you Mount Sinai EMS for your order of 2 new Frazer units and 6 remounts! Thank you North Channel EMS for your Frazer remount order! 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!
How a Custom Emergency Vehicle is Made
FOLLOW the Build of a Houston Fire Department EMS Vehicle from Start to Finish! SEE Pictures at Each Stage of the Manufacturing Process.
Thank You for your Frazer Orders! – Week of April 12
Frazer Customer Updates! Thank you Pecan Plantation EMS for your new Frazer order! Thank you Hardin County EMS (TN) for your Frazer remount order! Thank you Brady Fire & EMS 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!
New Suspension Options for your EMS Vehicle
Frazer offers new front axle LiquidSpring™ suspension that can be integrated with rear axle suspension for custom emergency vehicles built on a RAM 4500, RAM 5500, Ford F-450, and Ford F-550 truck chassis.