EMS exemption from CDL requirements?

[JBourquin]

Our department had a combination of career and volunteer. Note I did not say professional. We were all professionals, some were paid, some not. We trained to the same high level. Almost para-military level. Even down to minute details like what days we changed from short to long sleeve uniforms. The training levels were extremely high. As a volunteer, I just had to put those hours in after my normal job.

I love it when I hear co-workers get into the whole Career vs. Volunteer debate. Some seem to have a problem with Volunteers, can never really get a good reason why out of them. Anytime they try to claim a "Professional" label I simply tell them they can call themselves "Career" all they want, but they are the farthest thing from "Professional" I have ever seen..

 

[tkappeler]

I love it when I hear co-workers get into the whole Career vs. Volunteer debate. Some seem to have a problem with Volunteers, can never really get a good reason why out of them. Anytime they try to claim a "Professional" label I simply tell them they can call themselves "Career" all they want, but they are the farthest thing from "Professional" I have ever seen..

Exactly. That is why we held both groups to the same high standards. Eliminate the us vs them mentality. If you were qualified on an apparatus, you done good and the rest of the crews did not have to worry about getting to the scene in one piece.

 

[zionview]

A guy at work took a bucket truck to his work site a few years ago. He was an experienced, ranking member of his fire department. The union CDL Class A driver who grieved it tore utility and communication lines down, driving a tandem axle dump truck with a 14 ft. dump bed completely up through the same area, not a year before. I know who I'd rather ride with.

 

[JBourquin]

Accidents happen. I took the rear clip off our 2012 105' Pierce ArrowXT. Didn't drive for a little while after that, but they're warming up to me again.. Lol

 

[Smallplot]

Couple of things I find amusing about this. One is people drawing a conclusion on someone's skills or health based on their appearance. This driver may well have a million miles of safe driving under his belt, kind of hard to tell without him here defending himself. And what does weight have to do with the ability to operate some foot pedals, operate some switches, or turn a steering wheel?

Two, there are more people who show bad driving skills around emergency equipment than operators of emergency equipment with questionable skills. Anyone who has driven an emergency vehicle will probably have many stories to document. Funny how so many people can't see big brightly colored trucks with all kinds of lights, sirens, and horns. Maybe there needs to be continuing education for passenger vehicle operators like there is for most emergency vehicle operators?

 

[grnspot110]

Couple of things I find amusing about this. One is people drawing a conclusion on someone's skills or health based on their appearance. This driver may well have a million miles of safe driving under his belt, kind of hard to tell without him here defending himself. And what does weight have to do with the ability to operate some foot pedals, operate some switches, or turn a steering wheel?

Two, there are more people who show bad driving skills around emergency equipment than operators of emergency equipment with questionable skills. Anyone who has driven an emergency vehicle will probably have many stories to document. Funny how so many people can't see big brightly colored trucks with all kinds of lights, sirens, and horns. Maybe there needs to be continuing education for passenger vehicle operators like there is for most emergency vehicle operators?

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[breadtrk]

I did the VFD deal until I got both knees replaced, decided it was a young mans game at that point. We had to get licensed for the class of whatever we were going to drive and pay for it ourselves. If you wanted to get to the barn first and drive you had to have the ticket. period.

We all were licensed to drive our biggest rig, a used Airport 50,000lb Stryker off road tanker pumper with a killer remote controlled nozzle on the roof. You could pull up into the yard and start slinging water on the front door or bedrooms to knock down whatever for the guys who came in POV's so they could dress out and go in. That thing would blow through trailer walls and those prefab homes with vinyl siding. Once everyone was out (including animals) for sure... if they had insurance we would slow walk, if not we would do our best to put it out.


Funny thing, not one darn person we ever helped asked if we were licensed to drive the truck, not ever. Now that I think about it, none of the Police or Sheriffs deputies ever asked either.

 

[Loadstar]

Couple of things I find amusing about this. One is people drawing a conclusion on someone's skills or health based on their appearance. This driver may well have a million miles of safe driving under his belt, kind of hard to tell without him here defending himself. And what does weight have to do with the ability to operate some foot pedals, operate some switches, or turn a steering wheel?

Two, there are more people who show bad driving skills around emergency equipment than operators of emergency equipment with questionable skills. Anyone who has driven an emergency vehicle will probably have many stories to document. Funny how so many people can't see big brightly colored trucks with all kinds of lights, sirens, and horns. Maybe there needs to be continuing education for passenger vehicle operators like there is for most emergency vehicle operators?

I find it amusing too. Pass a health screen but get winded and barely make it back to cab swinging doors. Sad

 

[BethelHntr]

Accidents happen. I took the rear clip off our 2012 105' Pierce ArrowXT. Didn't drive for a little while after that, but they're warming up to me again.. Lol

Ouch, Only a million dollar rig lol.

 

[JBourquin]

Ouch, Only a million dollar rig lol.

Very close.. $960k. $68K to repair.