How much do fire trucks weigh? The average fire truck can weigh from 19 to 30 tons, which translates to 38,000 to 60,000 pounds.
A fire truck weighs between 11,500 and 14,500 pounds even when empty, which makes for some pretty bad gas mileage. A fire truck’s weight ultimately depends on the type of truck and whether it is carrying water or not.
Continue reading if you’re interested in finding out more about the typical weight of a fire truck, including the difference between empty and full. A fully loaded fire truck will be compared to other common vehicles in this article to see which one weighs the most.
Let’s get started.
How Much Does a Fire Truck Weigh?
The length, height, and width of a fire truck are typically 40 feet, 12 feet, and 10 feet, as we briefly mentioned in the introduction. Even somewhat “smaller” fire trucks are 35 feet long, nine feet tall, nine feet wide.
How much does a car that size weigh? According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation or The typical fire truck weighs 19 to 30 tons, according to PennDOT. That is equivalent to 38,000 to 60,000 pounds in pounds. The fire truck is assumed to be full because, as we’ll discuss, it is much lighter when empty.
Why do fire trucks weigh so much? A lot of water must be transported by them. At least 500 gallons of water can be transported at a time by most fire trucks. Fire trucks must have cargo space in addition to this heavy load for an elevating ladder, specialized rescue tools, additional ladders, and hoses.
Let’s examine some vehicles that fire trucks outweigh and vice versa using the data from PennDOT.
The Weight of Fire Trucks Compared to Other Vehicles
Fire trucks are among the heaviest vehicles on our roads, weighing up to 60,000 pounds.
Check out a few typical vehicles that a fire truck can lift heavier than.
Car
It is much lighter than a fire truck, which typically has a minimum weight of 30,000 pounds, at 1.5 tons (3,000 pounds), on average.
The lightest fire engine weighs about ten times as much as a car, and the heaviest fire trucks are around twenty times as heavy.
Standard Truck
Your typical truck, which excludes heavy-duty pickup trucks, weighs just a little bit more than your typical vehicle.
It weighs somewhere between 3 tons and 6,000 pounds. This means that the heaviest fire engine, which weighs 60,000 pounds, is ten times heavier than the truck you might drive to work every day.
Ambulance
Aside from the occasional pickup truck and the occasional car, ambulances and fire trucks are only ever used in emergency situations.
But compared to a fire truck, an ambulance is much lighter. An ambulance weighs 5 tons, or 10,000 pounds, which is 20,000 pounds less than the smallest fire truck.
They have less equipment onboard, which is primarily to blame for this. Ambulances can navigate congested streets much more quickly because they are much lighter and smaller in size.
Delivery Truck
A delivery company’s standard delivery truck, like those used by FedEx or UPS, weighs only 6 tons (12,000 pounds).
These trucks are much lighter than a fire truck, but slightly heavier than an ambulance. Also much lighter than fire engines are delivery trucks.
School Bus
When a typical yellow school bus is filled with students, the weight of the vehicle can reach 17 tons (34,000 pounds).
Although it is close to some of the lighter fire trucks in terms of weight, it is still a considerable distance from the 60,000 pounds of the heavier fire engines.
Charter Bus
Charter buses, which are an improvement over school buses, weigh roughly the same as fire engines.
Although charter bus sizes can vary, the typical model has 60 seats and is heavier than a school bus because it typically transports adults (rather than children).
A fully loaded charter bus may weigh up to 20 tons, or 40,000 pounds.
Vehicles That Outweigh Fire Trucks
Fire trucks are significantly heavier than the majority of other vehicles on the road, as we have already seen.
They are not, however, the heaviest vehicles you can see. Other vehicles can easily outweigh fire trucks in weight.
Garbage Truck
Even though they may not appear to be particularly heavy from a distance, garbage trucks are actually quite hefty when viewed up close.
When fully loaded, garbage trucks can weigh up to 25 tons (50,000 pounds). As a result, they are almost as heavy as some fire engines.
The main factor contributing to these trucks’ weight is a large mechanism that stores and crushes trash into smaller pieces so that more can fit inside.
Snow Plow Truck
The snow plow truck is another vehicle that weighs more than you might anticipate. Depending on the kind of attachment at the front, these heavy-duty vehicles weigh different amounts.
The typical snow plow truck weighs 28 tons (56,000 pounds), which is nearly as much as the heaviest fire engine.
Cement Truck
When loaded, cement trucks can weigh 33 tons (66,000 pounds), making them very powerful automobiles.
The heaviest fire engine, which weighs only 60,000 pounds, is outweighed by a cement truck.
The bulky cement that cement trucks transport is what makes them so heavy.
Dump Trucks
A dump truck may seem to weigh about the same as a garbage truck, but the two are actually quite a bit heavier.
A loaded dump truck can be as heavy as 36 tons (72,000 pounds). The heaviest fire engine weighs 12,000 pounds less than this.
Tractor Trailers
One of the heaviest vehicles on our roads are heavy-duty tractor trailers. The weight of their load is added to the weight of the trailer that they are pulling.
Tractor trailers can weigh up to 40 tons (80,000 pounds) when you transport them. Amazingly, that is 20,000 pounds more than the largest fire engine.
How Much Does An Empty Fire Truck Weigh?
Keep in mind that the weight range of 38,000 to 60,000 pounds takes into account the fire truck’s load of supplies and equipment. But what if it’s empty? what is its weight then?
That’s a really good question! According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, an empty fire truck weighs 11,500 to 14,500 pounds. Even when empty, this is still heavier than numerous other vehicles. Here’s the breakdown of empty vehicle weights:
- Cars – 2,400 to 5,000 pounds
- Pickup trucks, minivans, or SUVs – 3,200 to 4,500 pounds
- Standard pick-up trucks or large SUVs – 4,500 to 6,000 pounds
- Step vans or minibuses – 7,650 to 8,750 pounds
Even when empty, a lot of other vehicles weigh more than fire trucks. Those include:
- Concrete and refuse trucks – 20,000 pounds
- Tractor trailers – 20,000 to 26,000 pounds
Here, How Much Do Fire Trucks Cost?
Do Fire Trucks Have to Stop at Weigh Stations?
Fire engines aren’t just on the road in case of an emergency. After extinguishing a fire, they must return to the fire station, and they do so at a speed consistent with the posted speed limits in the area.
A weigh station may at some point be passed by a fire truck. Heavy-duty vehicles, including fleet and construction vehicles, are weighed at these highway checkpoints. A truck scale at a weigh station serves as the location for vehicle weighing.
The driver can proceed immediately if the vehicle weight is within the permitted range. However, the driver must stop if the car needs to be checked out more.
Overweight cars should not be allowed back on the road because they pose a safety risk to the driver and other drivers and frequently violate state regulations. To pass, the driver will need to lighten their load on each axle.
With that information in mind, is it necessary to stop and weigh your vehicle if you’re driving a fire truck or is it okay for you to keep going?
Many states require that commercial vehicles weighing at least 10,000 pounds must successfully pass a check at a weigh station according to vehicle resource Your Mechanic. What qualifies as a commercial vehicle and a fire truck?
Contrary to popular belief, it does not. Despite the fact that these trucks easily exceed 10,000 pounds when fully loaded, fire truck drivers are not required to use weigh stations.
What is It Like Driving a Heavy Fire Truck?
Now that you’re aware of how much fire trucks weigh, if your job as a firefighter requires you to drive one of these giant red trucks, you’ll have a much greater appreciation for them. Most drivers of fire trucks are referred to as engineers or apparatus operators (No fire department should put you in the driver’s seat of a fire truck without first giving you the necessary training.
It is simpler to commandeer a fire truck if you have previous experience operating a heavy-duty vehicle like a fleet truck or garbage truck. However, if all you’ve ever driven were pickup trucks or SUVs, your past driving history won’t be able to get you ready for what lies ahead.
Large, drawn-out vehicles are fire trucks. The truck’s long back end must be taken into account when turning it. You will need to plan every move you make. You might hit a curb or even other cars if you don’t have enough room to make a turn, for example.
With so much weight on your firetruck, steering can be challenging, and increasing speed is also challenging. However, because fire trucks need to get somewhere quickly, you must practice increasing and maintaining your speed.
Considering their weight of several tons, fire trucks are by no means lightweight vehicles. Fire trucks weigh more than even school buses and charter buses because they range in weight from 38,000 to 60,000 pounds. A fire truck still weighs about 14,000 pounds when it is empty.
Dimensions of Firefighting Vehicles
Firefighting trucks are exempt from the regulations limiting the size and weight of vehicles on some roads because of their significance. But this larger size might make it harder to reach the affected areas and cause slower response times.
Fire departments are tasked with overcoming this challenge, and they frequently do so by having access to a variety of vehicles. In this manner, they will always have the tools necessary for the best response, regardless of the circumstance.
We will use the classification devised by the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) because manufacturers don’t all use the same terminology to describe their vehicles.
Commercial Chassis Pumper – Single Rear Axle
These pumps or fire engines are built on a commercial truck’s frame, so the truck model will determine their maximum weight and dimension (though they must still comply with regulations). The cabin of a pumper offers space for up to 3 firefighters, and other measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 12,000 to 18,000 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 21,000 to 31,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 9 to 12 feet
- Length of 24 to 35 feet
Custom Chassis Pumper – Single Rear Axle
A pumper is converted into a double-cab truck with room for a crew of up to six using a specially created or modified commercial chassis. No appreciable size difference from the commercial model is required to obtain all of these advantages. To put out fires that are uncontrollable with water, this kind of firetruck can also be modified as an industrial foam pumper. Measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 18,000 to 24,000 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 24,000 to 31,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 9 to 12 feet
- Length of 30 to 36 feet
Aerial Ladder Pumper- Single Rear Axle
In comparison to a traditional pumper, the custom chassis’ dimensions are significantly changed by the addition of an aerial ladder. It can be seen both with and without a protected basket from which firefighters can work. It can also be used to hoist victims strapped to a stretcher. This vehicle’s measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 20,000 to 22,800 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 24,000 to 33,500 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 11 to 12.5 feet
- Length of 36 to 43 feet
Commercial Chassis Tanker- Tandem Rear Axle
The weight distribution of the Tandem rear axle truck is significantly better than that of its competitors, enabling it to carry heavier loads while still fitting inside the confines of a single-axle model. Measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 12,000 to 18,000 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 34,000 to 56,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 10 to 12 feet
- Length of 30 to 40 feet
Custom Chassis Tanker – Tandem Rear Axle
Similar advantages to those of the industrial foam pumper and custom chassis tanker can be found with tandem rear axle tankers. An increase in length is noted as the only change in dimensions, where measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 18,740 to 24,000 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 40,000 to 56,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 10 to 12 feet
- Length of 34 to 40 feet
Aerial Ladder Tanker – Tandem Rear Axle
The aerial ladder tanker is more stable thanks to its two rear axles, particularly when anchors are also being used. Measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 20,000 to 22,800 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 34,000 to 54,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 11 to 12.5 feet
- Length of 39 to 43 feet
Aerial Ladder Mid Mount & Rear Mount – Tandem Rear Axle
The maximum length, carry weight, and vehicle stability of the ladder are significantly influenced by where it is mounted. Measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 21,500 to 24,000 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 40,000 to 62,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 9.5 to 13 feet
- Length of 46 to 51 feet
Aerial Ladder – Tiller Single & Tandem Rear Tractor Axle
The tractor-drawn aerial ladder trucks that firefighters use are by far the biggest ground vehicles. These enormous ladders can reach over 100 feet in both the vertical and horizontal directions and have a basket capacity of 750 pounds. Although it might be their greatest asset, size is also their greatest weakness. Sometimes, auxiliary vehicles open the way so they can get to the scene of the incident. Measurements and ratings include:
- Front gross axle weight rating of 21,500 to 24,000 pounds
- Rear gross axle weight rating of 27,000 to 44,000 pounds
- Tiller gross axle weight rating of 21,500 to 24,000 pounds
- Width of 98 to 100 inches
- Height of 10.5 to 11.5 feet
- Length of 56 to 63 feet
What is a Fire Truck?
A fire truck is a type of road vehicle used to fight fires. This phrase refers to any type of vehicle designed or created specifically to help put out fires, such as waterbombers, helitankers, fireboats, and various other kinds of land vehicles.
The three most popular ground firefighting tools—the fire truck, fire engine, and aerial ladder truck—are collectively referred to as “firetrucks” in a lot of contexts. We need to take a look at the differences between them to form a clear picture:
- Firefighters and their equipment can be transported in fire trucks. They are auxiliary vehicles with a main focus on rescue equipment and typically no water capacity. Aerial ladders mounted on the roof give firefighters more options for rescue and breach while roof-mounted ground ladders can be seen on the side.
- A sizable water tank and additional equipment are included in fire engines. High-pressure pumps can push water to the top of its aerial ladder and provide a better firefighting position, and the term “fire truck” is most commonly used in reference to this specific type of vehicle,
- As a subset of fire engines with a stronger ladder in place of the water tank, aerial ladder trucks can be thought of as a subcategory of fire engines. The most effective pumps are high-pressure ones that draw water from lakes, rivers, or fire hydrants.
To increase the likelihood of extinguishing fires and rescuing victims, emergency assistance vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks are dispatched alongside them. Let’s look at the vehicles’ dimensions now that we are aware of their differences.
Conclusion
Fire engines are heavy vehicles, as we’ve seen. They have a maximum weight of 60,000 pounds, making them heavier than a yellow school bus.
When compared to tractor trailers and cement trucks, which are the heaviest vehicles on the road, they are not the heaviest ones.