Oshkosh Truck Subsidiary, Pierce Manufacturing, Awarded Fire Truck Contract By Boston

    OSHKOSH, Wis.--Feb. 21, 2002--Pierce Manufacturing Inc., the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus, was awarded contracts by the City of Boston for five Enforcer(R)pumpers and one Dash(R)85-foot aerial platform. Total value of the apparatus is approximately $2 million.
    All of the vehicles include state-of-the-art suspension and steering systems that promise to bring new levels of performance to Boston Fire Department's fleet. Three of the Enforcer pumpers are equipped with TAK-4(TM) independent front suspension to greatly improve handling, ride comfort and durability. The TAK-4 system also improves braking performance by 23 percent. This technology was developed jointly by Pierce and its parent company, Oshkosh Truck Corporation, and is based on the system in use on the U.S. Marine Corps' new fleet of tactical defense trucks.
    In addition, the Dash aerial apparatus and two Enforcer pumpers feature the exclusive ALL STEER(R) electronic all-wheel steering. Pierce is the only manufacturer in the fire service to provide heavy-duty, electronic all-wheel steering. The ALL STEER system can improve a vehicle's turning radius by up to 30 percent to enhance Boston Fire Department's ability to negotiate the city's narrow, historic streets and tight cul-de-sacs.
    "We're very proud to be providing fire apparatus with the latest technology to this historic American city," said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh chairman, president and chief executive officer. "As the first U.S. city with fire protection, Boston Fire Department is steeped in a tradition of providing outstanding fire protection. At Pierce, we have a tradition of customer service and dependability that we think will complement and enhance Boston Fire Department's commitment to their community."
    Pierce leads the industry in safety features on aerial apparatus. The Dash aerial platform is fully multiplexed with Command Zone(TM) electronics. This allows the chassis' microprocessor to work with all aerial systems to ensure peak performance and safe operation. It's a "smart" system that simply does not allow the Pierce aerial to operate outside safe performance parameters. The apparatus are also equipped with Waterous fire pumps and Whelen lighting systems.
    Boston Fire Department is the nation's first municipal fire department, serving the citizens of Boston since 1678. The department is lead by Fire Commissioner Paul Christian and Chief of Operations William Hitchcock, who approved the contract. Boston Fire Department serves more than 575,000 people and has 1700 personnel.
    These new fire apparatus were sold and will be serviced by Blanchard Fire Apparatus. Blanchard is Pierce's exclusive sales and service organization in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. Delivery of the Pierce units is scheduled to begin in March 2002.

    Oshkosh Truck Corporation is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the fire and emergency, defense, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Oshkosh Truck is a Fortune 1000 company with products marketed under the Oshkosh, Pierce, McNeilus, Medtec, Geesink and Norba brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and had annual sales of $1.45 billion in fiscal 2001.