By Nick Sullivan
The Charlotte Observer
CHARLOTTE — Charlotte spent nearly $1.9 million on a customized fire engine intended to maneuver tight spaces. But a series of repairs has kept it sidelined for much of its first year in service.
The specialty vehicle — called a tractor-drawn aerial or tiller truck — stands out from others in the city because it has a hinged middle separating a front and back section, each equipped with its own driver.
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It had been years since the Charlotte Fire Department last owned this type of vehicle when the city commissioned a Virginia -based company to build it in September 2022.
“It’s a nice truck,” said Lou Lesesne, a former lawyer for the firefighters union. “Other than the fact it doesn’t work.”
Lesesne lives near the South End station where the tiller truck, named “Ladder 2,” is supposed to be based. He’s frustrated he’s hardly seen it in action. It’s been in the shop more than the fire station, he said.
Battalion Chief John Lipcsak, a spokesperson for the fire department, said the truck went into service last April after upfitting and training.
When crews started running the tiller truck on calls, they noticed issues with the steer axle on the back portion, Lipcsak said. The department removed it from service in August for testing and repairs.
The tiller truck is expected back in Charlotte by mid-March.
“As with any newly delivered, highly specialized apparatus, adjustments and corrections are addressed in coordination with the manufacturer under warranty,” Lipcsak said in a written statement to The Charlotte Observer.
The fire department celebrated the tiller truck’s long-anticipated arrival with several videos last year.
In one Facebook reel from August, the fire department called it a “game changer” that is redefining possibilities for Charlotte firefighters.
Captain Zach Bowman likened the truck’s build to a tractor-trailer, only with an extra driver in the back.
“He’s able to turn along with the guy in the front to really snake into places,” Bowman said in the video. “Just being able to fit into places that no other ladder in the recent history of Charlotte has been able to go, we’re able to really position ourselves to be more of a benefit.”
The decision to reintroduce this kind of truck was “strategic” because it can navigate narrow urban streets and sharp turns more easily than the rest of the fleet, Lipcsak said.
“As Charlotte continues to experience significant growth, increased traffic congestion, denser development, and tighter roadway configuration, the maneuverability of a (tiller truck) provides operational advantages,” Lipcsak said.
Multiple Charlotte fire trucks are out of service
The tiller truck isn’t the only new vehicle undergoing repairs.
The Observer’s news partner WSOC-TV reported on Monday that the city’s first all-electric fire truck is also out of service. The electric truck was only on duty for a little over a month before warranty-related issues pulled it off the streets.
The city purchased the electric truck for $1.9 million the same year as the tiller, according to WSOC-TV.
In both cases, a spokesperson with the fire department said the trucks’ absences would not impact coverage. Reserve engines will fill in for the new trucks until they are fixed.
“At any time, there are a number of trucks out of service for routine maintenance and safety checks,” Lipcsak said. “This rigorous maintenance schedules ensures the trucks are operating properly and available to serve the citizens of Charlotte.”
At a budget meeting on Monday, city staff told Charlotte council members the fire department’s fleet is experiencing higher maintenance costs than in the past because trucks are getting older and take longer to replace. Vehicles that once had a 1.5-year turnaround now take up to four years from the time of purchase to delivery, then undergo additional fine-tuning once they arrive.
The fire department’s needs are one of the reasons the City Council is considering a property tax increase. Council will continue to discuss the budget over the next several months before approving a final version, which will take effect July 1.
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