NAEMT protests Ford's ambulance chassis cut

By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection

CLINTON, Mississippi — The National Association of Emergency Medical Services sent a letter last week to William Ford, chairman of the Ford Motor Company, expressing concern about Ford's decision to discontinue to 6.0-liter diesel E-series chassis used to manufacture the majority of ambulances.

The letter, written by NAEMT president Jerry Johnston and mailed Mar. 22, is reprinted below.

William Clay Ford, Jr.
Executive Chairman
Ford Motor Company
P.O. Box 685
Dearborn, MI 48126-0685

Dear Mr. Ford:

On behalf of the nation's 800,000 EMT's and paramedics and the millions of emergency medical patients they serve, I am writing to express our concern and regret about how Ford Motor Company has handled the abrupt decision to discontinue the 6.0-liter diesel E-series chassis used in the manufacture of Type II and Type III ambulances.

We recognize that Ford was experiencing engine supply issues and that chassis sales for
ambulances only represent a very small fraction of your truck business. However, emergency medical services all across the nation have been loyal customers of the Ford product and use your product to serve a vital and critical community service. Losing the availability of this chassis so quickly and without warning has put many EMS operations and the people they serve in a precarious situation. Already, we have heard from EMS providers who will not be able to get the vehicles they need and had planned for this year. The ambulance manufacturers tell us the outlook for 2008 is grim.

The ability to plan ahead is imperative to the safety and reliability of emergency medical services. The lack of suitable chassis availability may force many EMS systems to use ambulances beyond their planned lifetime and could potentially create safety and reliability issues. Such issues could have been averted with an adequate amount of preparation and warning. We are disappointed that a company with your long history and reputation has chosen to disregard the needs of this small but vital segment of your market.

We ask that you convey our disappointment and concern throughout the leadership ranks at Ford. EMS may represent a small part of your business but the work we do touches your customers around the world. We ask that you honestly inform us in writing what we can expect from Ford going forward. What will you do to replace the discontinued chassis in 2007? What can ambulance manufacturers expect from Ford in 2008 and beyond? If the gasoline engine is Ford's answer for the future, our industry needs assurances that the fire safety issues from the 1980's have been addressed.

We look forward to your reply.

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