Ambulance district to begin fleet upgrade

With several of the trucks in its fleet causing - and costing - more trouble than they were worth, the Callaway County Ambulance District's Board of Directors has taken the first steps toward purchasing three new ambulances in the next year.

Its decision was based on a recommendation from the ambulance selection committee, which also considered Ford E-Series, Ford F-Series and Chevrolet 3500 and 4500 trucks as options. The board voted to put out a request for bids on three Mercedes Sprinter Type III ambulances to replace three of its existing Ford F-Series trucks.

CCAD Director Charles Anderson noted that the vehicles being replaced all have more than 100,000 miles on them, and all cost the district an average of 92 cents per mile in fuel and maintenance fees last year. The fleet's overall fuel and maintenance costs for 2012 were 72 cents per mile.

In comparison, Anderson noted that the South Howell County Ambulance District, which runs six of the Mercedes ambulances and one Type III Chevrolet 3500 ambulance had a fuel and maintenance cost average of 37 cents per mile in 2012.

"We're looking at potentially saving up to $10,000 a year in maintenance and fuel costs per vehicle," Anderson said.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.