EASTON, Pa. — There were no bucking broncos nor barrel races at Thursday’s “rodeo” near Morrison Avenue — just some serious behind-the-wheel training.
In a large parking lot near the Forks Township line, Easton firefighters put their skills to the test behind the wheel of the city’s new tiller truck.
They navigated a simulated obstacle course with tight turns, narrow lanes and reverse maneuvers into confined spaces.
Unlike a traditional fire engine, the tiller — or tractor-drawn aerial ladder truck — has two drivers: one in the front cab and another in the rear to independently steer the trailer.
The setup offers superior maneuverability, firefighters said, especially on Easton’s tight and twisting streets, some of which date to the Revolutionary War era.
The term “rodeo” is firefighter slang for this kind of driver training, which helps crews translate classroom knowledge into hands-on experience — building muscle memory and sharpening spatial awareness.
Firefighters have trained on the tiller for several weeks, and Fire Chief Henry Hennings said it’s expected to be fully operational by August.
‘This is our toolbox’
Hennings said the last time the city had such a truck was decades ago, but times are changing in Easton.
“We performed an internal audit on apparatus placement and recognized that the current tower ladder was not the best option moving forward,” Hennings said.
The department formed an apparatus committee and recognized a tiller would have many advantages, particularly in dealing with accessibility challenges.
“The articulation of a tiller allows for access to streets not typically accessible by any other aerial design,” Hennings said. “We will be able to get into tighter streets and areas a straight body ladder truck cannot.”
The tiller also will let more vital equipment be on scene — such as sufficient ground ladders — letting them be deployed easier and quicker by firefighters, Hennings said.
He showed off some of the equipment Thursday, including more than 600 feet of ground ladders, saws for ventilation and transverse compartments for vehicle rescue.
“Basically, this is our toolbox. The closer we can get this to the scene of the fire, the less physical work they're gonna have to do to put this stuff in service.”Easton Fire Chief Henry Hennings
“So we can pull up, and no matter what side of the accident zone we pull up, we'll be able to access this quickly,” Hennings said.
“So basically, the way the truck is set up, we have one side for structural firefighting. The other side is for rescue, with the exception of some components that can go on either side.
“Basically, this is our toolbox. The closer we can get this to the scene of the fire, the less physical work they're gonna have to do to put this stuff in service.”
The 2024 Pierce Enforcer 107-foot Tractor-Drawn Aerial came with a price tag of $1,718,600, which is about average for such an apparatus.
Tiller time
But the unique part of the new truck is how it will make its way around the city — with two drivers.
One driver sits in the main cab at the front, while the second sits in the rear cab at the back of the trailer.
The rear driver, known as the “tillerman,” is responsible for steering the trailer axle. To turn, the tillerman will have to go the opposite direction of the front driver.
“I can tell you, initially, from my standpoint, I was very nervous, and now the confidence is starting to build."Easton firefighter Adam Grube
Both drivers communicate through headsets and a series of beeps, or a buzzer system. One beep means stop, two means go and three means reverse, or back up.
Each signal must be acknowledged by a repeat of the same signal before any action is taken by either driver.
“I can tell you, initially, from my standpoint, I was very nervous, and now the confidence is starting to build,” firefighter Adam Grube said.
Finely honed skill sets
The Easton Fire Department course setups are meant to replicate conditions within the city, preparing the firefighters to navigate obstacles in the narrow streets of Easton.
The serpentine course demonstrated Thursday acclimates drivers to get around bump-outs and around parked cars.
Another section features a small cone representing a curb which showcases how the cab-over design of the tiller works.
“The design of the course from what we’ve been gathering is very extreme, worst-case scenario type stuff, and it’s to practice and hone the finer skills,” Grube said.
“So these are very finely honed skill sets for very tight spots where we’re not going to be utilizing steering. We’re going to be utilizing the articulation of the apparatus to help us get out of some very, very, very tight spots.”
Easton’s firefighters are investing about 40 hours per week for three weeks before that group can begin training the rest of the crew.
Ultimately, they hope to have just about everyone at EFD able to drive both the front and back end.
“I'll be honest… It seems more intimidating and daunting than it actually is," firefighter Chris Rossetti said. "Once you get in, it's more intuitive than you give it credit for.
"Once you start, backing up is a little different, but at least moving forward, it's a little more intuitive.”
Crews have had some opportunities to try out the near apparatus on the streets, and it appears those training sessions are paying off.
But Easton’s department acknowledges there still is much left to be done before they hit the road for real calls.
“I'll be honest… It seems more intimidating and daunting than it actually is. Once you get in, it's more intuitive than you give it credit for."Firefighter Chris Rossetti
“So, on South Fourth Street, there's elderly housing" Grube said. "It's maybe about 4 or 5 inches from the tires to the curb when I got centered into the actual lane.
"But we got into the rear of the structure, we actually turned the corner, and then we had to back out because there was a car parked.
“Otherwise, we would have been able to get out. And this is everything that we're practicing here was incorporated on our skills driving day.”
Hennings said the purchase of the tiller was part of the department’s fleet modernization efforts, which will reduce overall costs for maintenance and repairs.
He said the department has two more engines on order, one being delivered in 2027 and one in 2029.
