AMBULANCE MANUFACTURERS DIVISION

Manufacturers Of Ambulances

The organization, which became an NTEA affiliate in 1986, works to expand and improve its market segment; acquire, preserve and disseminate information on the role of emergency vehicles; improve relationships with other industry segments; promote new product innovations; and assist in the development of industry safety standards and programs. The AMD are manufacturers of ambulances, rescue and emergency vehicles, and related emergency apparatus and equipment.

Introduction to AMD

Ambulance Manufacturers Division

For approximately 25 years, the manufacture of ambulances in this country has been represented by an association dedicated to the production of safe, state-of-the-art vehicles. Chances are you never knew that. Chances are you have never heard of an organization called the AMD, and if you had, you probably didn`t know what it was or what it stood for.

Why? Because the organization has always worked quietly behind the scenes, dedicated to the manufacture of ambulances second to none in the world.

That organization is the Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA).

The NTEA is the only trade association representing the nation`s manufacturers and distributors of commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment trailers and accessories. NTEA members include companies that produce every conceivable configuration of commercial trucks, including highly specialized vehicles, such as ambulances, snow and ice-control vehicles and several types of buses.

The NTEA provides its nearly 1,600 member companies with resource materials, technical assistance and business improvement programs. Headquartered in suburban Detroit, the NTEA interacts directly with the major truck chassis manufacturers on product compatibility issues. From its government relations office in the nation`s capital, the Association keeps its members advised of changing regulations affecting commercial trucks and lobbies on the industry`s behalf.

The AMD was founded in 1976 and became a division of the NTEA to further enhance its position in the industry and depth of professionalism. The organization has grown dramatically over the past six years as more and more ambulance manufacturers and industry-related companies realize the value and significance of being an AMD member. Currently composed of approximately 60 companies, the AMD has consistently maintained representation of over 90% of the ambulance production in the United States.

Projects with Regulatory Agencies

Since its founding, the Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) has worked closely with all State and Federal regulatory agencies. Some of the more significant projects with which it has been directly involved include:

• Coordination with the General Services Administration (GSA) in the development and revision of the Federal Specification for Ambulances KKK-A-1822.
• Development of performance test procedures for ambulances.
• Current AMD Standards for:

AMD001  Static Load Test For Ambulance Body Structure
AMD002  Body Door Retention Components Test
AMD003  Oxygen Tank Retention System
AMD004  Litter Retention Test
AMD005  Ambulance 12-Volt DC Electrical System
AMD006  Sound Level Test Code For Ambulance Compartment Interiors
AMD007  Carbon Monoxide Levels For Ambulance Compartment Interiors
AMD008  Load Test For Ambulance Patient Compartment Grab Rail
AMD009  120 VAC Electrical Systems
AMD010  Water Spray Test For Ambulances
AMD011  Ambulance Equipment Temperature Test
AMD012  Ambient Temperature Test
AMD013  Weight Distribution
AMD014  Cooling System Test
AMD015  Ambulance Main Oxygen System Test

AMD Standards are those by which all newly manufactured ambulances must conform. Before a standard is adopted, it is scrutinized by review panels from the AMD, industry experts, the GSA and all interested parties. All comments are considered and appropriate revisions are made before a standard is voted on for adoption.

All of the above AMD tests have been incorporated into the latest revision of KKK-A-1822.

Most AMD members maintain staff engineers to keep their companies abreast of technological advances applying to the manufacture of ambulance bodies, electrical systems, environmental systems, and other ambulance components. These advances are incorporated into new ambulance models thereby continuously improving the industry through competition. No governmental agency dictates that AMD members make these improvements; they are done voluntarily to upgrade the product, make it more reliable, and provide even more dependable life-support capabilities.

General Public Activities

Since the organization was founded, Ambulance Manufacturers Division (AMD) members have been directly involved in activities that benefit the general public as well as the industry. These activities include:

• Continued coordination with the GSA in further development and revision of the Federal Specification for Ambulances — KKK-A-1822.
• Active involvement with Ford, General Motors, International, and Freightliner in the development of new models and options that make their chassis more compatible for ambulance service.
• Support of the Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) Program.
• Continued development, improvement and updating of AMD Standards.

While the role of the Ambulance Manufacturers Division may not be well known, the AMD takes its responsibility very seriously, working diligently to provide safe, quality ambulance products the public can depend on.

AMD Standards

For almost a quarter of a century, the emergency medical services of this country have been represented by an association dedicated to the production of safe, state-of-the art ambulances. That organization is the AMBULANCE MANUFACTURERS DIVISION (AMD) of the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA).  The NTEA is the only trade association representing the nation s manufacturers and distributors of commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment and accessories.  NTEA members include companies that produce highly specialized vehicles, such as ambulances, towing and recovery vehicles, small school buses and mid-size buses.   The NTEA provides its 1,500 members with resource materials, technical assistance, education and training and business improvement programs.

Headquartered in Detroit, the NTEA interacts directly with the major truck chassis manufacturers on product compatibility issues.  From its government relations office in Washington, DC, the association deeps its members advised of changing regulations affecting commercial trucks and lobbies on the industry s behalf. Before affiliating with the NTEA, the AMD was a division of the Truck Body and Equipment Association.  In 1986 the AMD became a division of the NTEA to further enhance its credibility and depth of professionalism.  The organization has grown dramatically over the past 15 years as more and more ambulance manufacturers and industry-related companies realize the value and significance of being an AMD member.   Currently composed of approximately 45 companies, the AMD has consistently maintained representation of over 90% of the ambulance production in North America.  Since its founding in 1976, the AMD has worked closely with all State and Federal regulatory agencies and has been directly involved in activities that benefit the general public as well as the industry. 

Most AMD members maintain staff engineers to keep their companies abreast of technological advances applying to the manufacture of ambulance bodies, electrical systems, environmental systems, and other ambulance components.  These advances are incorporated into new ambulance models thereby continuously improving the industry through competition. No governmental agency dictates that AMD members make these improvements; they are done voluntarily to upgrade the product, make it more reliable, and provide even more dependable life support capabilities.

Federal law and regulation require that all motor vehicles, including ambulances, operated on public highways conform and be certified to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).  Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as originally defined in the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 means a minimum standard for motor vehicle performance, or motor vehicle equipment performance, which is practicable which meets the need for motor vehicle safety and which provides objective criteria.   For additional definitions see 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301   Motor Vehicle Safety.
 
Development of AMD Standards began almost 25 years ago by AMD members in conjunction with the GSA and is currently cited in KKK-A-1822 (See Paragraph 2.2   Applicable Documents, Other Publications).  KKK-A-1822 requires that all ambulances conform with all FMVSSs and AMD Standards. AMD Standards are meant to enhance KKK-A-1822 and supplement the FMVSSs by providing ambulance purchasers and users with performance standards specific to ambulances.  AMD Standards provide a verifiable means by which to help assure safety and reliability.

AMD Standards are developed and revised with input from the GSA, ambulance manufacturers and component suppliers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and vehicle maintenance personnel and other interested parties through public comment.  All comments are considered and appropriate revisions are made before a standard is voted on for adoption.  All of the enclosed AMD Standards have been incorporated into the latest revision of KKK-A-1822. The AMD welcomes your comments and suggestions regarding improvements and/or corrections to AMD Standards. Written comments and suggestions regarding changes to an existing and/or proposed new standard(s) need to include a reasonable and rational explanation for the change(s) based in sound engineering principles, proposed/ revised language, cost/benefit analysis, verifiable statistics, test results and/or engineering studies where applicable.  Suggested changes must be performance based, industry generic and cannot in any way restrict trade or innovation.  Comments and suggestions received without the aforementioned information cannot be considered.

Written comments and suggestions received with the required information by the AMD Secretary will be submitted to the AMD Technical Committee for review and comment.  The Technical Committee will review the comments and suggestions and send a written response to the writer confirming receipt and status.  If the Technical Committee does not consider the proposed changes appropriate or viable, a written response will be sent explaining why the comments and suggestions do not merit further consideration.  If considered appropriate, the Technical Committee will make a recommendation to the full AMD membership for further review and discussion.

If the AMD membership does not consider the proposed changes appropriate or viable, a written response will be sent explaining why the comments and suggestions do not merit further consideration. If approved, with or without changes, by a majority of full AMD members, the proposed revisions will be made available for public comment on the NTEA s Web site, http://www.ntea.com. If, after an appropriate public comment period, no adverse comments are received, the recommended revisions will become final and effective after approval by a majority of full AMD members.  If adverse or negative comments are received, those comments will be sent back to the Technical Committee and/or full AMD membership for review and response.  The review/revision process will continue until no negative comments are received.

To view the more information on the Current AMD standards, please copy and paste the link below in your browser.

http://www.ntea.com/mr/divisions/amd/standards_001-015.pdf

AMD Member Companies

AEV Inc/American Emergency Vehicles
American LaFrance Corp
Automotive Climate Control Inc
Braun Industries Inc
Braun Northwest Inc
Carson Manufacturing Co Inc
Cast Products Inc (CPI)
Certified Inspection Service Inc
Collins Industries Inc
Crestline Coach Ltd
Excellance Inc
Federal Signal Corp Emergency Products
Ferno Washington Inc
Frazer Ltd
Freightliner Specialty Vehicles Inc
Holmes Automotive Group
Horton Emergency Vehicles Co
Hoseline Inc
Impact Instrumentation Inc
InterMotive
IPD Co Inc
Leader Industries
Life Line Emergency Vehicles Inc
Link Mfg Ltd
Malley Industries Inc
Marque Inc
Medtec Ambulance Corp
National Van Builders Inc
Novacentre Technology Ltd
Olathe Ford Sales Inc
Onspot of North America Inc
Osage Industries Inc
Paul Demers & Fils Inc
Phoenix USA Inc
PL Custom Body & Equipment Co Inc
Pro Air LLC
Professional Ambulance Sales & Service
Public Safety Equipment Inc
Road Rescue Inc
Stryker Medical
Taylor Made Ambulances
Transportation Safety Technologies Inc
Trimark
Tuthill Transport Technologies
Vanner Inc
VSV Group
Weldon Technologies Inc
Whelen Engineering