Simply tradition. Many are lime yellow, yellow or even blue. Story has it a department near here has been white for about 100 years because one day long ago the city had only white paint, so they painted the trucks white...and they've been that way ever since --- tradition.
I beg to differ (there's a friggin surprise). I think the public is partial to red. True, better a God-awful, Good Humor-looking white truck than none, but everbody knows red is cool and white is sissy-ish.
Because they've got 8 wheels and 4 people on them
8 + 4 = 12
There are 12 inches in a foot
One foot is a ruler
There was a ruler named Queen Elizabeth
A ship named Queen Elizabeth sails the seas
In the seas are fish
On the fish are fins
The Fins fought the Russians
And Russians are red.
And that's why fire engines are red. Because they're always rushin'
WestPhilly, you are right. The public is partial to red. If you ask most people what their favorite color is, they will say RED. When I hear a siren go off, I look for a red truck. It stands out more just like certain color cars get pulled over more by the law. Just like colors that are soothing to relax people. There is a scientific reason why we like certain colors. May not fit this case but it works in more ways than one.