Well now... I didn't want to play this trump card but when I see the direction that this is going, I have no choice now.
Question:What does the United States Federal Government call these water trucks? Is it water tankers? I think not... Is it water tenders? Why yes! You are absolutely right. If you need federal assistance, and you want water trucks, you better make sure you order the right thing(s).
And yes, above is a USFS Water Tender... just in case Ben, Joe or Brian or anyone else who needs to adopt the correct terminology. Not that I want to stir it up or anything... but... who do you pay federal income taxes too? Could it be the same people that take that money and go out and buy, heaven forbid... Water Tenders? Could be...
Well then we just need to get the federal government to change their terminology to reflect reality. After all, it wouldn't be the first time the feds have been wrong about something.
This would be the same federal government that writes the DOT commercial driver's license regulations that 38 states have adopted - the regs that require that firefighters must have a "Tanker" endorsement to drive this specific vehicle type.
Just thought I would throw in a pic of our 2005 E-ONE Tanker-Pumper. 3000 galons of water, 1250 gpm pump, 6 man cab w/2 extra fold down seats, 2 1.75" 150' crosslays, 1 2.5" 150' crosslay, 1 100' 1.75" side mounted trash line, 1 300' 1.75" rear preconnect, 1 3" 300' rear preconnect, 1000' of 4" LDH supply line, and a 1000 gpm deck gun. When you have no hydrants in your area like us, you need to bring alot of water with you. We also respond this as a tanker on mutual aid calls. We kind of jokingly call this our "Attack Tanker"
That would make one heck of a Tanker/Tender here in the USA, although we'd have to have to put a driver at the rear like a tiller to make the turns in the city! Plus we'd need a bigger cab for the crew. LOL
The bottom line still remains in this discussion... tenders tend to have water in them and tankers fly in the air... this is a known fact among school children, everyone know's it, right?