Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service have a requirement for 2 driver training vehicles. These vehicles will be used for both emergency response and LGV driver training including LGV Category C driving tests. As well as driver training there is also a requirement for the vehicles to be capable of carrying bulky operational equipment for major incidents if required.

To meet the dual role requirements these vehicles will need to have a curtain sided body to enable the ballast to be loaded and unloaded for driver training purposes (in the form of water filled IBC's) which can be easily removed to carrying operational equipment. As the vehicles will be used for emergency response driver training, they should perform (acceleration, speed) and have the same driving characteristics (handling, size, operational weight) as the majority of the frontline fire appliances currently in the fleet (Scania P270). It should be capable of seating 4 personnel (including the driver), preferably in a crew cab.

The vehicles must also meet the minimum requirements for LGV Category C driving tests which are:

— Minimum vehicle length of 8m;

— Minimum vehicle width of 2,4m

— Minimum MAM of 12 tonnes;

— Fitted with a tachograph;

— Have a closed box cargo compartment at least as wide and as high as the vehicle cab;

— Minimum real weight (operational weight) of 10 tonnes;

— Minimum load of 5 x 1 000 litre semi-transparent plastic IBCs filled with water.