Live from FDIC: Nate Smith on Running America's Largest Used Fire Apparatus Company

On this episode of Project Command, Cpt. Duke Cuneo sits down with Nate Smith, President of Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, to discuss what it takes to lead the largest supplier of used emergency vehicles in the United States. The conversation explores the operational and logistical challenges of managing fire apparatus sales and fleet operations at a national scale, including procurement, transportation, refurbishment, customer coordination, and project management in the fleet environment. Duke and Nate also discuss the complexities of doing business internationally, the unique demands of the emergency vehicle market, and how departments can better approach apparatus purchasing and long-term fleet planning. This episode provides an inside look at a side of the fire service many people rarely see: the massive coordination, logistics, leadership, and operational planning required to move emergency vehicles across the country and around the world. Whether you are involved in fleet management, apparatus specification, logistics, procurement, or organizational leadership, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most important support systems behind emergency response.