Pierce Fire Trucks for Sale

You can buy a reconditioned, service-ready used Pierce fire truck without paying new-build prices or waiting years for it. Pierce is the largest fire apparatus manufacturer in North America, an Oshkosh company building in Appleton, Wisconsin since 1913, known for its custom cabs and chassis and its Ascendant aerials, and Fire Truck Center sells used Pierce pumpers, aerials, and quints that pass a 150-point inspection with third-party NFPA pump tests and aerial certification, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. Used Pierce pumpers and aerials generally run from around $45,000 for older units to the mid-six figures for newer custom rigs — see the pumpers and aerials in stock now.

What are Pierce fire trucks known for?

Pierce fire trucks are known for being the most-built, most-customized apparatus in North America. Pierce Manufacturing is an Oshkosh company based in Appleton, Wisconsin, and it’s the largest fire apparatus manufacturer in the United States, with more than 35,000 Pierce trucks on the road. When a department wants a truck built exactly to spec, Pierce is usually the name at the top of the list.

Pierce has been at it a long time. The company started in 1913 as Pierce Auto Body Works, built its first fire truck in 1939, and was bought by Oshkosh Corporation in 1996. That scale and backing are part of why a used Pierce is a safe buy: the parts, the service network, and the engineering are all still very much in business.

What sets Pierce apart is customization built on its own chassis. The names to know:

• Custom chassis — the Enforcer, Velocity, Impel, and Saber cabs Pierce designs and builds in-house. (The Quantum and Arrow XT were retired in 2023, so you’ll still see them used.)
• PUC (Pierce Ultimate Configuration) — a pump layout that shrinks the pump house and frees up compartment space and wheelbase.
• Ascendant aerials — Pierce’s heavy-duty aluminum aerial line, including a 107-foot single-rear-axle ladder, a 100-foot mid-mount tower, and platforms up to 110 feet.
• TAK-4 independent front suspension — better braking and ride, originally engineered by Oshkosh for military trucks.

For a department, the takeaway is simple: Pierce builds heavy-duty and holds its value, which is exactly why a well-kept used one is worth buying.

Can you buy a used Pierce fire truck, and what types come up?

Yes — used Pierce apparatus comes to market more than almost any other brand, most often as pumpers, with aerials and quints showing up too. Fire Truck Center sources, reconditions, and sells them, so you’re not left hunting auction listings and hoping a truck is sound.

Because Pierce built so many pumpers, that’s where most used demand lands. If you need pumping capacity, browse the used pumpers we have in stock. If you’re after reach, our used aerial and quint inventory is where the Pierce Ascendants and other ladders land. You can also see every truck we have for sale in one place.

A used Pierce doesn’t have to be old to be a smart buy. Plenty of pumpers and aerials come out of departments as reserve or second-line trucks — low hours, well maintained, and visually close to new.

What should you know before buying a used Pierce?

Before buying a used Pierce, know that most units are custom-chassis pumpers, that the build quality is why they last, and that parts and resale value hold up because Pierce is the biggest builder and still owned by Oshkosh. The work on your end is matching the configuration to your department.

A used Pierce tends to share a few strengths worth knowing:

• The reliability is in the build. Pierce designs its own cabs, chassis, and aerials, with features like TAK-4 independent front suspension for better braking and ride. A maintained Pierce has plenty of service life left in it.
• Parts and service stay available. As the largest fire apparatus manufacturer in the country, Pierce keeps a deep parts and service network. Watch one thing: chassis like the Quantum and Arrow XT were discontinued in 2023, so ask about parts lead times on those older models before you commit.
• They hold their value. Pierce is one of the major apparatus brands that holds value well for parts and reliability — often the strongest resale of the group — so a used Pierce is rarely a bargain-bin truck, but it’s still a fraction of new.

On configuration, match the truck to your department:

• Pumper, aerial, or quint. Pierce builds all three. A PUC pumper packs a lot of compartment space into a shorter wheelbase; an Ascendant quint carries a pump, tank, and aerial in one truck.
• Custom versus commercial chassis. A custom Pierce cab (Enforcer, Velocity) is purpose-built for fire service and carries more electronics; a commercial-chassis Pierce is simpler and cheaper to maintain.
• Reach. Pierce aerials run from 75-foot ladders up to 107-foot Ascendants and 100-foot towers — pick based on the buildings you cover.

Get the truck type, chassis, and reach right, and a used Pierce will fit your run card for years.

What should you check when buying a used Pierce?

On a used Pierce, check the frame and structure first, then the pump, the aerial certification if it’s a quint, and the Command Zone multiplex electrical system — a custom Pierce carries more electronics than a commercial rig, so the wiring matters as much as the mechanicals. The frame and the pump are what cost the most to get wrong.

Here’s how our founder frames the priority, from years of buying and reconditioning these trucks:

“Structural integrity — making sure the frame is in solid condition with no problems. Checking the motor for leaks and performance, the transmission, and all the other electrical components.”

That last part matters more on a Pierce than on most trucks. Work through it in this order:

1. Frame and structure. The chassis checked for cracks, corrosion, and repair history. This is the make-or-break check on any used apparatus.
2. Pump. An NFPA pump test — no leaks, holds vacuum, flows its rated GPM (Pierce pumpers commonly run 1,250 to 2,000 GPM).
3. Aerial certification. If it’s an Ascendant or other quint, a current third-party aerial test to NFPA standards confirms the ladder is safe to operate.
4. Command Zone electrical. Pierce’s multiplex electrical system runs much of the truck through networked modules, so confirm the electronics, warning lights, and diagnostics all function and that any fault codes are explained.
5. Drivetrain and miles. Engine, transmission, brakes, and suspension, with our guideline of roughly 100,000 miles and 10,000 hours as an upper bound.

Every used Pierce we sell goes through our 150-point inspection and gets its pump test and aerial certification from a third party before it leaves the lot, so you get documented proof on each of these points rather than a promise.

How much does a used Pierce fire truck cost?

A used Pierce costs a fraction of a new one, with price driven mostly by apparatus type, age, and chassis. Used pumpers and aerials span a wide range — older units can land near $45,000, while newer custom rigs run into the mid-six figures. For a full breakdown by truck type, see what used fire trucks actually cost.

These are Fire Truck Center’s general used ranges by apparatus type, not Pierce-specific quotes — every truck is priced individually.

The comparison that matters is used versus new. A new custom Pierce pumper now runs well into six figures, and a new aerial past a million, with build queues stretching two to four years. A reconditioned Pierce can be in service in a matter of weeks. You’re saving hundreds of thousands of dollars and years of waiting, on the brand you already wanted.

Financing is available through lenders that specialize in emergency vehicles, so the up-front number doesn’t have to be the whole story for a department on a tight budget.

Why buy your used Pierce from Fire Truck Center?

Because every truck is reconditioned and put through a 150-point inspection with third-party NFPA pump and aerial certification, then backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and nationwide delivery. That combination is rare in used apparatus, and it’s built to answer the one fear every buyer has: getting a lemon.

The 30-day satisfaction guarantee is the part almost nobody else offers. If the truck isn’t right, you return it within 30 days for a full refund, for any reason. Fire Truck Center pays the return freight, and the truck comes back in the same condition it went out. Thirty days is enough to confirm a used fire truck is mechanically sound.

Delivery is handled the same way — carefully. Aerials and larger units are usually driven to your department rather than hauled, which protects the truck and often saves money. Most buyers come out to our Levittown, PA facility to inspect the truck in person first, then we deliver.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pierce owned by Oshkosh, and where are Pierce fire trucks built?

Pierce Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation and builds its fire trucks in Appleton, Wisconsin, with a second facility in Bradenton, Florida. Oshkosh acquired Pierce in 1996, and Pierce has been building apparatus since 1913. That backing is part of why parts and service support stay strong for older Pierce trucks.

What’s the difference between the Pierce Enforcer and Velocity?

The Pierce Enforcer and Velocity are both custom fire-service chassis, with the Velocity sitting at the higher end for cab room, visibility, and heavy-duty use. Both are purpose-built for fire apparatus rather than adapted from a commercial truck, and both can be ordered as pumpers, aerials, or quints. For most departments the choice comes down to budget, cab size, and how the truck will be used.

How many miles or hours are too many on a used Pierce?

As a general guideline, we look for used trucks under about 100,000 miles and 10,000 engine hours. Many reserve and second-line Pierce pumpers come in well under that, because they saw light duty in their first life. Documented maintenance and a clean inspection matter more than the raw numbers.

Can you still get parts for a discontinued Pierce like the Quantum or Arrow XT?

Yes, parts for discontinued Pierce chassis like the Quantum and Arrow XT are generally still available, since Pierce and its dealer network support older apparatus. Pierce retired both models in 2023, so it’s worth confirming lead times on chassis-specific parts before you buy one. Common mechanical and pump parts are rarely an issue.

Does a used Pierce come NFPA-certified and delivered nationwide?

A used Pierce from Fire Truck Center comes with a current third-party pump test and, on a quint, an aerial certification to NFPA standards, and we deliver nationwide. Both tests are performed by an independent testing company, so you have documented proof the pump and aerial are safe to put in service. Aerials and larger units are usually driven to your department.