We can safely say that\u00a0“service company” is derived from \u201cservice truck,\u201d a type of fire engine that carries ground ladders and other traditional truck company equipment. But that is neither equipped with a pump nor an aerial device.<\/p>\n
Service trucks are also called \u201cservice ladders,\u201d \u201cservice ladder trucks,\u201d and \u201ccity service trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n Wait, what? “City service?” How did that name come about? We blogged on that one before, in this 2010 posting<\/a>.<\/p>\n In late 19th<\/sup>\u00a0Century, hook and ladder wagons were built in various sizes. The smallest of these were described as perfect for small communities, such as villages. Or for “village service.” The larger ones were designed for \u201ccity service.\u201d Thus they were known as \u201cvillage ladder trucks\u201d and \u201ccity service ladder trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n The descriptor of \u201ccity service\u201d continued for decades, and the longer phrase was shortened to “city service truck” and, finally, \u201cservice truck.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"2017-10-23-rfd\"](\"http:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017-10-23-rfd.jpg\")
\n<\/a>Jeff Harkey photo<\/p>\n