"Because Good Enough Isn't Good Enough"
30 Years of dedicated repair and maintenance.
Who we are
Specialty Truck Sales & Service is a family owned and operated business located in Wilder, Kentucky. With over 30 years of experience, we specialize in the repair and maintenance of fire trucks and ambulances, serving more than 80 fire departments in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. We have spent the last 30 years dedicated to fair pricing and treatment for all of our customers, and it is most important to us that the first responders, and the community they serve, goes home.
Our Mission Statement
Specialty Truck Sales & Service is dedicated to the repair and maintenance of firetrucks and ambulances so that when they are returned to our customers they are in optimal working condition to save lives.
We take pride and ownership in our work and are advocates for our customers and the safety of the first responders and the communities they serve.
Where it all started
In 1989, Jim, along with his brother and brother-in-law, purchased his father's truck repair shop. With his background as both a firefighter and a business owner, Jim had seen firsthand the mistreatment of firefighters and the unfair pricing when it came to maintaining their fleet. Motivated by this, he proposed expanding the business to specifically serve fire departments. However, his partners weren’t on board with the idea and concluded not to pursue this new direction for the company. As a result of a non-compete agreement, Jim left the company in 1991 and began selling tools for Snap-On. Quickly realizing that tool sales weren’t his passion, Jim opened Specialty Truck Repair in 1992, starting out of his home with just a service truck and a set of tools. For about five years, Jim traveled from firehouse to firehouse, building the business. As the company grew and began hiring more employees, they moved into their first shop in 1997. The business continued to expand, eventually relocating to a larger facility and renaming as Specialty Truck Sales & Service after becoming an authorized dealer for Horton Emergency Vehicles.
Meet the Team
Our team consists of highly skilled mechanics, and trained in Sutphen Fire Apparatus Service and Waterous pump systems. We also have CDL-certified drivers and specialists in warranty repair and service. Every member of our team is ASE and EVT certified, providing exceptional expertise and service.
Jim Kaelin
Jim is the founder and president of Specialty Truck Sales & Service. After graduating high school in 1973, he followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Navy. Following boot camp, he was sent to Point Hueneme, California, to attend Construction Mechanic "A" School. Upon graduation, Jim became a Navy SEABEE and was assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion TWO in Little Creek, Virginia. After two years, he volunteered for Operation Deepfreeze and was sent to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. There he worked as a mechanic for a year and earned a promotion to Construction Mechanic, Petty Officer 2nd Class. After being discharged from the Navy, Jim worked in various fields, including serving for over 20 years with the Park Hills Fire Department where he held every position except Assistant Chief. Over his career he has continued his education by attending, Waterous and Hale factory training, Horton Emergency Vehicle Intelliplex, i4G and general maintenance classes, Sutphen chassis and Sutphen aerial maintenance classes and The Ohio Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians symposium.
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President - 50 years experience
Scott is the Lead Mechanic here at Specialty Truck Sales & Service. His passion for firetrucks and ambulances began at the age of five when the company started in 1992. Scott then started attending Boone County Vocational School and completed the diesel technology program. While in high school, he competed in Skills USA where he won third place in the state his junior year, first his senior year. Scott then went and competed on the national level representing Kentucky. After high school he graduated University of Northwestern Ohio and earned an associates degree in Diesel Technology at the top of his class. Scott has also earned ASE Medium and Heavy Duty Truck Master Certification and several EVT Firetruck certifications. Over his career he has continued his education by attending Waterous and Hale factory training, Horton Emergency Vehicle Intelliplex, i4G and general maintenance classes, Sutphen chassis and Sutphen aerial maintenance classes, The Ohio Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians symposium, Spartan Motors basic and advanced factory training and Ford factory training classes. Scott has worked for the company for over 20 years now and is a key asset to our team. He works and instills "Because good enough isn't good enough" into every part of who we are as a company.​
Scott Kaelin
Lead mechanic - 20 years experience
Ron is the General Manager at Specialty Truck Sales & Services. His experience in truck repair began before he graduated high school. Over the course of his career as a firefighter, Ron was actively involved in fire department maintenance and in the Ohio Association of Emergency Vehicle Technicians. After serving 23 years in the fire service he retired as a lieutenant with the City of Lebanon Fire Department, he then joined Specialty Truck Sales & Services, where he works to lead the company into the future. Ron holds a B.A.S. in Fire Administration, along with certifications from Waterous School and EVT certifications in F1, F2, F3, E0, E1, E4, and M1.​​​​
Ron Whitaker
General Manager - 20 years experience
Roger is our Parts Manager and has been a valuable member of our team since 2001. He graduated from Campbell County Vocational School in 1983 with a welding certification and has since gained extensive experience working on various diesel systems, including suspension, steering, and heavy equipment like dozers and loaders. In addition to his technical expertise, Roger holds a Class A CDL and is a licensed Kentucky Bus Inspector.
Throughout his time with us, Roger has contributed to every operation in the shop. In his current role, he manages our parts inventory, ensures mechanics have the necessary parts, and maintains strong relationships with our vendors and most importantly, our customers. Roger is a key asset to our team and has been since 2001.
Roger Brossart
Parts - 40 years experience
Michael works in parts and has been with us since 2018. He began his career in the firetruck and ambulance industry at Horton Emergency Vehicles, where he gained valuable experience in electrical installation, inspections, and electrical harnesses.
Since joining Specialty Truck Sales & Service, Michael has supported our mechanics with various electrical issues, worked closely with vendors, and collaborated with the team to source the right parts.
Michael Truban
Parts - 10 years of experience
Rob joined us in 1997, assisting Jim with different tasks as needed. He built a career at the Taylor Mill Fire Department, starting as a cadet in 1969 and retiring as a captain in 2007. In his current role, Rob helps manage parts inventory, supports the mechanics, and has built strong relationships with our vendors.
Rob Stewart
Parts - 20 years of experience
Jason is one of our mechanics and has been with us since 2018. He has 13 years of experience in bulk transit fleet. Since joining us, Jason has traveled to numerous fire departments for diagnostics, repairs, and maintenance, in addition to his work as an in-house shop mechanic. Jason enjoys working on firetrucks and ambulances because of the diverse challenges that come with it. He is trained in Meritor brake systems and holds a Spartan certification.
Jason Reed
Mechanic - 13 years experience
Logan is one of our mechanics and has been with us since 2021. During his time here, he has worked closely with all of our mechanics, gaining hands-on experience with pumps, engines, brakes, pump testing, maintenance, and fabrication. Logan holds an EVT F1 and Spartan certification, is trained in Meritor brake systems, and has attended Waterous factory training.
Logan Reed
Mechanic - 4 years of experience
Kevin recently joined our team as a mechanic, bringing with him over 31 years of industry experience. He began his career in 1994 through a co-op program while attending Boone County Vocational School, where he completed the Diesel Mechanic Program. Throughout his career, Kevin has served in a variety of roles, including journeyman mechanic, equipment manager, and leadership positions, gaining valuable experience in the trade. He has worked with all makes and models of trucks and holds a wide range of certifications. These include DE/ME Series PM Training, Eaton component and diagnostic training, Goodyear radial and Bib alignment, D-Series PM training, Maxon liftgate diagnostics, ArvinMeritor wheel end adjustments, CAT engine and ET training, DDEC V & VI EGR and aftertreatment systems, PTL battery and electrical tester training, Volvo Impact service platform, Series 60 maintenance and systems, Haltec certification, and many others.
Kevin Ballinger
Mechanic - 31 years of experience
Will is our apprentice and is currently studying automotive technology at Campbell County Vocational School, where he is set to graduate in May 2025. During his time with us, he has gained hands-on experience in diesel work, pump transmissions, and maintenance. Will's strong dedication to repairing firetrucks and ambulances is inspired by his father, a firefighter.
Will Clift
Apprentice - 1 year of experience
If you're interested in joining our team, you can reach out to us via email at jim.specialtytruck@fuse.net, call us at 859-442-5100, or apply through Handshake, LinkedIn, or Indeed.
Services
Our team of mechanics are ASE and EVT certified, with over 100 years of combined experience. Below is a list of the wide range of services and repairs we offer.
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Horton Emergency Vehicles Service
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Sutphen Fire Apparatus Service
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Waterous Pumps parts and Service
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Hale Pumps parts and service
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Akron Elkhart, Hale and Waterous Valve Service
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Action Coupling, hose couplings, Fittings and Adapters
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On Spot Automatic Drop Chains service and installation
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Alco-Lite Fire ladders repair
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UPF Poly-tank upgrades
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Kussmaul auto-ejects, air-ejects and onboard battery conditions installation
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Class-One Parts, Service and Installation
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Smart Power Hydraulic Generator Service and Installation
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Vogel Lube System Service and Repair
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​TecNiq LED Lighting installation
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Insta-Chain Automatic Drop Chains service and installation
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Balance Master Wheel balancing system
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Fire Research Corp service and installation
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Innovative Controls service and installation
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​​24 Hour Emergency Service
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On Site Service
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Full Service Truck Repair
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Waterous Pump Factory Warranty Repair and Service
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Hale Pump Factory Trained Service
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Darley Pump Repair and Service
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Akron, Elkhart, Waterous, Hale and Darley valve repair
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Aerial Waterway repair
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Preventative Maintenance Service
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Annual pump service testing
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NFPA 1910 Annual Inspections
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DOT Annual Safety Inspections
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Air, Hydraulic and Electrical brake repair
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Heater and Air Conditioner Service
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Emergency light and siren repair and installation
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Electrical system repair
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Hydraulic system repair and service
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Complete Engine Repair and Overhaul
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Welding and Light Fabrication
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Hydraulic Generator Repair and Service
Sales
We are an Authorized Dealer for Horton Emergency Vehicles and also offer a wide range of parts and equipment for the following items:
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Horton Emergency Vehicles
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Akron Elkhart, Hale and Waterous Valves
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On Spot Automatic Drop Chains
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Kussmaul Auto-ejects, Air-ejects and Onboard battery conditioners
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Class-One parts ​
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Smart Power Hydraulic Generator
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TecNiq LED Lighting
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Insta-Chain Automatic Drop Chains
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Fire Research Corp
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Innovative Controls​​
Address
90 Jolly Industrial Park Dr.
Wilder, KY 41076
Phone
859-442-5100