Our first meeting with Spencer was at FDIC in 2018. We were looking for a builder for our front-line pumper. After meeting with them, it was quickly apparent there was something different about the company compared to all the other sales pitches.

Spencer was the only company at FDIC (other than Pierce) that was eager to build a midship pumper with identical controls on both sides of the apparatus.

Follow up was quick and the relationship evolved differently than any previous build. The family business actually felt like a family business with customer care that was genuine. Specing the pumper was smooth—the Spencer team offering tweaks that suited our needs better.

During the build, Grant Spencer called me personally regarding a potential improvement to the pump panel that would give us everything we wanted. The kicker was that we would be the first to have the technology installed. IDEX Corporation had purchased the Phantom computer pump interface that was not in production but installed on an old St. Louis ladder. There was a YouTube video available for reference.

There was only a two week window to take advantage of the offer. We decided to take a leap of faith and go with it.

Spencer became the first apparatus manufacturer in the world to build a front-line pumper with the SAM System. The pump was featured at the 2019 FDIC Show.

The final build was completed, and we took delivery in July of 2019. The craftsmanship was outstanding and after the sale follow ups were often and appreciated. Like I said, this is a family business that makes you feel like family.

Being the first recipient of the SAM System, there was no instruction manual. The sales rep for IDEX/SAM lived in Wisconsin and was a week from coming to the department. His recommendation was to simply play with it. We had a training meeting and were able to figure it out in minutes. The apparatus went into service that night.

The pumper is now six years old and still (our thoughts) is the best pumper in the world.

In 2022, we began the build of a 3,500 gallon tanker. Spencer was the only consideration. There was an issue with the chassis manufacturer and Grant helped us out with the decision to change brands during the process. We took delivery in June of 2024. We now have two Spencer front-line trucks. Quality is our reason for the return business. Having it a Michigan-made product is the icing on the cake for us. The Spencer family puts their name on the product and the pride shows.

In 2028, we will begin specifications to replace our pumper/rescue. This will complete our front-line fleet—making our department a Spencer department. Our firefighters are proud of our aparatus and feel it may be the best in the world. We feel we can back that up based on continued performance that is consistent. I highly recommend the Spencer brand—in my mind, they are hands down the best!

Kurt Nass, Fire Chief
Hadley Township Fire Department

Lindsey Volunteer Fire Department would highly recommend Spencer Manufacturing for any of your apparatus needs. Their apparatus is a showcase of their outstanding craftsmanship. From the initial design phase to the final delivery of our apparatus, the attention to detail and build quality was exceptional. The Spencer team consistently went the extra mile to ensure our specific needs were met, demonstrating a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction. It’s clear that Spencer takes great pride in their work, and we are proud to have partnered with a company that stands behind their product and supports their customers every step of the way.

Jason Conklin, EFO
Deputy Chief
Lindsey Volunteer Fire Dept., Ohio

Spencer Manufacturing, thank you for all the hard work on our new Ladder truck. I know the guys couldn’t be more pleased with the nice neat job you did building this rig. It was great doing business with you guys.

- Corey Mitchell, Wellsburg VFD, Wellsburg, WV

I am very impressed with the service side of your business... I will be calling you guys for any future work or repairs that arise on any of our trucks. Ken is a great person to work with and deal with. This guy knows what he is doing! I have dealt with a lot of other companies for fire truck service work and you can tell if someone knows what they are doing or not I would call Ken before anyone else I’ve ever dealt with.

- Mike Olthof, Fire Chief, City of Ferrysburg Fire Dept., Ferrysburg, MI

They help you step-by-step to dream your truck into reality with the excitement that would make you believe that it was their first truck; and the foresight and quality results that assure you it's not!

- Justin Runyon, Buckley Fire Dept., Buckley, MI

We didn’t get a chance to thank everyone in the shop, but on behalf of the Tittabawassee Fire Dept., we would like to thank everyone on a job well done on our new tender. You made us feel like family, and built our truck like it was your own. We have had zero maintenance issues with it since we took delivery. The guys love the truck and take it out every chance they can. Spencer Manufacturing did a job well done. Thanks for supplying us with a fantastic truck!

-Chief Philip Shaver, Tittabawassee Fire Dept., Freeland, MI

Spencer Manufacturing is an Awesome company to do business with! From the first visit they make us feel like family and made it very clear that they wanted to build us the best possible apparatus for our needs. They absolutely succeeded and made the whole process a pleasure!!

-Chief Ryan Kennedy, Lake Dale Fire Dept., Lake Dalecarlia, IN