Spartan Motors Acquires Fire Apparatus Manufacturer
Spartan Motors, Inc. announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Spartan Motors USA, Inc., has completed the previously announced acquisition of Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. and its subsidiaries effective Jan. 1, 2017.

Image of Smeal Fire Apparatus courtesy of Smeal
Spartan Motors, Inc. announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Spartan Motors USA, Inc., has completed the previously announced acquisition of Smeal Fire Apparatus Co. and its subsidiaries effective Jan. 1, 2017.
Smeal, manufacturer of fire apparatus in North America, was acquired for approximately $36.3 million (subject to a customary net working capital adjustment), the Company’s forgiveness of certain liabilities owed by Smeal to the Company, and a subsequent tax gross-up payment, which is expected to be more than offset by tax benefits accruing to the Company.
Smeal generated 2016 revenues of approximately $100 million, which includes approximately $30 million of Spartan chassis sold to Smeal. The newly combined Spartan Emergency Response business unit will rank as one of the top-four North American fire apparatus manufacturers in an increasingly consolidating industry. With its expanded geographic reach spanning 44 states in the U.S., 10 provinces, and three territories in Canada, the Company is even better positioned to deliver a robust and respected portfolio of leading products, services, and technologies to its broad range of customers, including original equipment manufacturers and dealers, according to Spartan.
“This transaction marks a significant event for our Company, and we are excited to add Smeal’s industry-leading product portfolio and manufacturing expertise to Spartan Motors,” said Daryl Adams, president and CEO of Spartan Motors. “The addition of Smeal complements our own Spartan Emergency Response business unit while also allowing us to provide an expanded, innovative product offering to both new and existing customers. We expect the transaction to be accretive to 2017 earnings and accelerate the turnaround of the Spartan Emergency Response business unit.”
More Operations

Automotive Fleet Opens 2026 Personal Use Survey for Commercial Fleet Managers
Less than two weeks left! Commercial and corporate fleet managers are invited to share how their organizations handle company vehicle personal-use policies, charges, and driver eligibility.
Read More →
What Resilient Fleets Do Differently When Conditions Change
Fleet resilience is about more than reacting to disruption. Lauren Fletcher talks with AP Fleet’s Alex Coveney about flexibility, planning, scaling, and what helps fleets adapt when business conditions shift.
Read More →
If We Want the Next Generation in Automotive, We Have to Give Them a Reason to Care
The automotive industry talks constantly about its workforce shortage. But before we can recruit the next generation, we may need to do a better job giving kids a reason to care about automotive in the first place.
Read More →
Ram ProMaster City Under $40K, Truck Tariffs, and AI Maintenance Lead the News
A sub-$40K commercial van, tariff questions, AI-powered maintenance, and a new EV production strategy headline this week’s Truck Chat Cheat Sheet.
Read More →Bob Adamsky Shares the Fleet Lessons You Usually Learn the Hard Way
After more than 30 years in fleet, Arrow International’s Bob Adamsky has learned that the job is about far more than vehicles. He shares the lessons he wishes every fleet manager could learn a little earlier.
Read More →
Why Fleet Leaders Have to Keep Asking Why
What if the biggest fleet improvements start with one simple question? After decades managing budgets, policies, technology, teams, and some of the largest fleet operations in the business, Jeff Hurrell shares why fleet leaders should keep asking “why” before deciding what comes next.
Read More →Drones, EV Reality, Truck Production & Smarter Fleet Operations Lead This Month
August’s biggest work truck stories go beyond the vehicle, from disaster-response drones and EV reality checks to truck production, roadside uptime, and smarter fleet operations.
Read More →
Team Fletcher Takes 2nd Overall at the Corporate Soap Box Derby
Team Fletcher came to Akron as a rookie and left with a win over Team Brown, a second-place overall finish, and $22,000 raised for The Hourglass Foundation. See how race day unfolded.
Read More →
Shades of Fleet Call for Voices: Fleet's Hidden Heroes
Fleet’s hidden heroes are often the ones keeping everything moving behind the scenes. September’s Shades of Fleet is looking for dispatchers, coordinators, parts specialists, and other support pros to share their stories.
Read More →
What is the WEX NAM Summit?
What makes the WEX NAM Summit different from other fleet industry events? It's a meeting of the minds that brings fleet and mobility leaders together to discuss emerging trends, AI, new solutions, best practices, and the future of the industry.
Read More →

