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Chad Moffat is president of Boise Mobile Equipment, a rapidly growing company that has been making wildland and municipal fire trucks in Boise since 1990.
Moffat, who has a background in finance, got involved with BME in 2014 when his Caldwell company, Extendobed which made a part used in fire trucks purchased BME from the Yanke family. That year, the company was building 1 trucks a year. In 2015, it made 47, and in 2017 will make about 0. Next year, BME expects to produce 147 trucks, and is booked to capacity; its now booking for 2019.
The wildland fire trucks cost from $125,000 to $175,000 and the companys most expensive trucks, the pumper trucks, go for $450,000 to $550,000. BME employs more than 0 people, all in Boise, and plans to add another 25 workers over the next six months.
Moffat spent some time telling Idaho Business Review about the business. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What are the pros and cons of being in manufacturing in the Treasure Valley?
We have some great people. We have access to a lot of the raw materials we need, and were close to NIFC, the National Interagency Fire Center. We sell a lot of trucks to the Forest Service, and to be able to get feedback from fire people in the area is a good resource.
Where are your competitors?
Theyre scattered. There are a lot of fire truck manufacturers in Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida, Philadelphia.
Are your trucks custom...