Name: The Art of the Company Chauffeur
Start: 2025-09-19T18:00:00-06:00
Location: Peaks N Pines Brewery - Fountain

Engineer, driver, technician, chauffeur, wheelman ... call it what you want, but we can all agree that the driver-operator must be someone who does more than just drive from the fire house to the call. During this interactive lecture, we will discuss some of the following questions and topics:
- What are some of the ethical and legal responsibilities of the driver-operator?
- Human performance of the driver-operator
- Front-seat communications; do you and your officer talk?
- What are some challenges we may face?
- How do we overcome these challenges?
- Do you really know your rig and how things work?
- Mechanical challenges
- Positioning vs. parking
- “Lone wolf” tactics. Can you do more then just stare at the pump panel?
- Steering wheel holder vs. driver-operator
- Training programs
This will be geared to those who are currently driver-operators within their departments or those who aspire to be. This will be taught by a current, engine company driver working for a larger metropolitan fire department within the DC capital region, who teaches driver-operator classes within the area (both career and volunteer). This class will dive into some of the mechanical aspects of the rigs and things to look for to help prevent mechanical breakdowns or out-of-service time. We will discuss things that could go wrong on the fire ground and how to overcome these problems in a very interactive environment. Another goal of this class is for the drivers in the room to shoot ideas off each other and to be able to have an open discussion. This will be a PowerPoint-style presentation with a lot of student and instructor interaction.
We will be meeting in-person at Peaks N Pines Brewery in Fountain at 6 p.m. Brian will be joining us from out-of-state to teach this great class. The presentation will start around 6:15 p.m. with network opportunities following the training discussion.
About the Instructor:
Brian Edwards is a career apparatus technician at a large, metropolitan fire department in northern Virginia. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and lieutenant of training with the Warrenton Volunteer Fire Department . Additionally, he is an adjunct fire service instructor with Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Fauquier County Fire, and Virginia Department of Fire Programs. He is also a logistics specialist and CDL driver with the Virginia Task Force 1 USAR team, and the acting lead instructor for logistics and FMCSA CDL drivers training. Brian is also a Scott SCBA supplied air repair and training technician. Brian grew up in the volunteer fire service in New Jersey in 2002 and started as a career firefighter/EMT in Loudoun County, VA in 2010. Prior to joining the career fire service, Edwards spent 8 years working as a heavy-duty truck and equipment mechanic for truck drivers.
While membership is encouraged, this 719 FOOLS event, is open to both members and non-members. For more information about this meeting, training events, or to inquire about membership, email: [email protected].