Maryland Emergency Vans

[bear105]

Was wondering if anybody knew who/what agency uses those yellow vans found at speical events and emergencies in Maryland/DC? I've seen in the background on the local TV news a couple of times(especially during the Reagan funeral and the Baltimore HAZMAT exercise). They sorta look like an ambulance but are Yellow and have a picture of the state on the side. Any ideas?? TIA...

 

[Llwellyn]

Most likely, they are CHART (Coordinated Highways Action Response Team). http://www.chart.state.md.us for their homepage; they are in charge of traffic monitoring, traffic management, incident response, and traveler information.

Their normal vehicles are yellow 15-passenger size cargo vans with a logo of the state that says "CHART" on it.

The emergency response vehicles look like ambulances, are bright yellow, and have yellow/amber lightbars and tons of strobes like the DoT trucks.

 

[Dispatcher308]

I have to agree with llwelyn that is the only thing I can think of. I do not know of any Private Ambulances that are yellow or any other state agencies that are yellow with Maryland state symbols.

Just my 2 cents

 

[bear105]

Thanks...it sounds like these are the CHART ERU(Emergency Response Units). They indicate that have some minor HAZMAT capability and are part of Maryland's Emergency Management Plan.

If anybody catchs a photo of these trucks, please post....

Thanks!!

 

[SPERT20906]

CHART

They are CHART VANS because I volunteered in this 1 event were they put down cones + block roads. I talked with one of the drivers, they have lights but no sirens they look like the vans on the old S.W.A.T. TV show. Every May I volunteer with the county.

BOB

 

[bear105]

Grrr...An accident on the Maryland side of the Capitol Beltway was shown on the morning news. There in the way back was one of these yellow CHART vans. Does anybody know what freqs they use?? TIA...

 

[doctordave]

CHART freq

CHART is 47.4 w/ PL 94.8 on the Maryland Beltway - with heavy use daily.........unsure about the DC beltway - perhaps the same??

 

[bear105]

Hmmm...maybe they are just using the SHA freqs also then...In which the Capitol beltway falls on 47.2Mhz.

 

[ka3jjz]

Hmmm...maybe they are just using the SHA freqs also then...In which the Capitol beltway falls on 47.2Mhz.

Having done that route for almost 7 years, yes, at least in the PG county part of the route, that's the freq they used. I used to hear them quite frequently. I'm pretty sure they use the various SHA frequencies - there are a few more in other areas - and I seem to remember that *some* vans also carry CBs. Not all vans are so equipped; some of them have more than 1 antenna, suggesting that these can communicate on the trunking/public svc freqs in their areas. It wouldn't surprise me to see a few scanners mixed in there, too. Sure wish I knew for sure all the equipment they have in those trucks - heck, I'd like one of them myself :wink:

73s Mike

P.S. I just checked the database because I wasn't sure - I haven't worked in Montgomery county in a long time - it seems that the SHA 47.2 freq is good there, too. mja