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Color illustration showing various Medical vehicles in the center Paris. Photograph taken after the city’s liberation in August 1944.

A business relationship with American Logistics means that healthcare organizations can focus on what they do best – providing healthcare services – without the hassle of having to manage transportation benefits. Unlike the traditional brokerage model, American Logistics dispatches trips directly to the driver.

A Commercial Driver License (CDL) authorizes an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used to transport passengers or property. Individuals applying for a Commercial Driver License should recognize that this is a professional license with more testing requirements than other licenses. The American Medical Association, founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of physicians—both MDs and DOs—and medical students in the United States. The AMA's mission is 'to promote the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.' American Medical Assn organization profile. Contributions in the 2020 cycle: $1,464,923. Lobbying in 2019: $19,575,000. Outside Spending in the 2020 cycle: $344,800. Sign in to save Driver (Wheelchair Non-Medical) in Fife, WA - WA223577079 at American Medical Response.

Background Information:

Purpose: to transport sick and wounded personnel. Ambulances are wheeled vehicles designed and employed for conveyance of sick and wounded. Ambulances were already used overseas by the Medical Department during WW1. These ‘special’ vehicles were categorized in the following versions:

Exterior view of 3/4-Ton, 4 x 2, Metropolitan Ambulance (built by Packard Motor Car Co.)

Metropolitan Ambulance:
Vehicles, designed for and equipped with a large, single, basket-type, wheeled litter, used at General Hospitals in the Zone of Interior (not overseas) and at the larger Air Corps Posts in the continental United States. Official designation: Ambulance, Metropolitan, ¾-Ton, 4 x 2. Major manufacturers: Packard Motor Car Company and Cadillac Motor Car Division (GMC). Classification: standard.

Exterior view of 1 1/2-Ton, 4 x 2, Field Ambulance (built by Chevrolet Motor Division, GMC)

Field Ambulance:
Motor vehicles, used at the majority of Army Posts and Stations, and in the field. This vehicle was a 1 ½-ton, 2-wheel drive, panel body (use of light commercial delivery truck without important structural change) vehicle with a patient capacity of 4 litters, or 8 sitting, or various combinations of both litter and sitting cases. Used as a satisfactory road Ambulance, with limited capability for cross-country employment. Official designation: Ambulance, Field, 1 ½-Ton, 4 x 2. Major manufacturer: Chevrolet Motor Division (GMC). Soon declared limited standard, and replaced by the ½-Ton Ambulance version.

Exterior view of 1/2-Ton, 4 x 4, Field Ambulance (built by Dodge Brothers Corp., Division of Chrysler Corporation)

Field & Cross-Country Ambulance:
These motor vehicles were specially designed for front-line and cross-country use, they were ½-ton, 4-wheel drive, capable of universal use, and lighter than the preceding vehicle. These more recent Field Ambulances were now allocated to field units, such as Infantry, Cavalry, and Armored Divisions. Because of their improved field performance and larger patient capacity, they even supplanted the former 1 ½-ton Field Ambulance. Official designation: Ambulance, ½-Ton, 4 x 4. Major manufacturer: Dodge Brothers Corporation (Division of Chrysler Corp.). Later declared limited standard, with the introduction of the new ¾-Ton Ambulance.

Overall view of 2-Animal Drawn Ambulance (from FM 8-35, Medical Field Manual, “Transportation of the Sick and Wounded”, February 21, 1941)

Animal-Drawn Ambulance:
These motorless vehicles, were drawn by either 4 or 2 horses, and were available for employment in situations requiring animal-drawn vehicles, not demanding considerable speed. Satisfactory for employment with either foot troops on the march, or for cross-country use matching the speed of light Horse Cavalry.

At the outbreak of World War 2, two main types of Ambulances were still in use by the United States Armed Forces; they were the Ambulance, 2-Animal Drawn and the Ambulance, ½-Ton, 4 x 4.

Ambulance, 2-Animal Drawn:
The new animal-drawn Ambulance (replacing the Model 1909 requiring 4 horses) was designed at the “Medical Department Equipment Laboratory”, Carlisle Barracks, Pa. It was a medium-weight vehicle designed to travel at the average speed of Horse Cavalry. It was moderately low to reduce its silhouette and avoid being easily overturned on rough terrain. Consisting of a metal chassis frame with automotive type front axle and transverse, semi-elliptic front and rear springs, designed for cross-country employment with low pressure pneumatic tires (7.50 x 16), front wheel brakes, wooden body reinforced with strap iron, and protected by an olive-drab canvas cover, it was operated by a driver (responsible for vehicle and animals) and an assistant driver (for loading and unloading patients, and caring for them en route). Its maximum capacity consisted of 4 litter cases or 5 sitting cases. Overall dimensions: length – 90 inches, width – 47 ½ inches, height – 57 inches. Use of the animal-drawn Ambulance was restricted to the ZI.

Remark: it should be noted that in 1940-1941, the older 4-Animal Drawn Ambulance was still in use, although considered limited standard.

Row of 1/2 Ton, 4 x 4, Field Ambulances (with 2 1/2-Ton GMC Trucks) on flat railroad car

Ambulance, ½-Ton, 4 x 4:
The motor Ambulance was based on a light commercial type of delivery truck body, utilized without structural changes. The vehicle’s delivery/cargo space held a Carlisle Ambulance Insert, equipped with two folding seats, brackets and hangers for supporting loaded litters. Designed by the ”Medical Department Equipment Experimental Laboratory”, Carlisle Barracks, Pa., the Insert converted a panel body truck into a Field Ambulance. The vehicle was built on a metal chassis, had a 4-wheel drive system, was provided with four 16-inch steel wheels (and spare wheel), low pressure, all weather, non-skid pneumatic tires (7.50 x 16), hydraulic brakes, and steel panel body. Two men, a driver (responsible for vehicle) and an Ambulance Orderly (acting as assistant driver, handling loading and unloading, preparing vehicle for mission, rendering necessary first-aid and care to patients during transport) were assigned to each Ambulance. The patient compartment held lateral brackets and centrally suspended slings for 4 litter cases, and lateral, longitudinal, folding seats for 7 sitting cases, it could also transport 2 litter and 4 sitting cases. Overall dimensions: length – 195 inches, width – 75 13/16 inches, height – 90 inches.

The new series hood and cab ½-Ton 4 x 4 vehicles were introduced as the 1941 WC Dodge Models. They included a Reconnaissance & Radio Reconnaissance Car, a Weapon Carrier, a Pick-Up, a Panel Truck, a Telephone Body Truck, as well as an Ambulance and a Carry-All. The Weapon Carrier and the Ambulance were the models produced in the largest numbers, because of the Army’s requirements. Since they were in fact the only trucks in their class in production at the start of WW2, they were to provide outstanding service in the early war years (Weapon Carriers and Ambulances were widely used by the British in N. Africa, supplied under Lend-Lease Agreements, even before the United States went to war).

Remark: it should be noted that the Carlisle Insert was soon to be eliminated, and seats, brackets, and supports were now bolted firmly to the truck body. New and additional facilities were also added, including a double ventilation system, and an interior heating system.

Exterior view of 3/4-Ton, 4 x 4, Field Ambulance, in Weymouth, Dorset, England, on its way to the docks prior to D-Day (note absence of unit markings and stars on hood and door) data courtesy Ken Lewis

Evolution:

After extensive tests, and evaluation of field use, the US Army and Dodge Brothers sat together and redesigned the ½-Ton vehicles, giving birth to the new series Model 1942 WC Dodge ¾-Ton 4 x 4, featuring a lower and wider

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