Description The flashing lights in your rear-view mirror just might be an American LaFrance product. The company manufactures emergency vehicle equipment for fire, medical, and rescue services. Signals of public safety, its custom and commercial red offerings include fire trucks, tankers, ambulances, tractor drawn aerial ladders, fire pumps, and fire rescue boats. A former subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler's Freightliner, American LaFrance has roots that date back to 1832 and has operated under the management of private equity group Patriarch Partners since 2005.