What is essential to check before tilting the cab of a fire apparatus?

Before tilting the cab of a fire apparatus, checking the vertical clearance is essential to ensure that there is enough space above the apparatus for the cab to be tilted without obstruction. This step is crucial because insufficient vertical clearance can result in damage to the apparatus or surrounding structures.

Fire apparatus are often sizeable and can require significant space for maintenance procedures like cab tilting. Ensuring that there is adequate vertical clearance allows the operator to perform necessary checks or maintenance safely without risking impacts from overhead obstacles, such as low-hanging branches, utility lines, or even ceiling heights in a garage or maintenance bay.

The other considerations, while important in different contexts, do not directly pertain to the immediate safety or operational capability regarding the cab tilting process. Equipment weight, driveway angle, and fuel levels may affect operational performance, maintenance schedules, or driving efficacy, but they are not related to the critical safety measure of ensuring sufficient vertical space for cab maintenance tasks.