CAAS GVS 4.0: Building safer, smarter and theft-proof ambulances

In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence climbs back onto his soapbox to discuss two topics that directly impact on every EMS agency in America — the CAAS Ground Vehicle Standards (GVS) 4.0 and the simple, inexpensive steps we can take to stop ambulance theft.

Joining Rob is longtime EMS leader and current CAAS GVS Administrator Mark Postma, who walks us through the origins of the standards, their national adoption and what’s new in the latest update.

From ambulance remounting, to structural safety testing, Mark explains how GVS 4.0 has evolved to keep pace with manufacturing realities, supply chain delays and operational needs. The conversation then shifts to a shared passion for protecting fleet assets.

Rob and Mark dissect the shockingly frequent problem of ambulance theft and how a $200 automatic immobilization device can prevent a $250,000 vehicle from disappearing — without relying on crews to remember to lock it.

Additional resources:

• CAAS GVS V4.0 – Ground Vehicle Standard

• Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) – The New Standard in Mobile Healthcare

• Ambulance thefts in the U.S. surge: Over 40 stolen rigs in 18 months

• 6 ways to safety-proof your EMS fleet

Memorable quotes

• "It’s no good going to City Council or to your board of directors on day 365 and saying, ‘I need a new truck for New Year day one’ — that’s not going to happen." — Rob Lawrence

• "The ground vehicle standard has become the standard that most vehicles are being built to and that state EMS officials are using." — Mark Postma

• "We spend a lot of time thinking about where things go in the box … add one more thing to your checklist: can the vehicle indeed be immobilized?" — Rob Lawrence

• "There’s just no reason why ambulances are being stolen with the current technology that’s out there." — Mark Postma

Episode timeline

00:45 – Rob introduces the topic: GVS 4.0 and ambulance theft concerns

01:34 – Mark introduction and CAAS GVS role

04:11 – How the CAAS standards were developed and adopted by 35-plus states

06:09 – Comparing CAAS GVS to NFPA ambulance standards

06:48 – The rise of remounting, especially during COVID supply shortages

10:26 – Discussion of ongoing vehicle delivery delays and need for replacement planning

15:04 – What’s new in GVS 4.0 — major changes and safety structure updates

19:38 – Ambulance theft statistics and the GVS anti-theft requirement

22:28 – Automatic immobilization and why manual systems fail

23:57 – Mark shares success story: zero thefts since installing devices

26:17 – Exceptions in standards and why state inspectors must enforce anti-theft

27:42 – Final thoughts on making anti-theft part of fleet planning

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