How to pass the driver/operator pumper written exam

Finally passed your firefighter 1 course, passed the firefighter 1 written exam as well as the practical and you feel good. Now you are getting ready to take your driver operator course. Most people will also take firefighter 2 before they begin their driver operator courses ( pumper & aerial). This is the way I went about obtaining my certifications, I obtained my driver operator certifications before I got my firefighter 2. 

So how do you pass your driver operator pumper course?

You need to make sure you review the following topics:

• History of the fire service
• History of hand pumps
• History of ladders
• History of pumpers
• Water distribution systems
• Available water flow in fire hydrants according to color code
• Pumping formulas
• CDL air brakes
• CDL tanker
• CDL General knowledge

Making sure you review these topics will set you on the right path to pass.

What Does This Certification Do

This certification allows you to safely drive a fire engine as well as safely operate the fire pump without cavitation the pump or water main. Since fire trucks and engines are large vehicles that would typically require the driver to have a CDL, at least in Wisconsin, it is not required. The reason it is not required is because driver operators working for fire departments are exempt from needing to obtain it. Although the CDL is not required, you are required to obtain a CDL learner’s permit with air brakes and tanker endorsements, in order to take any driver/operator course.

What Will You Learn

As what was already summarized, there is a lot that you will learn. The driver operator literally has one of the most important jobs aside from being the incident commander on a fire scene. The driver operator provides interior firefighters with water, and if they lose that water flow, the fire and hot gasses can literally kill them.

Further in this article I will briefly touch on some things that go into pumping operations. Some things you will take into account is exactly how much pressure in PSI (lbs per square inch) that a hoseline needs to overcome elevation corners and the friction from the inside of the hose.

Down below I will provide you with a fire pump chart that I personally use.

Driving Basics

Some things that this certification will require you to do is drive. You will need to drive over the road including highways for practice and as part of the state exam, this is why the CDL permit is required.

NPFA 1002 details the requirements for a driver operator. Some of those things include a serpentine course. It will for sure take some practice driving such a long vehicle, but it is necessary to be able to pass your exam.

One thing that some people forget about when driving an apparatus is that they use air brakes. Knowing that using mostly your brakes going downhill can and will cause them to overheat and fail can save your life, those in your crew and on the road. 

*Fun fact* For those of you who are not CDL holders or have never driven an air brake equipped vehicle, you have to keep a sharp eye on your total air in the brake system.

Once the air in the braking system falls below around 60psi, a low air alarm will start to go off. If this goes uncorrected, the braking system will automatically engage the parking brake even if you are driving on the highway.

Pumping Basics

There is so much that goes into pumping that it cannot all be covered in this post alone. There are formulas that are commonly used on the fireground to figure out.

Common Formulas

Head Pressure (HP)	H / 2.31
Gallons Per Minute (GPM)	29.7 x d2 x sqrt of nozzle pressure (NP)
Nozzle Reaction (Combination Nozzle)	1.57 x d2 x NP
Nozzle Reaction (Smooth bore Nozzle)	0.0505 x Q(quantity) x sqrt of NP
Friction Loss (FL)	C x Q2 x L
Appliance Loss (AL)	10 psi (if gpm > 350)
Pump Discharge Pressure (PDP)	NP + TPL (total pressure loss)

Pump Chart

Here’s a fire pump chart that I use regularly. (This chart is limited to 300psi, you can grab a free copy of our full pump chart as well as a 2nd pump chart including smooth bore nozzle calculations at here)

GPM	1 ½ “ per 100 ft	1 ¾ “ per 100 ft	2 ½ “ per 100 ft	GPM	(2)2 ½ “ per 100 ft	3” per 100 ft	GPM	4” per 100 ft	5” per 100 ft
60	8.6	5.9		525	13.8	18.7	500	4.8	1.7
80	15.4	9.9	0.7	550	15.1	20.5	525	2.9	1.8
100	24	15.5	2	575	16.5	22.4	550	5.8	2
110	29.3	18.9	2.4	600	18	24.4	575	6.3	2.2
120	34.6	22.3	2.9	625	19.5	26.4	600	6.8	2.4
130	40.4	26.2	3.4	650	21.1	28.6	625	7.4	2.6
140	47	30.4	3.9	675	22.8	30.8	650	8	2.8
150	54.2	35	4.5	700	24.5	33.2	675	8.7	3
160	61.4	39.7	5.1	725	26.3	35.6	700	9.3	3.2
170	69.6	44.9	5.8	750	28.1	38.1	725	10	3.5
180	77.8	50.2	6.5	775	30	40.1	750	10.7	3.7
190	86.9	56.1	7.25	800	32	43.3	775	11.4	4
200	96	62	8	825	34	46.1	800	12.2	4.2
220		75	9.7	850	36.1	48.9	825	12.9	4.5
240		89.3	11.5	875	38.3	51.8	850	13.7	4.8
250		96.9	12.5	900	40.5	54.8	875	14.6	5.1
260			13.5	1000	50	67.7	900	15.4	5.4
280			15.7	1100	60.5	81.9	925	16.3	5.7
300			18				950	17.2	6

Conclusion

Although this post covered only the written portion of the test, everything you learned from the book is something you will need to physically demonstrate. Setting up the truck and placing it into pump mode. Flowing water from the hydrant to the pump, and pump water without running out of water, or cavitating Be sure to go through your book, utilize flashcards, and relax.

If you want to a free copy of our pump charts, click here!