Trailing rear steering axles are increasingly common on heavy tandem axle fire trucks with a longer wheelbase. These days they are widely adopted on WLF-AB container trucks like this example for improved maneuverability, although conventional 6X4 and even 6X6 chassis are often still used. The other types include full sized ladders, towers and platforms, as well as urban heavy tankers, although tankers for rural use are of course often straight 6X6 types. Curiously enough, in the US, where there are loads of tandem axle aerials, tankers and even rescue rigs and some pumpers, the trailing steering axle does not seem to have ever been considered. I have seen heavy tankers with three straight rear axles here. They must be a tire salesman's dream come true!
Added by Rob Johnson on 01 January 2026.