Why Vermont's Largest City Trusts Garage to Sell Surplus Vehicles

Fire Department Profile

Location: Burlington, Vermont

Number of stations: 5

Annual Call Volume: ~11,000

Services: Fire suppression, EMS, rescue operations

The Challenge

As Vermont’s largest city and an economic, cultural, and transportation hub, Burlington’s Fire Department protects a dense urban core, a busy waterfront, and vital infrastructure. The department’s crews are on the front lines daily, responding to fires, medical calls, and emergencies that demand dependable equipment.

But replacing apparatus has become increasingly difficult:

• Rising Prices: Trucks purchased for $600,000 just a few years ago now cost $800,000–$900,000.

• Extended Lead Times: Three-year build times delay getting new equipment into service.

• Minimal Surplus Revenue: Historically, surplus apparatus disposal was handled through the Department of Public Works, often yielding low returns at local auction.

As Fire Chief Michael LaChance explained:

“Basically, we’d take what we could get, which wasn’t much.”

The Garage Solution

Burlington Fire Department turned to Garage, the online marketplace that connects fire departments and municipalities to transact directly with each other - anywhere in the US.

• National Buyer Exposure: Their surplus apparatus listings were posted to a nationwide audience, generating interest almost immediately.

• Flexible Sale Process: Garage worked within Burlington’s needs, allowing for a smooth and compliant transaction.

• Full-Service Logistics: Freight pickup was smooth—Garage’s partner handled loading, securing, and transporting the unit.

Secure, On-Time Payment: Funds were delivered exactly when Garage promised, with fraud protection in case something went wrong.

The Results

The switch to Garage delivered both a better process and a far greater financial return.

• 5× Higher Sale Price compared to selling independently

• Immediate Buyer Engagement from across the country, not just regionally

• Funding for Critical Equipment: Proceeds will help replace Burlington’s command vehicle

Seamless Transaction: No uncertainty, no delays, no added administrative load for city staff

Why It Worked

• Marketplace Reach: Garage connected Burlington Fire Department with a pool of serious, qualified buyers from around the country. Their trucks traveled to buyers as far as Texas and Wisconsin.

• Hands-Off for Staff: Garage handled the entire sales and logistics process, saving time and headaches.

• Value + Speed: The department secured a higher price in less time than with traditional methods, which helped stretch their budget further.

Chief Michael LaChance’s Perspective

“Garage solved that for us… We got about five times more for our equipment selling with Garage than we did on our own. The money moved to the account when Garage said it would. In the past, things weren’t always that smooth.”

Summary

For Burlington — like towns and cities across the country — every budget dollar counts toward maintaining readiness for a wide range of emergencies. By leveraging Garage’s nationwide reach and turnkey process, the Burlington Fire Department transformed its surplus apparatus sales into a reliable, high-value funding source. The result: more resources to keep crews equipped, residents safe, and the city’s critical infrastructure protected.