Topic: Is this a US Gov Weather Radar Truck?

[Andy G]

I saw this truck going down the interstate yesterday. That appears to be a radar dome of some sort. I was looking for feedback as to what it is weather, aviation or something else. I didn't see any markings as to any Government agency but it did have US GOV plates and emergency lights front and back. Just curios looking for info as to what it is.

Thanks Andy

[cospringswx]

Looks like something to do with law enforcement. Look at the red and blue lights in the back. Radar? Maybe to track criminals?

[ValentineWeather]

Might be one of those tracking satellite antenna domes.

[CW2274]

Big Brother.

[Scalphunter]

Bet that an dome protecting an satellite up/down link for comms. See that sort of dome on various ships to protect antennas use for satellite phone systems.

John

[corwyyn]

I agree with Ryan, definitely some type of law enforcement/emergency response vehicle.  Per federal code the only vehicles allowed to have both red and blue lights (either front or rear facing) are emergency vehicles such as ambulance, fire truck, police vehicle.  And from the looks of all the compartments on the side and the other attachments on the rear I would lean more toward emergency response but that's just my guess.

[cospringswx]

You are correct about the code. Only reason I said law enforcement.

[Aardvark]

Only worry if you find it parked down the street from where you live.   

[Bushman]

Ground support for the black helicopters.

[DGregz]

These vehicles were spotted parked in Cedar City, Utah last night, November 10th 2016. One with the white dome and another Sprinter type van. The occupants all male, military type with high and tight haircuts were seated at a Pizza restaurant. Upon closer inspection of their vehicle I noticed an array of camo assault packs neatly arranged. I suspect not a weather vehicle but an ICE assault team enroute somewhere.

[sundevil01010101]

Just a bit of internet searching I found the G71 at left in the diagonal form is

G - INTERAGENCY MOTOR POOL SYSTEM
71 - Medium Truck

Codes found @ http://pl8s.com/govt.htm

I can't find anything that says the "N" suffix is meaningful, if it was a prefix it would indicate a Dept of Navy and you could make some assumptions then like NIS team but that is a different style government plate entirely, no diaganol prefix, just a simple 1 letter ("N") and 6 digits as you can see on page 12/37 of this http://www.acq.osd.mil/pepolicy/pdfs/FdFlt2012Plates.pdf.  On that page the lower left shows an Army plate example,  Navy is the same only of course "N" as prefix.

It's obviously law enforcement of some type but checking it out of the interagency motor pool is probably better for operational security as not as easily tied to a particular agency.

[Scalphunter]

Think the air force is only one who now own their vechiles. Everyone else goes thru the GA for vechiles that are not combat orient. At least that what I see here on the road with 2 airforce bases and 4 army and lot of shallow water sailors running around.

John

[Intheswamp]

Hmm, this reminds me of a truck I saw in Luverne (about 50 miles south of Montgomery, AL) a few months ago.  It was a probably a little longer and much taller than the truck Andy photographed...large enough to stand up inside.  It was painted white and needed washing, washing as in it had a lot of road-miles on it and not from sitting around under a pecan tree.  A large satellite dish sat on top with hydraulic lift arms.  There was no identification and....no tag.  I wish I could've gotten a picture.  Strange.

Ed

[bchwdlks]

There have been several trucks almost identical (except for color) to your photo in our area (western NC) this week. They are with  the fire fighting trucks that have been brought into the area to deal with forest fires. I am not sure how many different agencies are in the area, but the Southern Area Type 1 Incident Management Red Team and The  Southern Area Blue Team are providing all the status updates.

It has been a busy week - we are about 2 miles from the local airport.
Incident Resources:
23 crews, 6 helicopters, 72 engines, 14 dozers, 3 water tenders, and 1,049 total personnel