What term is often used interchangeably with truck companies in firefighting?

The term "ladder companies" is often used interchangeably with truck companies in firefighting due to the primary function and equipment they carry. Ladder companies are specifically equipped with aerial ladders and other tools designed for tasks such as search and rescue, ventilation, and accessing elevated areas during a fire incident. This equipment is critical for reaching high places to rescue individuals or to perform various firefighting operations from above.

In contrast, engine companies focus on supplying water and extinguishing fires, making their role and equipment distinct from that of ladder companies. While rescue and support companies have important roles within a firefighting operation, they do not specifically relate to the ladder aspect of firefighting. Thus, ladder companies and truck companies share the similarity in their primary functions, lending to the interchangeable use of the terms in practice.