Oshkosh Truck's Pierce Subsidiary First to Introduce Side Roll Protection System for Fire Trucks.

Business Editors

OSHKOSH, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 4, 2003

Oshkosh is Only Manufacturer of Class 8 Trucks to Install

This Unique Occupant Protection

Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE:OSK) announced today that its fire truck subsidiary, Pierce Manufacturing Inc., has introduced the first Side Roll Protection(TM) System for fire apparatus. In fact, this is the first time a side roll protection system has been installed in a Class 8 or above truck. The system is designed to provide significant protection in the case of a side-roll fire truck accident and is now standard on three Pierce chassis.

In extensive testing conducted in conjunction with Indiana Mill and Manufacturing's Center for Advanced Product Evaluation, the Pierce Side Roll Protection(TM) System has demonstrated the potential to reduce rollover related head and neck injuries by 97% among firefighters of average size and weight.

"The Pierce Side Roll Protection System is an industry first and represents a quantum leap forward in firefighter safety. Integration of this unique occupant protection system demonstrates our on-going commitment to safety technology, and it confirms our leadership in designing and manufacturing leading-edge fire apparatus and specialty trucks. In fact, I believe we are the first and only Class 8 truck manufacturer to install a side roll protection system," said Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh's chairman, president and chief executive officer.

Using a microprocessor-controlled, solid-state sensing device, the system detects a side-roll, and then provides instantaneous passenger protection. The Side Roll Protection System automatically initiates the following sequence of passenger protection:

1. Tightens the seat belts

2. Pulls the air suspension, front seats down to their lowest

position, placing the occupant in a zone providing more

survivable space and minimizing head contact with the interior

roof

3. Locks the seats down to eliminate movement

4. Tightens the seat belt around the occupant via a buckle

pretensioner

5. Deploys an inflatable tubular airbag across the driver's and

first officer's side windows - a side-curtain airbag - that

protects and cushions the head and neck to reduce movement and

the chance of head contact with the roof.

The side-curtain airbag activates in a fraction of a second, and remains inflated for 10 seconds - enough time to protect occupants for the duration of the accident. The combination of seat suspension technology and seat belt and airbag restraints will also greatly reduce the likelihood of a firefighter being ejected from the vehicle during a side-roll. The system is standard on three of the company's chassis, and will be installed on a fourth by early 2004.

Pierce jointly engineered the system with Indiana Mills and Manufacturing Inc. (IMMI). IMMI develops, tests and manufactures occupant restraints for commercial vehicles, child and infant seats, and off-road machinery. IMMI is one of the world's first seat belt manufacturers and has over 40 years of experience in the restraint safety systems field.

Oshkosh Truck Corporation (NYSE: OSK) is a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies for the fire and emergency, defense, concrete placement and refuse hauling markets. Products are marketed under the Oshkosh(R), Pierce(R), McNeilus(R), Geesink, Norba and Medtec(R) brand names. The company is headquartered in Oshkosh, Wis., and had annual sales of $1.74 billion in fiscal 2002.

For more information about Oshkosh Truck Corporation, log onto the company web site at www.oshkoshtruck.com.

Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that Oshkosh believes are within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different. Those risks include, without limitation, matters described in Oshkosh's Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 23, 2003 and other filings with the SEC. Oshkosh disclaims any obligation to update these expectations except as described in the Form 8-K.