Well if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to see these guidelines you're viewing please.
I too would be interested in reading this.
However this is getting very off topic. The OP states that the game has a very German feel to it and he is correct. Limits of 3 people to a "platform truck" or a "rescue truck" are more of a german styling and not accurate to the united states way. The end all be all is departments in the united states have about as much flexibility in how they run their departments, they run them how the desire to run them. I agree with the OP that I would like to see some adjustments to make the apparatus more american.
Btw FirefighterDetroit, you are a captain in Chicago, did you transfer to Detroit?