DANIA BEACH -- Whether he's fighting fires or souping up trucks, Ed Federkiel can always look forward to an adrenaline rush at work.
Federkiel has spent 20 years as a member of the Broward Sheriff's Office fire rescue division, 17 of them as a part of its hazardous materials unit. But when he's not fighting fires or cleaning up chemical spills, he's making thousands of dollars worth of engine and body upgrades to trucks and sport utility vehicles at his Dania Beach shop, California Custom Sport Trucks.
The business, started in 1994 while Federkiel was drag racing around the country, has been very lucrative. Sporting celebrity clients such as Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams, Marlins pitcher A.J. Burnett, and pro wrestler The Rock, Federkiel's shop earned him about $1.2 million last year and an invitation to appear on the hit Discovery Channel show Monster Garage.
But despite the money and the roughly 60 hours a week Federkiel pours into his business, he says he still loves being a firefighter.
"You do it because you have a genuine passion for it," said Federkiel, who wakes up at 3:50 a.m. every day he's not working a 24-hour shift at his station at 2200 SW 46 Ave. near Fort Lauderdale. He works twice a week at the station.
"You make time. You don't make excuses."
The upgrades he typically gives vehicles at his shop involve giving trucks extra horsepower, big tires, shiny rims and sleek paint jobs. On average, conversion work runs between $50,000 and $75,000.
For Monster Garage, Federkiel was flown to Long Beach, Calif., and pitted with four other mechanics to modify a new Cadillac Escalade into the "ultimate tailgate machine." The show, which features popular motorcycle builder Jesse James, prides itself on turning cars and trucks into vehicles that can cut lawns, navigate on water and snow, and throw out trash, among other tasks.
Federkiel and his crew, none of whom he knew, had five days to finish the job and they had a $3,000 budget for parts and accessories. Federkiel said they barely succeeded, and the show's producers are supposed to fly the crew to the upcoming Super Bowl in Houston.
Each member of Federkiel's team also gets $3,000 worth of tools.
He declined to give too many details about the truck before Discovery Channel airs his episode Nov. 10. But some of the luxuries the crew added to the truck include a grill that pops out and a plasma television.
Federkiel said tensions flared at times during the contest because of the rush to finish on time.
Federkiel and his crew will get to test how well the truck handles a tailgate party at the Super Bowl. Until then, he said he will focus on his own garage and fighting fires.
"I have two jobs that I'm in love with," he said. "I do it because I have a genuine passion for it."
