No, it is providing a signal to the receiver and the height on the vehicle (antenna placement) can affect reception.
Usually, additional windings in the base of an antenna incrementally increase the length to supply a stronger signal.
(5/8 wave and 1/2 wave length antenna are the most popular for VHF Highband to increase ERP -effective radiated power.)
However, low band radios originally used a unity whip antenna (like Broderick Crawford's car as seen in Highway Patrol.) Tennessee Highway Patrol still uses many of these, mounted on the left rear fender. These antenna are over 100 inches in length, so antenna manufacturers like Antenna Specialists made a base load unity antenna that was shorter (around 47 inches).
Look in antenna catalogs (or on-line, likeTessco) to see if 5/8 wave low band antenna may be available (usually that would increase "transmit power" , but because it is longer, reception also increases. While it is costly for its benefit a powered signal amplifier or "booster" can be acquired to pull in communications, but this also induces more signal "squelch noise" or static in the received signal.
Another trick accomplished in Tennessee is that some low-band remote transmitters have a control frequency in high band or UHF, and you can monitor that frequency in certain areas to hear dispatch activities.
And, in some areas where newer frequencies were added, the dispatch consoles are set to "Simulcast" and transmit the frequency on several emergency service frequencies.
Good luck in finding a solution.