FOLLOW US

The City of Milwaukee has launched a proposed nationwide class action in federal court, accusing the three dominant U.S. fire truck manufacturers and their industry trade group of illegally conspiring to restrict production, create massive backlogs, and drive prices to unsustainable levels — forcing cities to pay double what they did a decade ago while compromising public safety.

In the 84-page complaint filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (Green Bay Division), Milwaukee alleges that Oshkosh Corporation, REV Group Inc., and Rosenbauer America LLC — which together control 70% to 80% of the national fire apparatus market — colluded through the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) to exchange sensitive business information, coordinate supply limits, and inflate prices far beyond competitive or inflationary levels.

The suit claims the manufacturers deliberately avoided expanding manufacturing capacity despite surging demand for modernized equipment, resulting in delivery delays that have ballooned from about one year to as long as 4.5 years in some cases. These backlogs have forced some departments to cancel or postpone firefighter training and left communities with outdated fleets less able to respond to emergencies.

A standard pumper truck that cost up to $500,000 ten years ago now runs around $1 million, while ladder trucks have jumped from roughly $900,000 to $2 million, according to the complaint. Milwaukee itself has spent $20 million on fire trucks from these defendants since 2014 — including a January 2025 order for three REV engines at $1.1 million each and two ladder trucks at $1.9 million each in June 2025 — none of which have been delivered yet. The city warns that ongoing material cost increases could force even higher payments on these pending orders.

The lawsuit traces the alleged conspiracy to post-2008 Great Recession consolidation: Private equity-backed REV Group acquired numerous smaller players, while Oshkosh and Rosenbauer also bought competitors, shrinking the once-diverse market into an oligopoly. Once dominant, the three allegedly shifted from competition to cooperation — using FAMA’s closed-door meetings and quarterly statistical reports (unavailable to buyers) to share nonpublic data on sales, production, and pricing, enabling coordinated supply suppression and price hikes.

REV’s backlog reportedly grew from about $1 billion in 2021 to $4.4 billion by October 2024, Oshkosh’s hit $4 billion by 2023, and Rosenbauer’s rose from $2.66 billion at the end of 2024 to $2.73 billion shortly after. Despite these massive order books, the manufacturers invested minimally in capacity expansion, the city argues.

Milwaukee proposes a class covering any purchaser — individuals, fire departments, municipalities, or entities — that bought fire trucks from the defendants since 2016. The complaint seeks treble damages under federal antitrust laws, injunctive relief to end the alleged practices, and additional state-law claims for unfair competition.

Representatives for Oshkosh, REV Group, Rosenbauer, FAMA, and the City of Milwaukee did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday.

This suit joins a growing wave of similar antitrust challenges from municipalities nationwide, highlighting widespread frustration over soaring costs and dangerous delays in an essential public safety sector. If certified as a class action, it could force major changes in how the fire apparatus industry operates and potentially lead to significant refunds or price reductions for affected buyers.