La Crosse Files Federal Lawsuit Against Major Fire Truck Makers Over Price Inflation

The City of La Crosse filed a federal class action lawsuit against three major fire truck manufacturers—REV Group, Oshkosh Corporation, and Rosenbauer America—alleging they conspired to limit supply and artificially inflate prices in the U.S. fire truck market, which they control between 70% and 80%. The lawsuit claims that prices for standard fire trucks have doubled from $500,000 in the mid-2010s to $1 million, with specialized trucks rising to over $2 million, and that wait times for new trucks have increased from 18 months to over four years. The complaint also accuses the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association (FAMA) of facilitating the alleged price-fixing and supply suppression through coordinated sharing of sensitive information and production controls. Fire departments, especially smaller and volunteer ones, face significant budget challenges and safety risks due to aging equipment and skyrocketing costs, leaving them with little choice but to pay the inflated prices. The manufacturers deny the allegations and vow to defend themselves in court. La Crosse seeks a jury trial aiming to halt these anti-competitive practices and address the financial strain on municipalities nationwide.