Wisconsin City Files Lawsuit Over Alleged Fire Truck Price-Fixing
La Crosse Leads Class Action
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The city of La Crosse has filed a federal class action lawsuit against several major fire truck manufacturers, accusing them of conspiring to fix prices and restrict supply. The suit was filed last Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Defendants named in the complaint include REV Group, Inc., Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., Rosenbauer America LLC, and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA).
Allegations of Collusion
According to the lawsuit, the manufacturers shared sensitive, non-public economic data through FAMA, which then distributed the information to its members. The complaint argues this data exchange allowed companies to coordinate price increases and limit production.
Hagens Berman, the law firm representing La Crosse, said fire truck prices have more than doubled over the last decade, rising beyond the pace of inflation. At the same time, wait times for new fire trucks have grown from 18 months to more than four years.
The firm said these conditions have forced municipalities to keep using older fire trucks well past their recommended service life, putting communities at risk.
Market Power and Secrecy
The complaint argues that the fire truck market is especially vulnerable to anticompetitive behavior because only a few manufacturers dominate the industry. It also states that FAMA reports, which contain economic data from manufacturers, are not available to buyers such as cities and fire departments.
La Crosse alleges that this imbalance has left municipalities paying inflated prices while competing suppliers coordinate in secret. The city is seeking damages and has requested a jury trial.
Industry Response
In a statement to Action 2 News, Oshkosh Corporation rejected the claims.
“The allegations in this lawsuit are without merit, and Oshkosh remains committed to delivering safe, high-quality fire trucks while continuing to reinvest in our U.S. operations to meet record demand,” the company said.
Other local communities told Action 2 News they were not aware of the lawsuit or had not been contacted about it.
The International Fire Chiefs Association, which represents fire service leaders nationwide, has also weighed in. According to recent meeting minutes, the group is examining order delays but attributes the problem to the growing complexity and customization of fire trucks, not price-fixing.
Broader Implications
Hagens Berman has invited other fire departments and municipalities that believe they were affected to contact the firm. The outcome of the case could influence how fire trucks are priced and supplied across the country, as many municipalities face similar backlogs and rising costs.