Kansas City, Kansas Files Antitrust Class Action Against Fire Apparatus Manufacturers
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas has become the latest municipality to file a federal class action lawsuit against several major fire apparatus manufacturers, alleging a nationwide conspiracy to suppress competition, restrict production, and drive up prices and delivery times for fire apparatus. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas and names REV Group, Inc.; Oshkosh Corporation and its subsidiary Pierce Manufacturing, Inc.; and Rosenbauer America, LLC and related entities as defendants.
The lawsuit follows similar antitrust actions filed by other municipalities, including La Crosse, WI; Chelsea, MA; Augusta ME; Onalaska, WI; Philadelphia, PA; Roseland NJ; Liberty, MO; and Ann Arbor, MI, which allege coordinated conduct among the same manufacturers that resulted in inflated prices and extended apparatus delivery backlogs.
According to the complaint, the defendants consolidated the fire apparatus manufacturing industry through acquisitions and coordinated conduct that substantially reduced competition. The lawsuit alleges that the three manufacturers now control between 70 and 80 percent of the United States fire apparatus market.
The complaint alleges that REV Group expanded its market dominance through a series of acquisitions, including Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corporation (KME), Ferrara Fire Apparatus, and Spartan Emergency Response. The lawsuit contends that each acquisition eliminated a competing manufacturer and increased REV Group’s control over the industry.
The complaint also alleges that Oshkosh, through Pierce Manufacturing, expanded its market reach by acquiring interests in other manufacturers, including Boise Mobile Equipment and Canadian manufacturer Maxi-Métal. The lawsuit alleges these acquisitions reduced competition and eliminated potential new entrants into the U.S. market.
The complaint alleges that REV Group’s acquisition of Spartan gave it substantial control over the specialty cab chassis market, which the complaint describes as a critical component used in fire apparatus manufacturing. According to the lawsuit, independent apparatus manufacturers rely on specialty cab chassis to produce custom apparatus and have limited alternatives for obtaining them.
The complaint alleges that the defendants coordinated production levels and pricing strategies, including maintaining extended production backlogs. The lawsuit claims delivery timelines increased from approximately one year to more than four years, which allegedly allowed manufacturers to increase prices.
The complaint further alleges that the defendants implemented “floating price” contract provisions allowing manufacturers to increase prices between the time of order and delivery.
The lawsuit also alleges that the manufacturers exchanged proprietary business information through the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA). According to the complaint, FAMA collects sales and order data from manufacturers and redistributes that information among member companies but not to purchasers such as municipalities.
Similar allegations have been raised in other lawsuits and public proceedings involving the fire apparatus industry, including claims that manufacturers used coordinated production and information sharing to increase prices and maintain backlogs.
The complaint alleges that these practices caused municipalities to pay artificially inflated prices and contributed to delays in obtaining apparatus and replacement parts. The lawsuit alleges that departments have been forced to continue operating aging apparatus that are more prone to breakdowns.
The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department operates approximately 80 vehicles from 18 fire stations and responded to roughly 37,000 incidents in 2025, according to the complaint.
The complaint alleges that the Unified Government purchased a Pierce pumper in January 2022 for a base price of $530,667 and a final price of $702,694. The apparatus was delivered approximately 25 months later. The complaint further alleges that another Pierce pumper purchased in February 2023 increased from a base price of $671,796 to $857,500 before delivery approximately 29 months later.
The lawsuit also alleges that, during the summer of 2023, five of the department’s fifteen pumper trucks were out of service awaiting repairs and replacement parts.
The complaint asserts claims under federal antitrust laws, including alleged violations of Section 7 of the Clayton Act relating to anticompetitive acquisitions and Section 1 of the Sherman Act alleging conspiracy in restraint of trade. The lawsuit also asserts claims under various state antitrust and consumer protection statutes and includes an unjust enrichment claim.
Kansas City seeks damages and injunctive relief on behalf of itself and a proposed class of municipalities and other purchasers of fire apparatus.
Here are links to our earlier coverage:
La Crosse Sues Fire Truck Manufacturers Alleging Antitrust Conspiracy to Raise Prices
Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Testify Before Congress About Price Increases and Delivery Backlogs
City of Ann Arbor Files Antitrust Class Action Against Fire Truck Manufacturers
Here is an in depth local news story featuring KCK Fire Chief Dennis Rubin on the lawsuit, and below that is a copy of the complaint:
