City of Kansas City, Kansas sues manufacturers of fire trucks in group lawsuit for suspected collusion to fix prices

A federal class action lawsuit has been filed by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, alleging a conspiracy involving major fire truck manufacturers that have resulted in skyrocketing costs and dangerous delays for fire departments across the nation. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District of Kansas, targets REV Group, Inc., Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing, Inc., Rosenbauer America, LLC, Rosenbauer Minnesota, LLC, and Rosenbauer South Dakota, LLC.

The complaint, totaling 100 pages, accuses REV Group, Inc. of acquiring independent makers of Fire Apparatus in an effort to stifle competition, specifically pointing out the acquisition of Spartan as a move to reduce rival manufacturers’ access to critical components. As a result of this alleged scheme, delivery times for fire trucks have gone from seven to 12 months to over four years in some instances. The lawsuit details how the defendants utilized “floating price” clauses to inflate costs after orders were placed, leaving some fire departments facing surcharges nearing $150,000.

The repercussions of this conspiracy are evident in fire departments across the country, where aging fleets have been pushed well past their recommended retirement age due to the unavailability of repair parts. The Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department, for example, had five out of its 15 pumper trucks out of service in the summer of 2023, awaiting significant repairs that were delayed due to parts shortages. Similarly, during the January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles, numerous fire trucks remained unused due to their age and the lack of necessary repair parts. Fire Chief Dennis Rubin of Kansas City, Kansas, highlighted the dire impact of this crisis on firefighter safety and community security in his testimony before Congress in September 2025.

The class action lawsuit seeks damages under federal antitrust laws and consumer protection statutes across several states. The Unified Government estimates that fire truck purchasers have spent an excess of $19.8 billion due to inflation since 2018, necessitating the need for injunctive relief to restore competition in the fire apparatus market and prevent further anticompetitive behavior.

To date, the manufacturers named in the lawsuit have not responded in court, and KCTV5 Investigates has reached out to all parties for their inputs on the case. The legal action aims to hold the defendants accountable for their alleged price-fixing scheme that has jeopardized the safety and efficiency of fire departments nationwide. The full details of the lawsuit can be accessed for further information.