Gilbert Joins Multicity Antitrust Lawsuit Against Fire Truck Manufacturers

The Town of Gilbert has entered an antitrust lawsuit against major fire truck manufacturers, accusing them of cornering the market, overcharging taxpayers, and severely restricting the supply of lifesaving apparatus.

The Lawsuit

Gilbert filed the suit against Rev Group, Oshkosh Corp., their affiliates and holding companies, alleging that the companies engaged in anticompetitive practices to consolidate the fire apparatus industry. The complaint was initially filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona before being transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin as part of a consolidated class action.

Gilbert is joined in the Fire Apparatus Antitrust Litigation by fellow Arizona cities Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Tucson, along with 85 other plaintiffs from across the country.

The Town is seeking money damages, reimbursement of attorney fees, and court-ordered divestitures in the fire apparatus industry to restore competition.

The Consolidation Allegations

The suit details how private equity firm American Industrial Partners, or AIP, began acquiring independent fire apparatus builders as early as 2008, eventually forming Rev Group from nearly a dozen once-independent companies. Oshkosh Corp. and its subsidiary Pierce Manufacturing are accused of continuing the consolidation wave.

According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, 70 percent of all U.S. fire equipment production is controlled by just three companies: Rev Group, Oshkosh, and Rosenbauer.

The lawsuit states that the defendants put "exclusionary restraints in the markets for replacement parts for their apparatuses," forcing fire departments to use only proprietary parts from the manufacturers.

Price Increases and Delays

Gilbert's complaint claims the defendants have "shut down plants, substantially increased prices, and severely extended delivery timelines," causing the Town to suffer "substantial overcharges and lost equipment value."

The broader context is stark. During a U.S. Senate subcommittee public hearing in September 2025, IAFF General President Edward Kelly testified that the cost of fire trucks has doubled over the past decade, with pumper trucks now costing around $1 million and ladder trucks exceeding $2 million in some areas.

Tempe Interim Fire Chief Kyle Carman told local media that his department has waited three to four years for some deliveries, and costs have risen from $500,000 to $1 million for comparable apparatus.

"I have to prolong our apparatus, keeping them longer, putting more money into them than we normally would," Carman said.

Oshkosh's backlog reached $14 billion in the first half of 2026, according to KJZZ.

How the Town Handles the Case

Gilbert has contracted with three law offices to handle the suit on a contingency fee basis. If the lawsuit is successful, the attorneys will receive 25 percent of the net recovery, with litigation costs and expenses deducted from the total.

The Gilbert City Council approved moving forward with the legal action without comment at its June 9 meeting, according to Town Attorney Chris Payne.

Background

The International Association of Fire Fighters and the American Economic Liberties Project first raised the alarm in May 2025 with a letter to the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, urging federal regulators to investigate the consolidation in fire and emergency vehicle manufacturing.

The group noted that the price increases have forced some fire departments to cancel essential training, lay off firefighters, and keep aging trucks in service far longer than planned.

During the January 2025 California wildfires, Kelly testified that over 100 of the Los Angeles Fire Department's 183 trucks were reportedly out of service, a shortfall that he said likely led to the loss of additional homes and lives.

Manufacturer Response

Rev Group disputed the claims. Company President Mike Virnig, speaking at the Senate hearing, attributed rising costs and delivery delays to inflation, supply chain issues, the departure of senior employees, and increased demand across the industry.