**Hawley, Kim Demand Answers from Major Companies after Backlog, Soaring Prices Hamper Fire Department Readiness
U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Management, directed a letter to the CEOs of three major companies – REV Group, Oshkosh Corp., and Rosenbauer America – demanding answers for the rampant issues because of massive consolidation in the fire truck market. The Senators’ letter raises questions after fire departments nationwide, including those in Missouri, reported increased costs and long backlogs for fire equipment.
“A recent article in the New York Times outlines massive consolidation in the United States’ fire truck market. According to the report, your companies—Rev Group, Oshkosh, and Rosenbauer—command an estimated 70-80% market share. This consolidated market power appears to have resulted in anti-competitive practices that have thinned fire station fleets, increased overall costs for departments, and degraded fire response readiness,” wrote the Senators.
The Senators continued, “The Times report reveals that fire stations across the country are experiencing soaring costs and significant delays because of your companies’ practices. By one account, ladder truck prices have nearly doubled in a few short years to $2.3 million. Fire truck deliveries have been delayed for years at a time with little to no transparency provided to local fire stations. These problems have created considerable disruption for fire stations, both large and small. Firefighters in Missouri have reported … on the exorbitant prices for fire trucks in recent years, with no discernible improvements in technology.”
The Senators are demanding answers about the reportedly huge backlogs maintained by the companies.
“Prioritizing financial gains over fulfilling purchase orders for emergency equipment is unacceptable. This is particularly true when rising costs and delays in delivery can reduce readiness for fire stations and put American lives at risk,” they wrote.
The Senators are requesting the following information by April 16, 2025:
- An itemization of all delayed deliveries of fire trucks and related equipment.
- A comprehensive explanation outlining the reasons for these delayed deliveries.
- A full accounting of prices charged for fire trucks and related equipment, including the change in prices over time.
- A complete list of complaints your firms have received from fire departments seeking remediation.
Read the full letter here : www.hawley.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Hawley-Letter-to-Firetruck-Executives.pdf