Pierce Manufacturing

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has opened an investigation into whether major fire truck manufacturers engaged in anticompetitive practices amid a nationwide firefighting equipment crisis. Arizona fire departments have reported soaring costs and years-long wait times for new ladder trucks and pumper engines, leaving crews reliant on equipment past its service life. The office noted that price increases coincided with industry consolidation, as three companies—REV Group, Oshkosh (which owns Pierce Manufacturing), and Rosenbauer America—now control most of the market, alongside unexplained manufacturing slowdowns despite high demand.

The average price of a pumper truck has more than doubled since 2015, from under $500,000 to over $1 million, while ladder trucks now exceed $2 million. Phoenix reports three- to four-year wait times for new trucks. Texas launched a similar probe in February, and several cities have filed a class action lawsuit alleging price fixing and supply suppression. The International Association of Fire Fighters has pushed for federal action; manufacturers have denied wrongdoing.