Show-Me State Times

U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Andy Kim, leading members of the Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Management, have issued a letter to three prominent fire truck manufacturing companies, questioning their market practices. The letter, addressed to the CEOs of REV Group, Oshkosh Corp., and Rosenbauer America, demands explanations for increased costs and extended backlogs in fire equipment delivery as highlighted in a recent report by the New York Times.

The report suggests that these companies, which control 70-80% of the market share, have contributed to anti-competitive practices, inflating costs for fire departments and hampering response readiness. The Senators' letter outlines specific concerns about the rising costs and delays, indicating that ladder truck prices have nearly doubled to $2.3 million, and deliveries are delayed for years without transparency.

"Prioritizing financial gains over fulfilling purchase orders for emergency equipment is unacceptable," the Senators stated. They stressed that such practices compromise the preparedness of fire stations and endanger public safety.

The letter requests detailed information from the companies by April 16, 2025. This includes an itemized list of delayed deliveries, explanations for these delays, a full account of pricing changes over time, and a list of complaints received from fire departments. The communication from the Senators expresses serious concern over the disruption caused by these issues to both large and small fire stations.

The Senators argue that the market consolidation has led to strategic maneuvers that prioritize financial performance over essential service delivery, thus posing risks to both the public and firefighting personnel.