Fire Truck Antitrust Investigation

Full Title:
Directing the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and report on anticompetitive practices and violations of the antitrust laws in the fire truck manufacturing industry.

Summary#

This joint resolution directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the fire truck manufacturing industry and report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within one year. The report must cover the extent of anticompetitive practices and antitrust law violations, including price fixing, price gouging, serial acquisitions, and monopolization. The FTC must describe effects on firefighters, fire departments, States, municipalities, and small businesses, including monetary and other harms. The FTC must also provide recommendations for legislation or other remedial action. If a company does not answer the FTC’s information requests on time, the FTC must report that conduct to the Judiciary Committees.

The bill text includes background findings the sponsors rely on. It says the industry has become more consolidated, with private equity and larger manufacturers buying independent firms. The bill states that three companies control 70 to 80 percent of the market. It cites reported price increases between 2013 and 2023 (for example, pumper trucks rising from about $500,000 to nearly $1,000,000 and ladder trucks from about $900,000 to nearly $2,000,000), lead times rising from 1–2 years to about 4.5 years since 2019, plant closures, and local impacts such as a 2025 wildfire response where more than half of one city's trucks were out of service. The bill also notes a class action lawsuit filed in August 2025 alleging a conspiracy to suppress supply and raise prices.

What it means for you#

  • The FTC would be required to investigate and report facts to Congress about competition in the fire truck industry within one year.
  • The report could inform future actions by Congress, state and local officials, and regulators.
  • Fire departments, firefighters, and local governments named in the bill would be the focus of the reported harms described by the sponsors.
  • The resolution itself does not order changes to procurement or prices; it only asks the FTC to investigate and recommend next steps.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on direct costs, budget changes, or new funding in the text of the resolution. The resolution sets a 1-year deadline for the FTC report but does not specify any appropriations or cost estimates.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s sponsors and its findings say there are credible allegations of antitrust violations in the fire truck industry. They say the industry has become more concentrated through serial acquisitions and private equity activity. The bill points to large price increases for pumper and ladder trucks from 2013 to 2023, longer delivery lead times since 2019, some production plant closures, and examples where equipment shortages harmed local fire response. Supporters want the FTC to investigate these claims, document harms to fire departments and communities, and recommend legislative or other remedies.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opposition or objections is included in the text of the resolution.