San Diego County fire trucks that once arrived in a year now take four years to deliver and cost twice as much, leaving departments across the region waiting years for trucks they’ve already paid for. 

Today, San Diego County — following a 2025 initiative led by Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer — filed a landmark federal antitrust lawsuit alleging that a handful of companies took over the fire truck market, drove up prices, and slowed deliveries, forcing fire departments to pay more and wait longer for critical equipment. 

In simple terms, fewer companies making fire trucks means higher prices and longer waits. 

The lawsuit names REV Group, American Industrial Partners (AIP), Oshkosh Corporation/Pierce Manufacturing, and Boise Mobile Equipment. It is one of the first government enforcement actions targeting the fire truck industry in the United States. 

“Firefighters don’t have a choice — when a truck breaks down, they need a new one. For years, fire departments have been paying more and waiting longer,” said San Diego County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “San Diego County is going after a handful of greedy companies that turned fire trucks into profit cash-cows while our communities were left waiting and vulnerable to fire risk. We’re taking those companies to court to stop the greed that’s endangering lives and get our money back.” 

Click HERE to read the lawsuit.  

How It Happened 

Fire departments didn’t suddenly start paying more and waiting longer by accident. 

According to the lawsuit, a handful of companies took over the fire truck market — buying up competitors, shutting down plants, making fewer trucks, and charging more. 

Over the past decade, private equity firm American Industrial Partners acquired multiple family-owned fire truck manufacturers — including E-ONE, KME, Ferrara, and Spartan — and rolled them into REV Group. In 2022, REV Group shut down two production plants, eliminating nearly 400 jobs. 

The result: fewer trucks being made, while backlogs grew to $4.2 billion and prices rose 50–100%. 

Executives described the strategy openly, even as fire departments faced rising costs and delays: 

“We like backlog, we love backlog.” 

— REV Group CEO Tim Sullivan, investor call 

“You bring them into the fold, you got to give them the religion.” 

— Sullivan, on driving acquired companies to 10%+ profit margins 

The lawsuit alleges that other manufacturers, including Oshkosh Corporation and its subsidiary Pierce Manufacturing, followed a similar approach — acquiring competitors, raising prices, and limiting competition. 

It also alleges that Pierce required customers, including San Diego County, to buy proprietary replacement parts at significantly higher prices or risk voiding warranties. 

What It Means for San Diego 

San Diego County Fire serves 42 communities, including Julian, Jamul, Potrero, Harbison Canyon, and Descanso, across some of the highest wildfire-risk terrain in California. 

The County operates approximately 75 fire trucks. But the County’s fleet is aging, and replacement trucks are slow to arrive. According to the complaint: 

·        Trucks that once cost about $650,000 now exceed $1.3 million 

·        Delivery times have stretched from roughly one year to as long as four years 

·        Orders placed years ago remain unfulfilled 

These delays come as wildfire risk continues to grow across the region. Some of the County’s fire trucks are now operating well past their recommended service life, increasing maintenance costs and the risk of breakdowns at the worst possible moments. 

“It’s critical for our firefighters to be prepared and have the equipment needed to protect residents and quickly contain wildfires,” said CAL FIRE San Diego Unit Chief Tony Mecham. “We’ve seen the devastation wildfires can cause in our communities. Increased costs and long wait times for equipment should not impact our ability to keep people safe.” 

The complaint also alleges that manufacturers imposed retroactive price increases on already-placed orders, conduct described in the filing as “redolent of a protection racket.” 

Under federal antitrust law, any damages awarded are automatically tripled. 

San Diego County Counsel Damon Brown stated: “this lawsuit is about restoring fair competition and securing better pricing, choices, and quality for San Diego County Fire and fire departments across the state.” 

The County will seek damages and structural remedies, including divestiture, to restore competition in the marketplace. 

National Momentum 

The lawsuit comes amid growing national scrutiny of how a handful of companies have taken over the fire truck market. Lawson-Remer first called for action on the issue in 2025, elevating concerns about its impact on public safety. 

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jim Banks have opened a bipartisan investigation into private equity’s role in the fire industry. A nationwide antitrust class action on behalf of fire departments was also filed in 2025. 

San Diego’s lawsuit is one of the first brought by a government entity, adding public enforcement authority, including civil penalties and the ability to seek structural remedies, that private plaintiffs cannot pursue.  

Public safety is the County’s first obligation. San Diego’s firefighters are ready, and this lawsuit is about making sure they always have the equipment they need to do their jobs.