City of Milwaukee sues fire truck manufacturers over alleged inflated prices, restricted supply
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — The City of Milwaukee has filed a federal lawsuit suing fire truck manufacturers, including two in Wisconsin.
The lawsuit alleges the companies conspired to suppress supply and raise the price of fire trucks.
It's no secret the Milwaukee Fire Department has an aging fleet, and the City of Milwaukee believes they know why.
"More than 70% of our fleet is over 10 years old," said Aaron Nash, Milwaukee Fire Department fleet manager.
Milwaukee is joining a dozen other communities around the country in a similar federal lawsuit accusing fire truck manufacturers of intentionally raising prices and perpetuating delays.
At the center of this legal battle are the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association and three fire truck manufacturers: Rev Group, Inc. based in Waukesha County, Oshkosh Corporation, and Rosenbauer America, LLC.
Together, the manufacturers control between 70-80% of the U.S. fire truck market. The suit alleges the price of fire trucks has doubled in the last 10 years.
Back in December, before filing legal action, Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski spoke to CBS 58's Pavlina Osta about the financial struggles his department faces.
"We've been asking and we've been asking, and we haven't been funded to what we've been asking for. That gap just grows and grows and grows," said Chief Lipski.
Leaving the department and its equipment playing catch-up.
"They were in a very old ladder truck, and the front wheel fell off in the middle of the repo. It just fell off," Chief Lipski explained.
For months, CBS 58 has told you how local leaders have fought to replace just a few of the nearly 20-year-old trucks. According to the lawsuit, between 2014 and 2025, the city bought 23 heavy fire apparatuses, costing over $20 million.
In November, the Milwaukee Common Council overruled seven of Mayor Johnson's vetoes, including one to give more money to the Milwaukee Fire Department
After the veto, the Common Council ended up giving the fire department $10 million. Alderman Peter Burgelis says this is just the start.
"Next year, frankly, we are going to have to do the exact same amount the next year...2028, we can probably get by with a little less than $10 million," said Ald. Burgelis.
While the city looks to fill gaps in the budget, CBS 58's Pavlina Osta spoke with the ones tasked with fixing the aging fire trucks.
"Some of this stuff is 2003, 2004, so it’s, you know, it’s been around the block quite a few times, and you’re not just talking nutrition and some of the parts, you’re talking nutrition and the body, you know, just like our bodies get old and worn, so do these," said Chester Szydel, Milwaukee Fire Department mechanic.
Fifteen people make sure the fleet of 200 is up to standard. Szydel says he's seen the change in price firsthand.
"Gone up from when I started to now. They’ve probably gone up at least, at least minimum, 30%, the parts increases," said Szydel.
While prices have soared, Nash says it's also harder to get the supplies they need.
"It can be extremely difficult, rig to rig, finding parts, especially if it's an older rig. Anything that's 20 years old, sometimes there's an obsolete part," said Nash.
In January, three fire engines purchased for $1,100,000 each have still not been delivered.
The lawsuit also claims the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers' Association, or FAMA, conspired in part with the manufacturers by sharing sensitive information to coordinate higher prices and suppress production.
CBS 58's Pavlina Osta reached out to all the manufacturers listed on the lawsuit. Oshkosh Corporation called the lawsuit "meritless," as did a spokesperson from REV Group.
The City of Milwaukee is asking for more than $5 million in damages.
As of Tuesday March 3, the next hearing in federal court has not been scheduled.