Hawley, Kim Demand Answers from Major Companies after Backlog, Soaring Prices Hamper Fire Department Readiness

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Thursday, April 03, 2025
Today, U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Management, directed aletterto the CEOs of three major companies – REV Group, Oshkosh Corp., and Rosenbauer America – demanding answers for the rampant issues because of massive consolidation in the fire truck market. The Senators’ letter raises questions after fire departments nationwide, including those in Missouri, reported increased costs and long backlogs for fire equipment.“A recent article in the New York Times outlines massive consolidation in the United States’ fire truck market. According to the report, your companies—Rev Group, Oshkosh, and Rosenbauer—command an estimated 70-80% market share. This consolidated market power appears to have resulted in anti-competitive practices that have thinned fire station fleets, increased overall costs for departments, and degraded fire response readiness,”wrote the Senators.The Senators continued, “The Times report reveals that fire stations across the country are experiencing soaring costs and significant delays because of your companies’ practices. By one account, ladder truck prices have nearly doubled in a few short years to $2.3 million. Fire truck deliveries have been delayed for years at a time with little to no transparency provided to local fire stations. These problems have created considerable disruption for fire stations, both large and small. Firefighters in Missouri have reported … on the exorbitant prices for fire trucks in recent years, with no discernible improvements in technology.”The Senators are demanding answers about the reportedly huge backlogs maintained by the companies.
“Prioritizing financial gains over fulfilling purchase orders for emergency equipment is unacceptable. This is particularly true when rising costs and delays in delivery can reduce readiness for fire stations and put American lives at risk,”they wrote.The Senators are requesting the following information by April 16, 2025:
Read the full letterhereor below.
April 3, 2025Mark SkoniecznyPresident and CEOREV Group, Inc245 South Executive Drive, Suite 100Brookfield, WI 53005John PfeiferPresident and CEOOshkosh Corporation1917 Four Wheel DriveOshkosh, WI 54902Rob KreikemeierChairman and CEORosenbauer America100 Third Street, PO Box 57Lyons, SD 57041Dear Executives:A recent article in the New York Times outlines massive consolidation in the United States’ fire truck market.According to the report, your companies—Rev Group, Oshkosh, and Rosenbauer—command an estimated 70-80% market share. This consolidated market power appears to have resulted in anti-competitive practices that have thinned fire station fleets, increased overall costs for departments, and degraded fire response readiness.The Times report reveals that fire stations across the country are experiencing soaring costs and significant delays because of your companies’ practices. By one account, ladder truck prices have nearly doubled in a few short years to $2.3 million. Fire truck deliveries have been delayed for years at a time with little to no transparency provided to local fire stations. These problems have created considerable disruption for fire stations, both large and small. Firefighters in Missouri have reported to Senator Hawley on the exorbitant prices for fire trucks in recent years, with no discernible improvements in technology. The fire chief of Camden, New Jersey said to Times reporters that these problems are “creating greater risk for the public and firefighters.”In the case of Rev Group and Oshkosh, these delays appear to be partly due to the multi-billion-dollar backlogs held by your companies. Concerningly, they also appear to be intentionally left unattended. For example, Rev Group holds a $4 billion backlog on purchase orders. Instead of expeditiously addressing this backlog, its Chief Executive Officer stated that the backlog provides his company a competitive advantage, citing a “rare level of demand certainty and production planning visibility” while also claiming a “seven-year high” in profit margins.Oshkosh similarly quadrupled its backlog from 2019 to 2023, reporting $4 billion in orders that have been placed but never fulfilled.Prioritizing financial gains over fulfilling purchase orders for emergency equipment is unacceptable. This is particularly true when rising costs and delays in delivery can reduce readiness for fire stations and put American lives at risk.Please provide the following information by no later than April 16, 2025:
We look forward to your response.Sincerely,Josh HawleyUnited States Senator
Andy KimUnited States Senator

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