Monday, June 15, 2026
City Takes Action Against Alleged Monopoly Driving Up Fire Truck Costs for Taxpayers
Mayor Brett P. Smiley today announced that the City of Providence has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against several manufacturers of fire and emergency response vehicles as well as an industry trade associated that the City alleges has facilitated anti-competitive practices that have driven up costs and price-fixed, delayed the delivery of critical emergency vehicles to communities and has burdened the taxpayers.
“Providence’s taxpayers should not be forced to pay these inflated prices because of anti-competitive, price-fixing practices within the industry,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “When the tools and equipment that are used by our firefighters are put in jeopardy, public safety is put at risk. When a monopoly drives up the cost of lifesaving fire trucks, those costs are ultimately placed onto our neighbors. Every additional dollar spent on overpriced equipment is a dollar less spent on investing in crucial housing, our children, our schools and other critical City services. In the absence of federal accountability, it is incumbent for local leaders to step up and advocate for the safety, well-being and cost of living of our community.”
Providence is among departments across the country, including in Texas, Wisconsin and California, raising concerns about rising costs and delays, with costs rising at more than three times the rate of inflation, placing added pressure on local budgets and the taxpayers. The lawsuit alleges manufacturers Oshkosh and Terex snapped up multiple competitors, eliminating market competition. Between 2020 and 2024, Providence faced a 60 percent increase in the cost of trucks it purchased. Delays in purchasing safety equipment and vehicles across the country have, on average, doubled. To make matters worse, the companies are alleged to have shared sensitive pricing and supply information with each other via the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association, an industry trade group that further suppresses competition.
“Our firefighters deserve reliable apparatus, and the community we serve deserves nothing less than a fire department equipped to respond when needed,” said Chief of Providence Fire Department Derek Silva. “Delays in replacing aging fire trucks create challenges that impact both.”
The City’s lawsuit alleges violations of both federal and Rhode Island antitrust laws, and seeks damages, disgorgement of ill-gotten profits, and to unwind certain anticompetitive mergers among competitors in the industry among other relief.