Representatives Tran, Garcia Demand Probe of Private Equity’s Impact on Rising Fire Truck Costs

Washington, DC - U.S. Representatives Derek Tran (CA-45) and Robert Garcia (CA-42) sent a letter urging Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson to investigate the effects of consolidation and private equity ownership of the fire truck manufacturing industry. The investigation is critical given reports of local fire departments experiencing challenges acquiring the specialized vehicles they need to meet public safety demands due to skyrocketing costs and limited production capacity.

Read the full text of the letter HERE.

"Fire departments across the country are facing an avoidable crisis. From California to Kansas, fire departments are reporting a dangerous trend of equipment delays, defective parts, and manufacturing plants limiting supply to justify price hikes. These problems have reduced the readiness of fire departments to respond to emergencies. We saw the devastating consequences in the Palisades and Eaton fires, where fire apparatus well past its service life delayed critical response efforts. I'm fighting to ensure our firefighters have the resources they need to keep our communities safe and save lives," said Representative Tran.

"When private equity buys up firetruck companies and cuts production to drive up their own profits, our communities pay the price, threatening our public safety and ability to respond to emergencies," said Representative Garcia. "This business model is unacceptable and it puts lives at risk. The FTC has the tools to investigate and address this crisis, and they need to act."

Consolidation among fire truck manufacturers has led to significant backlogs in truck repairs and replacements. The City of Fullerton reported that the delivery time for identical fire engines doubled between 2019 and 2023. Meanwhile, costs have increased significantly. One truck model cost 68 percent more in 2024 than it did in 2019, at a whopping $2.2 million. This means that fire departments must rely on old equipment for longer and may have more vehicles out of commission for repairs. This limits their capacity to safely and efficiently respond to emergencies, posing a serious risk to public safety.

To support local emergency response efforts, Representatives Tran and Garcia are calling for an investigation into emergency vehicle manufacturing practices and trends that limit industry competition, including:

• The impact of industry consolidation on regional public safety response times;
• National and regional industry consolidation trends;
• National and regional market shares of the largest fire truck manufacturers;
• Impact of industry consolidation on truck prices, production capacity, and delivery timelines.

Representative Tran is committed to securing federal support and resources for emergency responders across Southern California. Tran co-led H.R. 6601, the bipartisan CARE for First Responders Act, which would increase access to specialized mental health, substance abuse, and crisis counseling services for first responders. Tran co-signed a letter, led by Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), to President Trump reaffirming the need for federal resources for Los Angeles County to aid in recovery for the families, businesses, and communities impacted by historic wildfires in January 2025. Tran also joined Senator Padilla and the California Congressional Delegation in a letter to Congressional leadership in support of California's request for emergency relief funding in the aftermath of the fires.

"Fire apparatus can be one of the most expensive pieces of equipment a City has to purchase, and with the drastically escalating prices and elongated build times, it's my responsibility as the Fire Chief to ask questions. I appreciate Representative Tran championing this impactful subject, as this isn't just a Fullerton issue, but an issue that affects every fire department across the country as we all strive to maintain critical infrastructure required to protect our communities without saddling them with unnecessary cost," said Adam Loeser, Fullerton Fire Department Fire Chief.

"Fire departments across the country are facing over four-year delivery delays and dramatic cost increases for essential apparatus-conditions that directly impact our ability to provide for public safety. Industry consolidation has reduced competition, constrained production, and left agencies relying on aging equipment well beyond its service life. This is not just a procurement issue; it's a readiness issue. I strongly support Congressman Tran's call for a federal investigation to restore balance, transparency, and reliability in the fire apparatus market," Chris Nigg, Fountain Valley Fire Department Fire Chief.

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Congressman Derek Tran represents California's 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.