{"id":278218,"date":"2026-09-03T15:56:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/278218\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:56:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:56:51","slug":"allentown-pa-joins-cities-suing-over-fire-truck-monopoly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/278218\/","title":{"rendered":"Allentown, PA, Joins Cities Suing over Fire Truck Monopoly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Allentown has joined a growing list of cities\u00a0suing<\/a>\u00a0a private equity firm, its subsidiaries and a select few fire truck manufacturers for creating a monopoly on custom fire trucks and chassis.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0filed Wednesday in federal court accuses\u00a0American Industrial Partners<\/a>\u00a0of buying up struggling fire truck makers and eliminating competitors to create a monopoly.<\/p>\n

\u201cAIP disagrees with the allegations in the complaint and intends to defend itself vigorously,\u201d said a spokesperson for the private equity firm based in\u00a0New York City.<\/p>\n

The suit accuses truck makers of price gouging, consolidating operations, closing plants and creating a backlog for the manufacture of the custom fire apparatus.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur fire departments do not deserve this,\u201d the suit says. \u201cThe taxpayers those firefighters swear an oath to protect do not deserve this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Los Angeles\u00a0sued\u00a0American Industrial Partners\u00a0in February, according to a\u00a0news release<\/a>. So did\u00a0Milwaukee, a\u00a0published report<\/a>\u00a0says.\u00a0San Diego<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Portland, Oregon<\/a>, sued earlier this month, according to published reports.<\/p>\n

The International Association of Fire Fighters\u00a0and the\u00a0American Economic Liberties Project\u00a0issued a\u00a0joint statement<\/a>\u00a0last year calling for a federal investigation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot allow\u00a0Wall Street\u00a0interests to put profits over public safety,\u201d said IAFF President\u00a0Edward Kelly<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a0statement<\/a>. Three companies, including one controlled by\u00a0American Industrial Partners, control two-thirds of the market, according to the\u00a0statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis consolidation is textbook monopolization \u2014 leading to price gouging, plant closures, and years-long delivery backlogs that put communities in danger,\u201d\u00a0American Economic Liberties Project\u00a0Executive Director\u00a0Nidhi Hegde\u00a0said in the statement.<\/p>\n

Allentown\u2019s lawsuit says it purchased a custom aerial fire truck for $1.46 million in 2021. By 2023, the same truck cost $2 million, the suit says. The cost of a pumper went from $780,000 to more than $900,000 in four years, the suit says.<\/p>\n

It took 400 days for the city to get the aerial it bought in 2021. The pumper purchased in 2024 had an estimated 1,100-day waiting period.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn just over three years, the delivery window nearly tripled,\u201d the suit says.<\/p>\n

The lawsuit asks a judge to break up the monopoly and award unspecified damages to the\u00a0City of Allentown.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Allentown\u00a0lawsuit<\/a>\u00a0was filed by\u00a0Philadelphia\u00a0attorney\u00a0Jerry R. DeSiderato. He will be joined in the lawsuit by\u00a0Los Angeles\u00a0attorney\u00a0Catherine S. Simonsen\u00a0and\u00a0San Diego\u00a0attorney\u00a0John P. Fiske.<\/p>\n

\u00a92026 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit\u00a0lehighvalleylive.com<\/a>. Distributed by\u00a0Tribune Content Agency, LLC.<\/a><\/p>\n

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