Fire truck shortage

[KT2000]

LA County is doing something about it. Private Equity firms have bought up and consolidated manufacturers of fire trucks for this country. We now have only three. This means it is now a 5 year wait for new ones and much higher costs. Small communities rely on used trucks but those are also priced higher and harder to find. Fire trucks are paid for by taxpayers!

The PE firms advertise to investors the shortage and increased costs for the taxpayers is increasing their income.

https://counsel.lacounty.gov/la-county-brings-antitrust-suit-against-fire-truck-companies-to-recover-overcharges-and-unwind-anticompetitive-mergers/

[dalton99a]

1. Private equity should not be allowed to do this shit

In fact private equity should be banned from housing, healthcare and essential services

[LoisB]

3. I absolutely agree.

[riversedge]

2. ..The lawsuit seeks treble damages for these overcharges, restitution, civil penalties, and injunctive relief in the for

Oshkosh engages in the further anticompetitive practice of requiring customers of its subsidiary, Pierce Manufacturing, to purchase only Pierce proprietary parts despite cheaper pricing available from competitors. This practice leads to significant overcharges for replacement parts..............

“The LA County Fire Department has experienced dramatic price increases and long delays in receiving delivery of fire trucks,” said LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. “These market conditions strain our budget and are a wasteful diversion of public funds needed to support our mission of protecting lives, environment and property.”

The lawsuit seeks treble damages for these overcharges, restitution, civil penalties, and injunctive relief in the form of an order requiring unwinding of the anticompetitive mergers and acquisitions. It was filed by County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison on behalf of the County, the County Fire Department, and the People of the State of California.

“My office will not allow corporate profiteers to create an unfair marketplace and line their pockets at the expense of taxpayers and public safety,” Harrison said. “By bringing this lawsuit, we are sending a clear message that we will not tolerate practices that violate the antitrust laws, unfairly consolidate markets, and jack up prices for the tools we need to serve the public good.”..............................................

[AverageOldGuy]

4. Ambulances, also

Same thing is happening in the ambulance market.

I am retired now but was volunteer EMT with volunteer rescue squad in rural VA 2009-2025. In 2012 and 2014 we replaced our old ambulances. The new ones cost $240,000 and $260,000 respectively, 4-6 months delivery. In 2022 one of the other vol squads in our county bought new ambulance -- $360,000, 9-12 months delivery. I moved, still in contact with the squad, they priced a new ambulance -- $425,000 with 14-month delivery.

Our original sales rep was one hour away, called on us from time to time, took some of us for a factory visit -- overnight. The new rep is two states away, all contact is email, phone, ZOOM, no factory visit.