MDL 3179 Explained: The Fire Truck Price Fixing Lawsuit Municipalities Should Know
July 1, 2026
If your municipality or fire department has purchased a fire truck since 2016, there's one case number worth knowing: MDL 3179. It's the federal litigation now consolidating claims from fire departments and towns across the country over alleged fire truck price fixing.
What's Alleged in This Case
A federal court case known as MDL 3179 has set forth potential claims related to alleged fire truck price gouging. Multiple fire truck manufacturers are named in the litigation. According to the allegations, the primary defendants include REV Group and its entities, Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce, Rosenbauer America, American Industrial Partners, and the Fire Apparatus Manufacturers Association. The allegations center on the production and sale of fire trucks over the past 10 years — from 2016 to the present.
It's important to emphasize that these are allegations only. None of the named defendants has been found liable, and the case remains pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Defendant names, the precise legal theories at issue, and other case details are subject to ongoing attorney verification as the litigation develops.
What This Means for Your Department
If your fire department or municipality purchased apparatus from any of the manufacturers named above — or any fire truck at all — since 2016, your purchases may fall within the scope of MDL 3179. A free case review is the most reliable way to determine whether your department's specific purchase history connects to the allegations described in this litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my department have to have bought from one of the named manufacturers specifically?
It's worth discussing regardless — the litigation covers a broad set of purchases in the relevant timeframe, and a review can clarify how your purchases relate to the case.
Why is this called an "MDL"?
MDL stands for Multidistrict Litigation, a federal process used to consolidate similar claims from around the country into one court for more efficient handling.
What's the next step for my department?
Contact our office for a free, no-obligation case review of your department's purchase history since 2016.
Watch attorney Peter Bowman explain the case and the named defendants: A Court Order (YouTube).
If your fire department or municipality purchased fire apparatus since 2016, contact BBB Attorneys today for a free case review under MDL 3179.
