A federal lawsuit filed in Chicago accuses United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, and several other construction equipment companies of engaging in a price-fixing conspiracy through the use of data services provided by Rouse Services. The complaint, filed by Illinois-based Zags Roofing as a proposed class action, alleges the defendants violated antitrust laws by sharing nonpublic inventory and pricing information. This data was used to set industry rate benchmarks, which allowed the companies to raise prices without competitive pressure. The suit, filed by law firms Berger Montague, Hausfeld, and Edelson, claims this conduct forced businesses to overpay for rented construction equipment such as cranes and excavators.
According to the lawsuit, the rental market has become more concentrated over the past two decades through numerous acquisitions. Prior to Rouse Services’ entry, rental companies determined pricing independently based on internal cost and local demand. The plaintiffs argue that the alleged conspiracy affected potentially hundreds of thousands of businesses, especially small companies that rely on short-term rentals for affordability. United Rentals, based in Stamford, Connecticut, and reporting $15 billion in revenue last year, did not respond to comment requests. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and a court order to end the alleged price coordination.
