Rental Equipment Giants Allegedly Colluded to Inflate Prices Nationwide

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Lawsuit Alleges Rental Equipment Giants Colluded to Inflate Prices Nationwide

A major antitrust lawsuit has been filed against the nation's largest construction equipment rental companies—including United Rentals, Sunbelt Rentals, HERC, H&E Equipment, and Sunstate Equipment—accusing them of engaging in illegal price-fixing to artificially inflate rental costs across the United States. The lawsuit claims these companies acted as a cartel, using a third-party platform called Rouse Services to coordinate pricing strategies in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act (15 U.S.C. § 1).

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What Is the Rouse Cartel?

According to the complaint, the defendants shared their most sensitive pricing and utilization data through Rouse Services and collectively used that data to set inflated rental prices—a scheme hidden behind what’s known as the Rouse Rental Insights benchmark.

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This benchmark was accessible only to cartel participants and was reportedly used to standardize pricing across the market, limiting competition and forcing customers to pay more for essential construction equipment like:

• Dozers
• Excavators
• Skid steers
• Compactors
• Cranes
• Loaders

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The suit argues that this joint price-setting operation eliminated normal competitive market forces, harming contractors, construction firms, and businesses that rely on equipment rentals to complete critical projects—including housing, infrastructure, and commercial construction.

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Who Was Harmed?

The victims of this scheme are small and mid-sized construction businesses, subcontractors, and developers—those responsible for building America’s infrastructure—who were forced to pay inflated rental rates while the cartel profited.

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As a result, projects may have been delayed, downsized, or canceled altogether due to soaring equipment rental costs.

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Legal Action & Relief Sought

The plaintiffs seek to hold Rouse and the rental companies accountable, requesting:

• Injunctive relief to halt the anticompetitive conduct
• Treble damages under federal antitrust law
• Restitution for businesses impacted by years of artificially inflated prices

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This lawsuit could affect any company or contractor that rented equipment from the named companies over the last several years.

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Learn More About Your Legal Rights

If your business rented equipment from United Rentals, Sunbelt, HERC, H&E Equipment, or Sunstate Equipment, you may be eligible to join the lawsuit or seek compensation. Our firm is actively reviewing claims related to this antitrust litigation.

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Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. has a strong track record of fighting corporate misconduct and helping businesses and individuals recover what they’re owed.

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Contact Us for a Free Case Review

If your business was affected by construction equipment rental price inflation, we want to hear from you. Call (205) 322-8880 or schedule your free consultation today. Let our team help you understand your rights—and take action against corporate price-fixing schemes.

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