Continued Growth in the Used Truck Market
The used truck market continues to show signs of steady improvement. According to ACT Research, U.S. used Class 8 truck sales increased 3.5% year-over-year in August, marking the third consecutive month of growth. Sales reached 23,600 units, up from 22,800 in the same month last year.
While month-to-month sales were flat compared to July, seasonally adjusted results showed an 11% increase, indicating stronger-than-expected demand heading into the fall.
Price and Mileage Trends
The average retail sale price for used Class 8 trucks fell slightly by 0.8% year-over-year to $57,863, compared to $58,308 last August. Sequentially, prices dropped 7.1% from July’s $62,254 average.
Average mileage also dipped modestly — down 0.5% to 416,000 miles, suggesting a gradual improvement in available vehicle condition.
Despite the price decline, ACT Research Vice President Steve Tam said the market’s performance was better than expected, with auction and wholesale channels seeing meaningful gains.
“The 11% month-to-month gain was better than expected on a seasonally adjusted basis,” Tam said. “Even though summer isn’t over until late September, August tends to mark the end of the slower season — and this year did not disappoint.”
Auction and Wholesale Market Activity
The auction market rose 3.4% month-to-month, while the wholesale market jumped 35%, marking its biggest gain since February 2024. Together, these segments pushed overall used truck volumes up 11% month-over-month, showing stronger buyer activity across channels.
ACT also reported that same-dealer used retail truck sales increased for the first time in five months, signaling more confidence among dealers and buyers alike.
Insights from J.D. Power
A separate report from J.D. Power confirmed that prices fell across both the retail and auction channels, though retail volumes continued to trend higher compared to 2024.
Key data from J.D. Power’s benchmark analysis of 4- to 6-year-old trucks showed:
- Auction prices down 0.4% year-over-year and 4.6% month-over-month.
- Retail sleeper tractor prices declined for the second straight month, though volumes held steady.
- The average sleeper tractor sold in August was 56 months old with 431,028 miles — slightly newer and higher mileage than July’s mix.
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