February preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales volumes built on January’s strength, adding 12% m/m, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.
“The market easily outperformed historical seasonality, which called for an increase of 6% m/m,” according to Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. “Gains in preliminary auction activity were muted, up 2.2% from January. Moving in the opposite direction, wholesale transactions contracted 4.9% y/y. Altogether, February preliminary sales strengthened 7.9% m/m.”
“The gain is a testament to the stalwart nature of truckers, but also somewhat counterintuitive considering all the economic and political uncertainty they are currently facing,” Tam concluded.
State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks Report Overview
ACT’s Classes 3-8 Used Truck report provides data on the average selling price, miles, and age based on a sample of industry data. In addition, the report provides the average selling price for top-selling Class 8 models for each of the major truck OEMs – Freightliner (Daimler); Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar); International (Navistar); and Volvo and Mack (Volvo). This report is utilized by those throughout the industry, including commercial vehicle dealers to gain a better understanding of the used truck market, especially as it relates to changes in near-term performance.
ACT Research Overview
ACT Research is recognized as the leading publisher of commercial vehicle truck, trailer, and bus industry data, market analysis and forecasts for the North America and China markets. ACT’s analytical services are used by all major North American truck and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers, as well as banking and investment companies. ACT Research is a contributor to the Blue Chip Economic Indicators and a member of the Wall Street Journal Economic Forecast Panel. ACT Research executives have received peer recognition, including election to the Board of Directors of the National Association for Business Economics, appointment as Consulting Economist to the National Private Truck Council, and the Lawrence R. Klein Award for Blue Chip Economic Indicators’ Most Accurate Economic Forecast over a four-year period. ACT Research senior staff members have earned accolades including Chicago Federal Reserve Automotive Outlook Symposium Best Overall Forecast, Wall Street Journal Top Economic Outlook, and USA Today Top 10 Economic Forecasters. More information can be found at www.actresearch.net.
Additional Resources
According to the latest State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks by ACT Research, the Class 8 average retail sale price was essentially flat m/m in January, at $57,371, or 0.1% higher m/m.
“On a y/y basis, prices were 2.9% lower,” said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. “Prices are expected to start transitioning to y/y growth in early 2025.”
“Same dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales held reasonably steady to start the new year. The 1.4% m/m decrease was stronger than the expected 9% seasonal contraction indicated by history. January is typically the weakest sales month of the year, running nearly 9% below average,” Tam explained.
Compared to December 2024:
- Average retail volumes declined 1%.
- Retail price was flat.
- Miles decreased 2%.
- And age decreased 1%.
Compared to January 2024:
- Average retail volumes increased 14%.
- Price declined 3%.
- Miles was flat.
- And age declined 1%.
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