After a sluggish stretch through spring and summer, the used truck market finally showed signs of life in August. New data from ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks shows that same-dealer sales of used Class 8 trucks climbed for the first time in five months.
The rebound was stronger than analysts anticipated.
“The 11% m/m gain was better than expected on a seasonally adjusted basis,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT. “August is typically the second-best sales month of the year, running more than 8% above average. The auction market turned in a respectable performance that was counter to its expected decline. Auction volumes floated 3.4% higher m/m in August. The wholesale channel saw its largest sequential gain since February 2024 in August, adding 35% m/m. Combined, total market same dealer sales volumes climbed 11% m/m in August.”
Those increases across wholesale, retail, and auction channels hint that fleet buyers and dealers may finally be shaking off months of hesitation tied to freight demand, rates, and economic uncertainty.
Tam added that the timing aligns with historic trends, even if the broader economy feels unpredictable right now.
“Even though summer does not officially end until late September, used truck sales typically exit the summer (and spring) doldrums in August,” he said. “Clearly, August did not disappoint this year, at least from a unit volume perspective. Industry participants should interpret this as a positive sign, especially in light of all the noise in the economy and commercial vehicle market these days.”
For dealers, carriers, and independent buyers, the August bump could be a welcome shift heading into the fourth quarter, especially after months of sliding volumes and flat pricing. Whether this momentum holds will depend on freight conditions, interest rates, and inventory availability heading into fall and winter.
Source: The Trucker
