Preliminary used Class 8 volumes (same dealer sales) fell 6 percent month over month and 8 percent year over year in February, but are 5 percent higher on a year-to-date basis compared to this time last year, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.

Other data released in ACT’s preliminary report included month-over-month comparisons for February 2021, which showed that average prices rose 1 percent, while average miles was up 5 percent and average age was 3 percent higher compared to January. Compared to February of 2020, average price was 17 percent higher, while average miles and age rose 2 percent each.

According to Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research, “Somewhat belying history, February used truck sales volumes took a step down from January, which is typically the weakest sales month of the year. What is different this time is that the inventory of used trucks is in short supply.”

He continued, “Owing partially to strong used truck sales in the second half of 2020 and to supply chain-constrained, lower-than-expected new truck build and sales, dealers are having a hard time sating used truck buyers’ appetites.”

Tam added, “Demand continues to be stoked by a robust freight market that is yielding some of the highest spot freight rates on record. While we believe used truck prices will continue to increase, the gains do come with an expiration date, as the supply-demand balance between trucks and freight will equalize and used truck price comparisons will get increasingly tougher.”

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).