Preliminary used Class 8 retail volumes (same dealer sales) decreased 10 percent month-over-month, and were 30 percent lower compared to October of 2021, 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 October 2022, which showed that average retail price ticked up 1 percent, average miles declined 1 percent, and average age increased 3 percent from September’s readings. Compared to October of 2021, the average retail price was 14 percent higher, with average miles and age both greater by 1 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

According to Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research, “Drama in the used truck market increased in October, as the average retail sales price moved counter to expectations, ticking up a scant 1 percent month over month.” He continued, “While a welcome change from the monotonous drumbeat of persistent decline, nothing fundamental that would recalibrate expectations has changed.”

Relating to new truck build, Tam concluded, “Tracking the flow of new truck assembly can be informative with regard to the supply of used truck inventory. As the OEMs have continued to make incremental progress on overcoming supply-chain constraints, marginal improvements in output have logically followed. Looking ahead, other forces will step in and offset those improvements.”