Used International trucks for sale on a lot in Indianapolis. (jetcityimage/Getty Images)
February 5, 2026 1:26 PM, EST
Key Takeaways:
- Sales increased 8.8% to 23,600 units from 21,700 in the 2024 period.
- The average retail sale price decreased 1% to $57,048 from $57,615 year over year but rose 6.1% sequentially from $53,766.
- Average mileage decreased 7.1% to 394,000 from 424,000 a year ago and 4.4% from 412,000 miles in November.
Used Class 8 truck sales in December regained positive momentum compared with the prior year after a slight dip ended five consecutive months of year-over-year gains.
ACT Research reported that sales increased 8.8% to 23,600 units from 21,700 in the 2024 period. The volume also was 15.7% above the 20,400 units in November. Same-dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales returned to sequential growth as well, with the increase being directionally consistent with the seasonal gain, though a bit stronger.
“December is usually the fifth-strongest sales month of the year, running almost exactly at average,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research, in a statement. “The auction and wholesale markets were mixed in December. Auction volumes surged 33% [month-to-month] in typical quarter-end fashion. Dealers saw activity slow 15% m/m. Combined, total market same-dealer sales volumes were 16% better m/m in December.”
ACT Research also found that the average retail sale price decreased 1% to $57,048 from $57,615 year over year but rose 6.1% sequentially from $53,766. Average mileage decreased 7.1% to 394,000 from 424,000 a year ago and 4.4% from 412,000 miles the previous month.
“The auction and wholesale markets were mixed in December, says Vice President Steve Tam. (ACT Research)
“We finished 2025 with solid momentum in transportation equipment,” said Rob Slavin, senior valuation analyst at Ritchie Bros. “In Q4 alone, Ritchie Bros.’ U.S. transportation marketplaces sold approximately $281 million in equipment across more than 18,000 units, making it our strongest quarter of the year and nearly matching the record Q4 performance we saw in 2024.”
Slavin added that transportation sales slightly exceeded $1 billion, across more than 70,000 units, for the full year. He noted that the full-year results were heavily influenced by the Yellow liquidation covering a significant share of unit volume and total sales.
“Excluding that one-time event, 2025 performance shows that underlying demand and transaction activity remained relatively steady despite ongoing pressure in the freight economy,” Slavin said. “The industry is now several years into what many describe as a freight recession, with spot rates remaining stubbornly low. That has contributed to elevated repossessions entering the market, a trend we expect to continue into at least the first half of 2026.”
[January State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks Update] – December Used Truck Sale Volume Higher than Expected
Read more from the update here: https://t.co/dJvQBqwzBZ pic.twitter.com/6IC08ljtXy
— ACT Research (@actresearch) January 27, 2026
Slavin pointed out that lower diesel prices provided some relief to fleets in 2025, but that has not yet translated into stronger freight rates. He has seen encouraging signs across several equipment categories from a pricing perspective, with values for late-model sleeper tractors generally holding firm or improving through the year before softening at the end. Day cab tractors also increased in price with demand for vocational and regional applications.
“Looking ahead, reduced new truck production and lower fleet replacement activity in 2025 could support used equipment values in 2026, provided repossession volumes do not overwhelm supply,” Slavin said. “Overall, we continue to see steady buyer participation and global demand supporting liquidity across the used transportation equipment market.”
Paccar Inc. expressed optimism for the year ahead in its fourth-quarter earnings report, despite a decline in revenue and earnings from the prior year.
Susquehanna International Group said the maker of Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks set expectations for strength in used vehicle demand midterm despite near-term pressures and a hotter order environment supporting an improvement in new builds throughout 2026. But the report also pointed to mixed signals for used prices in December.
“Final used vehicle prices across classes and channels were relatively in line with preliminary expectations and supportive of the dynamic that older trucks (especially sleepers for longhaul) are seeing price pressure from a declining driver pool, with Class 6-7 likely more insulated from driver attrition,” SIG analyst Harrison Bauer wrote in the report.
