Used Truck Sales Close 2019 Down 15%, Despite December’s 7% Sequential Rally

Dealers are reporting used truck sales have slowed and inventory levels are building

According to the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks, published by ACT Research, used Class 8 same dealer sales volumes improved 7% month-over-month in December, but longer-term sales were down 3% year-over-year compared to December 2018, and full-year 2019 sales declined 15% compared to 2018. The report also indicated used Class 8 average price for 2019 decreased 7% versus the previous year, while average miles and age both increased, up 4% and 8%, respectively.

 “Dealers are reporting used truck sales have slowed and inventory levels are building, particularly with late-model aerodynamic sleepers,” said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. He continued, “The price depreciation is largely the result of inventories that have grown due to more trades coming to dealers, slowing freight, and the cyclical nature of truck sales. Meanwhile, vocational truck sales are strong and there is money to be made, if inventory can be found and bought at the ‘right’ price.”

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