Report: Used Class 8 Truck Sales Down in 2022

Around 20,000 fewer Class 8 used trucks were sold in 2022 than in 2021, according to one report. 

245,000 units were moved in 2022, down from 265,000 used Class 8 trucks sold the year prior, ACT Research estimated in a Jan. 26 report, which is a 7.5 percent drop. 

For December specifically, however, the used Class 8 market increased 16 percent month-over-month. In the same time frame, the average mileage fell 4 percent, the average age fell 3 percent and the average price dropped 2 percent. 

Year-over-year, those statistics also decreased for the most part: the average price dipped 2 percent, average miles fell 1 percent and average age stayed flat. 

“Activity typically sees a moderate increase in December, so the increase was directionally consistent with expectations,” stated ACT Vice President Steve Tam. “We ascribe the relative strength to the elevated new truck sales in November and December, which helped to sate pent-up demand in the inventory-starved used truck market.” 

“While the economy and freight markets are slowing, effectively cooling used truck demand, there are many used truck buyers who have been forced to hold onto their trucks beyond their expiration dates.” 

Looking at sales numbers, a year-over-year comparison shows a massive plummet: the December 2022 numbers are 30 percent lower than December 2021.