Used Class 8 Sales Slip in May

Sales of used Class 8 vehicles dropped 10% in May, according to one report.

The dip in sales from April is due to market uncertainty, according to a summary of ACT Research’s State of the Industry: U.S. Class 3-8 Used Trucks.

“The used truck market is awash in uncertainty that seems to have a stranglehold on both buyers and sellers,” explained Steve Tam, Vice President of ACT Research. “Parties on both sides of the used truck sales transaction are wondering about everything from tariffs to the status and future of emissions regulations to inventory levels.”

As a result, sales of used Class 8 trucks fluctuated noticeably month over month in most categories. Along with reduced sales, the average price dipped 2% from April’s, while the average mileage and vehicle age both rose 3%.

Year-over-year results are slightly better: used Class 8 sales dipped 2% from last May, while the average price and mileage dipped 3% and 1%, respectively. However, the average age of vehicles was up more than 7% over May 2024.

“May is usually the third weakest sales month of the year, running nearly 5% below average,” Tam said. “Combined, total used sales lagged the first five months of last year by 6.7%, leaving our outlook for 2025 unchanged.”