Used construction equipment inventory levels continued to decline in May, led by crawler excavators and wheel loaders, according to the latest Sandhills Global market reports. The reports cover used heavy machinery, farm equipment, trucks, and trailers on MachineryTrader.com and several other Sandhills platforms worldwide.

“Rental utilization remains strong,” says RentalYard Sales Manager Matt Sterup, “but rising prices, especially fuel costs, are limiting customers’ ability to buy construction equipment. In lift equipment categories, it’s also becoming more difficult to find quality used equipment.”

Used heavy-duty trucks also experienced inventory level decreases in May, continuing a months-long downward trend.

“Rising fuel costs have reduced some of the momentum gained in the truck market, but sentiment is still positive,” says Truck Paper Manager Scott Lubischer. “Freight rates are increasing and inventory is leaving the market at a pace similar to that of 2022 without being replaced. Newer trucks are starting to move, and buyers will be watching closely for lower-mileage trucks. Despite rising prices, dealers anticipate they won’t rise to 2022 levels.”

U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment

• Inventory levels in this market posted a marginal decrease of 0.16% month over month and fell 11.55% year over year in May, and are trending down. Used crawler excavators had the largest M/M inventory change, down 1.41%, while used wheel loaders posted the largest Y/Y inventory change with a 13.32% decrease.

• Asking values posted dipped 0.89% M/M and 3.02% Y/Y and are trending down. Used crawler excavators had the largest M/M asking value change, down 1.75%, while used wheel loaders had the largest Y/Y asking value change, down 4.14%.

• Auction values decreased 1.53% M/M and 1.87% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used wheel loaders had the largest M/M auction value change, down 2.41%, while used crawler excavators posted the largest Y/Y auction value change with a 3.44% decrease.

U.S. Used Medium-Duty Construction Equipment

• Inventory levels of used medium-duty construction equipment posted a slight increase of 0.39% M/M but fell 15.65% Y/Y in May and have been trending down for seven consecutive months. Used wheeled skid steers had the largest M/M inventory change, up 2.93%, while used loader backhoes posted the largest Y/Y inventory change with a 26.5% decrease.

• Asking values decreased 0.86% M/M and 0.63% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used track skid steers had the largest asking value changes, down 1.17% M/M and 1.64% Y/Y.

• Auction values posted marginal decreases of 0.86% M/M and 0.14% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used track skid steers had the largest M/M auction value change, down 1.4%, while used wheeled skid steers posted the largest Y/Y auction value change with a 3.05% increase.

U.S. Used Aerial Lifts

• Inventory levels in this market decreased 2.92% M/M and 2.99% Y/Y in May and are trending down. Used slab scissor lifts had the largest M/M inventory change, down 3.78%, while used articulating boom lifts posted the largest Y/Y inventory change with an 11.67% increase.

• Asking values decreased 1.26% M/M and 1.21% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used telescopic boom lifts had the largest asking value changes, down 3.61% M/M and 4.08% Y/Y.

• Auction values decreased 1.73% M/M and 3.98% Y/Y and are trending down. Used telescopic boom lifts had the largest auction value changes, down 4.42% M/M and 5.67% Y/Y.

U.S. Used Forklifts

• Inventory levels in this market jumped 5.63% M/M and 17.28% Y/Y in May and are trending up. Used cushion-tire forklifts had the largest inventory changes, up 6.57% M/M and 25.75% Y/Y.

• Asking values posted a marginal increase of 0.06% M/M but decreased 3.23% Y/Y and are trending down. Used cushion-tire forklifts had the largest asking value changes, up 0.77% M/M and down 7.56% Y/Y.

• Auction values decreased 1.06% M/M and 3.49% Y/Y and are trending down. Used cushion-tire forklifts had the largest auction value changes, down 1.97% M/M and 8.57% Y/Y.

U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Trucks

• Inventory levels in this market fell 1.5% M/M and 23.14% Y/Y in May and have been trending down for six months. Used sleeper trucks had the largest M/M inventory change, down 3.3%, while used day cab trucks posted the largest Y/Y inventory change with a 25.31% decrease.

• Asking values increased 1.63% M/M but decreased 1.29% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used sleeper trucks led in M/M asking value changes with a 2.94% increase, while used day cab trucks had the largest Y/Y asking value change with a 4.09% decrease.

• Auction values increased 3.07% M/M and 2.34% Y/Y and are trending up. Used sleeper trucks took the lead in auction value changes, growing 4.62% M/M and 3.91% Y/Y.

U.S. Used Semi-Trailers

• Inventory levels of used semi-trailers posted a modest increase of 0.28% M/M but fell 26.9% Y/Y in May, continuing a 10-month-long downward trend. Used dry van trailers had the largest M/M inventory change, up 2.51%, while used reefer trailers posted the largest Y/Y inventory change with a 31.49% decrease.

• Asking values posted a marginal decrease of 0.28% M/M but rose 2.61% Y/Y and are trending up. Used reefer trailers had the largest asking value changes, down 1.17% M/M and up 7.23% Y/Y.

• Auction values inched downward by 0.6% M/M but jumped 6.35% Y/Y and are trending up. Used dry van trailers had the largest M/M auction value change, down 3.68%, while used reefer trailers posted the largest Y/Y auction value change with a 19.53% increase.

U.S. Used Medium-Duty Trucks

• Inventory levels of used medium-duty trucks decreased 0.93% M/M and 37.52% Y/Y in May. Inventory levels in this market have been trending down for nine consecutive months.

• Asking values dropped 1.81% M/M and 6.05% Y/Y and are trending down.

• Auction values were down 2.39% M/M and 3.76% Y/Y and are trending down.

Sandhills market reports highlight the most significant changes in Sandhills’ used heavy-duty truck, semi-trailer, farm machinery and construction equipment markets.