June preliminary Class 8 same dealer used truck retail sales picked up 11% m/m in June, according to the latest preliminary release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks published by ACT Research.

“The gain was larger than expected based on historical seasonality, which called for a 2% month over month increase. Auction sales sank 22%, uncharacteristic compared to the normal 35% end-of-quarter surge,” according to Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. “The wholesale segment claimed the middle ground, shedding 12% m/m. Total reported preliminary sales finished May down 6.6% month over month. The significant disconnect in the auction market bears watching; the concern being that it could be a bellwether for the broader industry.

“The preliminary average retail price (same dealer sales) of used Class 8 trucks made great strides in June, adding 5.0% m/m to top $61,000. Pricing once again easily defeated seasonal expectations, which called for no change,” Tam concluded.

ACT’s Classes 3-8 Used Truck report provides data on the average selling price, miles, and age based on a sample of industry data. In addition, the report provides the average selling price for top-selling Class 8 models for each of the major truck OEMs – Freightliner (Daimler); Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar); International (Navistar); and Volvo and Mack (Volvo). This report is utilized by those throughout the industry, including commercial vehicle dealers to gain a better understanding of the used truck market, especially as it relates to changes in near-term performance.