Sandhills Global: Used Tractor Auction Values Up in September

October 08, 2026, 07:15 AM

Filed Under: Trucking

Related: Ryan Dolezal, Sandhills Global

The newest industry market reports from Sandhills Global show an upward trend in auction values for used tractors with 100 horsepower and greater, up nearly 5% compared to year-ago levels.

“The farm equipment auction market has seen a jump in activity,” says TractorHouse Manager Ryan Dolezal. “We view this as moderate progress in the right direction, tempered by increases in fuel prices and other variables, but dealers are becoming more optimistic for the end of the year and into 2027.”

The market reports cover inventory, asking price and auction value data for used farm equipment, heavy machinery, trucks, and trailers on Sandhills platforms, including MachineryTrader.com and TruckPaper.com. Additional September highlights include downward trends in used heavy- and medium-duty construction equipment and medium-duty trucks, and upward value trends among used heavy-duty trucks and semi-trailers.

The key metric in all of Sandhills’ market reports is the Sandhills Equipment Value Index (EVI). Buyers and sellers can use the information in the Sandhills EVI to monitor equipment markets and maximize returns on acquisition, liquidation, and related business decisions. The Sandhills EVI data include equipment available in auction and retail markets and model-year equipment actively in use. EVI spread measures the percentage difference between asking and auction values.

U.S. Used Tractors 100 Horsepower and Greater

Inventory levels in the used high-HP tractor market decreased 0.28% month over month and 14.82% year over year in September and are trending down for the 16th month in a row. Used tractors with 300 HP and greater had the largest M/M inventory change, down 1.16%, while used 100- to 174-HP tractors had the largest Y/Y inventory change, down 18.43%.
Asking values decreased 0.53% M/M but inched up 0.44% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used tractors with 300 HP and greater had the largest M/M asking value change, down 0.68%, while used 175- to 299-HP tractors had the largest Y/Y asking value change, up 3.28%.
Auction values decreased 0.52% M/M but rose 4.8% Y/Y and are trending up. Used 175- to 299-HP tractors had the largest auction value changes, down 1.4% M/M and up 6.35% Y/Y.
The EVI spread, which measures the percentage difference between asking and auction values, was 31% in September, unchanged from August.

U.S. Used Compact and Utility Tractors

Inventory levels in this market increased 1.65% M/M in September but were down significantly Y/Y, by 22.02%, and are trending sideways. Used tractors with less than 40 HP had the largest inventory shifts, up 3.03% M/M and down 23.11% Y/Y.
Asking values decreased 0.11% M/M but ticked up 1.77% Y/Y and are trending up. Used 40- to 99-HP tractors had the largest asking value changes, down 0.19% M/M and up 2.02% Y/Y.
Auction values decreased 0.99% M/M but increased 1.08% Y/Y and are trending sideways. Used 40- to 99-HP tractors had the largest auction value changes, down 1.37% M/M and up 1.1% Y/Y.

U.S. Used Heavy-Duty Construction Equipment

Inventory levels in this market were down 2.29% M/M and 12.65% Y/Y in September and are trending down. Used wheel loaders had the largest inventory changes, down 4.51% M/M and 16.05% Y/Y.
Asking values decreased 1.86% M/M and 2.84% Y/Y and are trending down for the fifth consecutive month. Used crawler dozers had the largest M/M asking value change, down 3.3%, while used crawler excavators had the largest Y/Y asking value change, down 4.14%.
Auction values dipped 2.37% M/M and 2.81% Y/Y and are trending down. Used crawler dozers had the largest auction value changes, down 3.64% M/M and 3.18% Y/Y.

U.S. Used Medium-Duty Construction Equipment

Inventory levels of used medium-duty construction equipment decreased 1.01% M/M and 13.36% Y/Y in September and are trending down. Used wheel skid steers had the largest M/M inventory change, down 3.71%, while used loader backhoes had the largest Y/Y inventory change, down 23.35%.
Asking values decreased 0.98% M/M and 1.07% Y/Y and are trending down. Used mini excavators had the largest asking value changes, down 2.51% M/M and 3.34% Y/Y.
Auction values decreased 0.91% M/M and 0.41% Y/Y and are trending down. Used loader backhoes had the largest M/M auction value change, down 1.06%, while used mini excavators had the largest Y/Y auction value change, down 2.04%.

U.S. Used Semi-Trailers

Inventory levels of used semi-trailers decreased 8.05% M/M and 35.33% Y/Y in September and are trending down for the 14th month in a row. Used dry van trailers showed the largest M/M inventory change, down 13.15%, while used reefer trailers had the most significant Y/Y inventory change, down 48.87%.
Asking values increased 1.06% M/M and 7.36% Y/Y and are trending up. Used flatbed trailers had the largest asking value changes, up 2.74% M/M and 12.45% Y/Y.
Auction values increased 2.01% M/M and 14.74% Y/Y and are trending up. Used flatbed trailers had the largest M/M auction value change, up 3.46%, while used reefer trailers had the largest Y/Y auction value change, rising 21.89%.