In The News

Used truck market restrained by inventory shortage

By The Trucker News Services
Posted Aug 29th 2011 5:01AM


COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Class 3-8 used truck market tumbled 10 percent in July, reversing the market gain posted during June, according to ACT Research Co.

Lack of inventory continues to be a challenge for the industry, with particular pressure occurring in the late model/low mileage market segment, ACT said. Examined on a year-to-date basis, the used market is 4 percent behind the year-ago pace.

The update on the used market was reported in the latest release of the State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks , published by ACT Research.

“We expect both age and mileage of used trucks to continue to grow throughout the rest of 2011,” said Steve Tam, vice president-commercial vehicle sector with ACT. “Despite those trends, tight supply will result in used truck prices drifting further upward. While improving new truck sales will generate more trade-ins, providing some relief to used market pressures, we expect this will only act to soften growth in prices, not reverse it.”

The report from ACT provides data on the average used price for the top-selling Class 8 model for each of the major truck OEM’s.

ACT publishes new and used commercial vehicle industry data, market analysis and forecasting services for the North American market, as well as the U.S. tractor-trailer market and the China CV market.

Kevin Jones of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected] .

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