Used Class 8 truck sales surged in December, with average prices climbing to $57,135

Used Truck Market Sees Strong Recovery at 2025 Close

According to recent findings from ACT Research, sales of used trucks experienced a notable surge at the end of 2025, finishing the year with a more robust rebound than many had anticipated.

ACT Research's State of the Industry: U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks report reveals that preliminary retail sales of used Class 8 trucks at the same dealerships climbed by 12% in December compared to the previous month. This increase surpassed the typical seasonal forecast, which had projected a 9% rise.

Overall, early data shows that total sales were up 22% from November, largely driven by a significant uptick in auction activity.

For operators and smaller fleets that depend on the used truck market instead of purchasing new vehicles, this December upswing may signal the winding down of a period favorable to buyers.

ACT Vice President Steve Tam noted that auction transactions jumped by 50% month over month, while wholesale sales dropped for the second month in a row, declining by 7%. These contrasting trends point to a recovery that is not uniform, with renewed buyer interest appearing in select channels rather than across the board.

“In December, the average retail price for used Class 8 trucks increased month over month for the first time in five months, rising 8.0% to $57,135,” Tam stated. “However, this growth was slightly below the seasonal expectation of a 10% increase.”

Tam suggested that this price movement could indicate the market is finding a price floor after nearly two years of declines. This view is consistent with ACT’s broader analysis, as reported by FreightWaves in November, which observed that prices, mileage, and vehicle age across Classes 3-8 were beginning to stabilize following a lengthy post-pandemic adjustment.

Further Reading

• Used Truck Prices Steadying, But Small Carriers Should Pay Close Attention

At that time, ACT highlighted that retail prices had stopped their rapid decline, inventories had reached manageable levels, and sales volumes were holding steady—conditions that often signal a shift in the market rather than a long-term equilibrium.

ACT Research’s five-year-old used truck price index demonstrates that after a steep drop following the pandemic, used truck values are now leveling off, hinting that the market could be moving past its extended slump. Source: UT5.USA. For more information about SONAR, click here.

The ACT Research report also details the average selling prices for the most popular Class 8 models from leading manufacturers, including Freightliner (Daimler), Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar), International (Navistar), and Volvo and Mack (Volvo).

Despite the December rebound, total Class 8 retail sales were still 16% lower than the previous year. Additionally, the average mileage of sold trucks decreased by 9% year over year, while the average age of vehicles increased by 2%. This suggests that fleets are retaining their trucks longer and fewer newer models are entering the used market.

The improvement in December indicates that, although freight demand remains inconsistent as 2026 approaches, the used truck sector may be shifting from a buyer’s market toward a more balanced—and possibly tighter—phase in the coming cycle.

Read the full article: Used Class 8 truck sales jump in December as prices rise to $57,135 on FreightWaves.