ACT: Used truck sales slip in 2014, but prices jump

ACT Research said that used Class 8 truck sales in 2014 declined 5%, but prices climbed 18%. The research is part of ACT’s U.S. Classes 3-8 Used Trucks report.

For December 2014 ACT said Class 8 sales volumes rose 8% month-over-month to 2,078 units.

“For total 2014, used Class 8 truck volumes were down 5%, and average miles decreased by 2%, said Steve Tam, vice president-commercial vehicle sector with ACT. “Pricing was up 18% even though the average age rose by 2%. We look for pricing to continue their growth in 2015, but at a decreasing rate.”

The ACT 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 OEM’s – Freightliner (Daimler);Kenworth and Peterbilt (Paccar); International (Navistar); and Volvo and Mack (Volvo).

ACT also reported strong trailer sales in December and 2014. The firm said December orders of 44,000 were the second strongest month on record and the 359,000 orders for 2014 were up nearly 55% over 2013’s totals.

The trailer numbers were reported in the most recent State of the Industry: U.S. Trailers report.

“The industry orderboard has reached a level not seen in almost 20 years,” said Frank Maly, director – CV transportation analysis and research at ACT.

 “The last four months of 2014 all rank in the top 10 net order months in history. As we look forward into 2015, strong orders, long backlogs, solid freight volumes, a healthy economic outlook, an old fleet, and rising trucker profitability have combines to lay the groundwork for the best trailer market since the late 1990s.”