Sandhills Global released its December 2024 Trucks & Trailers Market Report, revealing continued downward trends in inventory and values across several categories of trucks and trailers in the U.S. marketplaces. The report, based on extensive data from Sandhills’ online platforms, offers critical insights into the dynamics of the trucking and trailer industries.

Heavy-Duty Trucks

The U.S. heavy-duty truck market saw declining inventory levels in December, with a 0.87% month over month decrease and a 7.19% year over year (Y/Y) drop. However, within this market, contrasting trends emerged:

• Used day cab inventory levels increased significantly by 30.13% year over year, while used sleeper truck inventory levels plummeted by 29.82% year over year.
• Asking values for heavy-duty trucks declined by 0.49% month over month and 10.64% year over year, with used sleeper trucks showing the largest month over month decrease at 1.42%. Meanwhile, used day cabs recorded the sharpest year over year decline at 10.96%.
• Auction values in this segment fell even more sharply, dropping 2.58% month over month and 18.51% year over year. Notably, auction values for used day cabs dropped 20.25% year over year, while used sleeper trucks decreased by 3.62% month over month.

Used Semitrailers

The U.S. used semitrailer market also exhibited declining inventory and values:

• Inventory levels fell by 5.39% month over month and 0.36% year over year, led by substantial decreases in used flatbed semitrailers (13.67% month over month) and used reefer semitrailers (18.79% year over year).
• Asking values continued their 28-month downward trend, decreasing 0.75% month over month and 16.46% year over year. The used reefer semitrailer category experienced the largest value drops, down 1.89% month over month and 24.74% year over year.
• Auction values in this segment have been declining for 30 months, with a 1.58% month-over-month and 15.98% year-over-year decrease in December. Used reefer semitrailers led auction value declines, falling 1.78% month over month and 28.94% year over year.

Medium-Duty Trucks

In contrast to heavy-duty trucks and semitrailers, the U.S. medium-duty truck market showed growth in inventory levels:

• Inventory increased by 3.92% month over month and 17.89% year over year, driven by a significant 11.61% month-over-month rise in used flatbed trucks.
• Asking values in this segment continued to decline, dropping 1.56% month over month and 12.13% year over year. The steepest decreases were observed in used reefer box trucks (5.66% month over month) and used cab and chassis trucks (21.43% year over year).
• Auction values for medium-duty trucks decreased by 2.77% month over month and 23.55% year over year, with used dry cargo delivery box trucks experiencing the largest year-over-year decline of 30.61%.

Industry Implications

The report highlights a mixed landscape for the truck and trailer markets. While inventory levels in some categories, such as medium-duty trucks, are rising, declining values and downward trends in auction performance underscore ongoing challenges. The divergence in inventory trends, particularly between day cabs and sleeper trucks in the heavy-duty segment, signals potential shifts in market demand and usage patterns.