Auction depreciation was historically typical in December amid lighter sales volumes while the retail market had one of its strongest close outs to a year in recent memory, J.D. Power announced in its January 2026 Commercial Truck Guidelines report.
Within the auction space, J.D. Power reports depreciation averaged 2.4% per month in 2025, well within historical norms. In December, the average auction sale price for a Class 8 used truck was down 4.4% from November and 13.0% from December 2024. The company states auction pricing is down 11.8% in nominal terms from late 2018 but down 31.4% in real numbers.
Volumes also were down last month by 20.3% compared to November, J.D. Power states, but exceeded December 2024 by 56.4%. Across the year, the company sales auction volumes closed down 23.2% against 2024.
[RELATED: Used volumes outpace seasonal expectations in December]
In the retail space, pricing was up 2.4% from November and up 13.6% from December 2024. The retail sector is up 34.8% in nominal terms from late 2019 and 7.0% in real dollars. Retail sales volumes also ended the year positively. Retail sales per rooftop were up 1.3 trucks over November and one truck over December 2024. For the entire year, sales were up 0.6% trucks per rooftop.
J.D. Power adds the age mix of trucks retailed in 2025 continued to decrease, averaging 57 months old, nine months younger than calendar year 2024. The average mileage of trucks sold retail was similar year-over-year, averaging 432,970 in 2025 compared to 437,954 in 2024.
The company reports the average truck retailed in December was one month younger and had 5.2% fewer miles than November. That truck also was five months newer and had 8.2% more miles than the average truck sold in December 2024.
Looking at the entire market J.D. Power states “no one’s happy about current price levels, but the incoming supply of used trucks was manageable in 2025. We expect an incremental increase in supply in 2026 due to repossessions and bankruptcies, with an assist from a mild pre-buy.
“New truck orders finally showed some life in December, due mainly to clarity on tariffs and emissions regulations. Unfortunately, that clarity on tariffs lasted for less than two months, as the administration threatened a new round in mid-January on America’s European allies as a tactic in the Greenland situation. It is clear that economic and foreign policy instability will be the standard operating environment for the foreseeable future.”
J.D. Power concludes, “As long as economic fundamentals withstand the chaos, freight and equipment metrics should continue to move in the right direction, pushing the cycle back into the acquisition phase.”
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