Selling prices and volumes across the used truck market were mostly down in July but depreciation was minimal, J.D. Power reported Wednesday in its August 2026 Commercial Truck Guidelines report.
The company states auction space recorded the strongest month-over-month price performance in the month, rising 3.7% against June and 11.9% year over year. Auction volumes also were down 27.3% against the prior month, creating a climate ideal for sustained pricing. Year-to-date auction pricing is up 0.5% and volumes are 0.3%.
In the retail sector, J.D. Power reports pricing was down 3.4% against June and 6.2% against 2025. Year-to-date pricing is down 1.4% but selling prices are up 1.4% in nominal rates against the late 2018 market boom and 26.8% against the 2019 pre-COVID trough.
J.D. Power
Wholesale prices slipped monthly, down 1.8%, but were up 3.9% against 2025 and remain up 3.5% year-to-date. J.D. Power says the wholesale market also has positive comparisons against late 2018 boom (up 46.9% in nominal rates) and 2019 trough (up 63.2% in nominal rates).
Sales volumes were down in both the retail and wholesale channels too, the company adds, but not nearly as severely as the auction market.
Retail sales slipped 0.1 trucks per rooftop month over month but remain up 1.7 trucks year over year and 1.5 trucks year-to-date. Wholesale sales were off by 0.5 trucks per rooftop, and are now down by 0.1 trucks year over year and year-to-date.
J.D. Power
J.D. Power also reports monthly depreciation for the three channels remains strong. Year-to-date, retail depreciation is 0.9% while wholesale depreciation is just 0.1%. In the auction space, equipment has actually appreciated 1.0% year-to-date.
[RELATED: MacKay & Company: Aftermarket is growing despite shaky economy]
Finally, the company reports the average retail truck sold in July was two months older than June but had 0.3% fewer miles. Those numbers bucked recent trends as lower-mileage trucks have been coveted by retail buyers.
Additionally, J.D. Power says the used truck sector is beginning to feel the burden of new truck sales success, as new truck deliveries finally began to spike in July.
“In July, new Class 8 deliveries finally increased to a level considered historically typical. Until this month, deliveries lagged orders to an unusual degree,” the company states. “Increased clarity regarding emissions requirements and associated price increases is encouraging fleets to take delivery of trucks ordered late last year and earlier this year.
“With freight volume still limited, increased new truck deliveries means increased trades and downward pressure on used truck values. The capacity crunch is driven by a shortage of drivers, not trucks.”
For more information, and to read the entirety of this month’s report, please CLICK HERE.
