March retail data from J.D. Power offered an “encouraging” picture for the used truck market, according to its April 2026 Commercial Truck Guidelines report.
Retail selling prices were essentially flat month-over-month in March (0.8%) but remain down 4.8% year-over year. However, sales volume surged to its highest level in nearly five years, up 1.2 trucks per rooftop month over month. The report noted that mix of stable pricing and rising demand in the retail channel indicates a “genuine strengthening” rather than a temporary blip.
J.D. Power
That retail momentum was reinforced by ACT Research’s latest report, which found that same-dealer used Class 8 retail truck sales built on February’s momentum in March.
“The 9.8% month-over-month increase was directionally consistent with, but not quite as strong as, the expected 12% seasonal gain. March is the strongest sales month of the year, running 10% above average,” said Steve Tam, vice president at ACT Research.
ACT Research
ACT Research noted that activity beyond retail also picked up. Auction volumes increased 25% month over month, while wholesale dealer activity increased 40% month over month. Combined, March’s total market same dealer sales volumes were 29% higher month over month.
On pricing, ACT Research reported that Class 8 average retail sale price improved 1.6% month over month in March, rising to $56,128, and was 2.0% higher year over year.
J.D. Power reported that wholesale prices were up 3.5% month over month and remain ahead of last year on a year-to-date basis (3.6%), even though it’s still modestly lower year over year (-2.8%). The uptick suggests dealers are competing for specific inventory as retail momentum builds, the report said. “It’s a dynamic consistent with a market transitioning from oversupply correction toward more normalized inventory management.”
Auction results were the outlier as prices fell sharply both month over month (-7.1%) and year over year (-11.6%), driven by a dramatic drop in volume (-53.2% month over month, -61.6% year over year), according to J.D. Power. This indicates that inventory is increasingly being absorbed through retail and wholesale channels instead of the auction lane, according to the report.
Fuel prices are major pressures
“The primary headwind to the current upcycle is high fuel prices,” wrote J.D. Power director of specialty vehicles Chris Visser. Prices remain roughly 40% above pre-conflict levels, with ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East limiting near-term relief, adding pressure on consumer behavior and overall market momentum.
“Even after the conflict subsides, it will take an extended period of time for the price of refined products to decrease. March’s used truck market data reflects the first partial month of these high fuel prices, so the full impact may show up more clearly in April’s results,” said Visser.
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Sleeper values climb across the board
Data from CCJ parent company Fusable’s Price Digests reinforced the improving price picture.
Average market values for Class 8 sleeper tractors rose across all age cohorts in March.
Two-year-old sleepers gained 13.7% month over month to reach $105,310, though that value remains below year-ago levels. Five-year-old units rose approximately 5.5% to $53,370, and 10-year-old sleepers inched up about 2.1% to $26,890.
Younger, lower-mileage trucks lead the retail mix
J.D. Power reported that the average age of retailed trucks increased by one month from February but remains four months younger than a year ago and four months below the year-to-date 2025 pace. Average mileage ticked up 2.7% month over month and 0.5% year over year, though on a year-to-date basis mileage is running 3.6% lower than the same period in 2025.
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