This graph shows the amount of trucks on the resale market categorized by model year for the top five heavy duty manufacturers in 2014.
Key Takeaways for Decision Makers
SELLER: As International truck models are flooding the market, now is not the time to try and sell one. With the scarcity of Freightliner and Volvo’s though there will be more leverage to raise prices.
INSURANCE: There is going to be much variability in the number of trucks within each model year between manufacturers for the first 5 years of use before leveling out in volume by age 7.
Among the top five class 7 and 8 commercial trucks on the market, International dominates almost all five of the most recent model years in volume. The only model year where International does not hold the most number of trucks is 2013. One of the reasons why so many International truck models are currently on the market to be sold is due to the engine lawsuits on 2008-2013 models. These trucks are staying on the market longer than the remaining manufacturers thus holding a stronger percentage.
Freightliner and Volvo trucks are not as common especially in 2011 and 2010 models. The number of models on the market for all manufacturers rises between model years 2012 and 2006 before trickling off on years 2003 and older. This is even truer for Volvo as the number of older models falls even lower than the remaining manufacturers. An explanation for this that these trucks are being sold out of fleets between 4 and 8 years of use then picked up by a smaller company or individual to continue using for a longer period of time. The gradual decline in volume is to be expected as the trucks age whereas on the auction market specifically it will be more common to see these older models increase in popularity in comparison to the trucks only 2-3 years old.