Trucking news and briefs for Monday, May 19, 2025:
Retail used-truck market accelerated in April
Preliminary numbers from ACT Research looking at used Class 8 truck sales show sizable increases in sales in April.
According to ACT’s latest report, same dealer used truck retail sales volumes increased 8.6% from March to April, which equated to a 23% year-over-year increase.
“Used truck buyers did not let up in April,” said Steve Tam, Vice President at ACT Research. “The market crushed historical seasonality," which would usually see an 11% month month-to-month decline, he added. While retail sales ballooned, “auction sales saw their routine post-quarter-end retrenchment," losing 57% month to month. “Wholesale transactions remained elevated, adding 36%.”
Factoring in auction and wholesale volume, preliminary overall totals for April were down 20% from March. “Despite the mixed signals from both within and from outside of the industry, buyers continued to capitalize on a well- but not over-stocked inventory of available equipment at affordable prices,” Tam concluded.
While retail sales volumes were up in April, so were the prices of the trucks sold. The average price for used Class 8 trucks sold was up 7% compared to March, while average miles were down 6% and age was down 2%. Compared to April 2024, used-truck prices were up 4%.
Troopers in six states cracking down on seat belt use this week
On the heels of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck initiative, state police in six states are joining forces this week to focus on seat belt use in each of their respective jurisdictions.
The 6-State Trooper Project includes the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Indiana State Police, Kentucky State Police, Michigan State Police, Pennsylvania State Police and West Virginia State Police.
The eight‐day initiative began Monday, May 19, and continues through Monday, May 26, to include Memorial Day.
During last year’s initiative, the six states involved in the effort issued a total of 8,159 seat belt citations.
The 6-State Trooper Project is a multi-state law enforcement partnership aimed at providing combined and coordinated law enforcement and security services in the areas of highway safety, criminal patrol and information sharing.
[Related: POLL: Roadcheck 2025's a wrap -- did you get inspected?]
DAT acquires Outgo factoring firm
DAT Freight & Analytics has acquired the Outgo Inc. factoring service that automates invoice payments and other back-office functions for trucking companies.
The acquisition reinforces DAT’s commitment to helping freight carriers find the best loads, book them quickly, and get paid almost instantly, the company noted.
“Cash flow is the lifeblood of small carriers, and at the heart of any great high-trust marketplace is the payment connection between the buyer and seller,” said Jeff Clementz, Chief Executive Officer and President of DAT. “Outgo sets the industry standard for funding speed, transparency, and flexibility.”
Outgo aims to help automate broker setup, invoicing, factoring and collections without long-term contracts or minimums. It commits to settling approved unpaid invoices within four hours, with many processed in as little as 15 to 90 minutes.
Going forward, carriers on DAT One will have access to Outgo’s payment services. Any load posted to the DAT network with a blue checkmark is approved for factoring, so carriers can feel assured that they’ll get paid quickly.
“Acquiring Outgo paves the way for DAT to embed payments and financial services into our DAT One freight platform,” Clementz said. “We can bring more value to our customers and build on our position as the industry’s most trusted marketplace by offering a smarter, faster path to payment that’s fully integrated into the customer’s workflow.”
Outgo was launched in 2022 by senior leaders from transportation technology companies, including Uber and Convoy. Outgo will operate from its Seattle office as a distinct service within DAT, with Outgo co-founder and CEO Marcus Womack joining the DAT executive team.
Outgo will continue to provide customer support through multiple channels, with tools both on the web and on its app.
[Related: Uber Eats founder, Convoy CEO back new freight factoring platform Outgo]
