Used truck prices tumbled in 2016

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Updated Jan 26, 2017
This chart from J.D. Power shows used retail prices for the most popular on-highway sleeper tractors.This chart from J.D. Power shows used retail prices for the most popular on-highway sleeper tractors.

Prices of used trucks fell in 2016, with sleeper tractors losing about 30 percent of their wholesale value from January to December, compared to 23 percent through retail channels, according to J.D. Power and Associates.

Trucks sold at auction in 2016 brought about 30 percent less money than the year before, compared to 23 percent through retail channels.

“Depreciation generally accelerated in the second half of 2016,” says Chris Visser, J.D. Power commercial vehicle senior analyst and product manager. “From January to December, trucks of model year 2013 lost about 22 percent of their value, trucks of model year 2012 lost about 37 percent and trucks of model year 2011 lost about 32 percent.”


Last year’s annual losses translate to an overall monthly loss of about 2.5 percent, which Visser beats J.D. Power’s early estimate of 3 to 5 percent.

“This figure is also better than the nearly 5 percent average monthly loss in the second half of 2015,” he adds, “but of course selling prices are roughly 30 percent lower today than they were then.”

Based on the supply of the most popular sleeper tractors, Visser says he expects continued robust supply and downward pressure on pricing throughout this year.etail brought an estimated 13 percent less.