Used Class 8 truck metrics continued to be mixed in October, according to the latest State of the Industry report from ACT Research Co. The report says that volumes shrank 3% month-over-month, despite longer term comparisons being stable, with volumes down a mere 1% year-over-year and the past nine months flat, relative to the same period in 2014.

“Average mileage of used Class 8 trucks prolonged its diamond-in-the-rough status in October, dropping 2% month-over-month and 11% year-over-year. We expect the YTD mileage numbers, now 9% lower than 2014, to remain low, as the industry continues to work its way through the supply of underutilized trucks from the 2008-2010 economic downturn and as new truck buyers shorten their trade cycles,” said Steve Tam, ACT’s vice president-commercial vehicle sector. “Conversely, the average age of U.S. Class 8 used trucks sold in October could not have been more mixed. Age fell to 90 months, a 3% month-over-month improvement. Compared to October 2014, trucks were 2% older, while age remained relatively flat YTD. Additionally, average prices climbed 4% month-over-month, holding onto a 1% YTD gain for the third consecutive month.”